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MLB Power Rankings: Top 30 stadiums of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

Aug 14, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; The sun sets over Wrigley Field during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; The sun sets over Wrigley Field during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 30, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of Kauffman Stadium during a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians during the first inning. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of Kauffman Stadium during a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians during the first inning. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

15. Kauffman Stadium

  • Year Opened: 1973
  • Capacity: 37,903
  • Defining Features: waterfalls in left field, crowned “Royal” scoreboard, severely sloping upper bowl

Next to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Kauffman Stadium is held up as one of the best modern stadiums in baseball. It is the only stadium in the league named after a person — Ewing Kauffman — and is one of only 10 that does not have a corporate sponsor. Since 2007, over $250 million has been spent to renovate the 40-year-old ballpark, and the results have been stunning. Kuffman is one of the finest stadiums in the league despite its age.

The Kansas City A’s and Chiefs were both slated to get new stadiums at the same time in the late 1960s. At the time, it was not common practice for cities to build separate stadiums for both football and baseball, but the A’s hastily moved to Oakland in 1968. Kansas City desperately wanted a team, and Missouri legislators threatened to press to revoke MLB’s anti-trust status. Thus, the Royals were born and given a gleaming ballpark all their own.

The K, as it is called in Kansas City, several striking features. The most famous is the Water Spectacular in right field. It is the largest privately funded water fountain in the world at 322 feet. The waterfalls flow constantly throughout the game, while the fountains blast off before and after the game as well as between innings.

Kauffman Stadium, though not a cookie cutter park, does share some similarities with the multi-use stadiums of its time. The upper deck slopes severely, and the seating bowl tapers off into nothing in the outfield corners. The K’s upper deck has one of the more unique appearances in the league.

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