Home and Away
There was a time when my two thousandth article was going to be a tribute to all thirty baseball stadiums. I have a few yet to visit. Tickets are available (especially in Miami and Tampa which I have to visit). Airfares were not cooperating.
The time was right to visit Kansas City. Finding a city bus to carry me to the stadium: some suggested taking Uber. That company shortchanges its "Employees". Some said the bus takes one hour. Well, if I didn't mind taking the bus from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles? This was as long.
I travel so I can ride public transportation. A three dollar day pass is quite the bargain. Kaufmann Stadium is the oldest active stadium I had not yet visited. With the sale of the team there are rumors of a downtown stadium. That might be more convenient. The location next to Arrowhead Stadium- easily the most attractive football stadium- is good as is the fan experience.
The Royals are rebuilding. They won the World Series in 2015 and if not for the greatest postseason pitching I can recall from Madison Bumgarner could have won back to back. Who were they playing? The Baltimore Orioles. I could drive up to Camden Yards whenever I want. Haven't seen a game there in fifteen years.
Great stadium, poorly run team. I have other reasons to visit Baltimore. Which takes me back to church. Looking in the church bulletin; there was going to be a van heading to Memorial Stadium. I was not yet driving, my father said I could go and Baltimore played Kansas City.
This was in the George Brett years. Both teams were competitive. The game was nice; a productive way to spend a summertime Sunday. On the ride up I was given one of the best pieces of advice in my life.
A man suggested going to the box office of any sporting event, concert or play. Even if it is "Sold out" there is usually a cancellation. In that summer I waited four hours in line for Bruce Springsteen tickets (after my paper route) and tickets sold out long before I made it to the Ticketmaster window at The Hecht Company.
Never again would I wait in line to no avail. Walking to the window led me to see Alanis Morrisette at the 9:30 Club, David Bowie at The Capital Ballroom, The Diamondbacks in the playoffs and Redskins games when they had a waiting list. As usual: show up and good things can happen.
At a certain point I stopped patronizing scalpers. They did not charge more than face value. Explain to me why that is illegal and Stubhub can charge whatever the market will allow. Another story, another article. I don't necessarily go to games to see the visiting team. The coincidence of two teams playing in different generations seems to close the circle. Everything is connected and I have four teams to see in person. Five when the Texas Rangers finish their new stadium and possibly another trip to The Bay Area. It is good to enjoy different fan experiences and visit new cities.