KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals replaced the foul poles at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday in anticipation of extending protective netting before the team’s April 2 home opener.
Toby Cook, vice president of publicity for the Royals, told 41 Action News that the poles needed to be replaced before the netting can be installed.
The team plans to install the additional netting next month.
Currently, the netting at Kauffman Stadium extends to the dugouts, but several Major League Baseball teams have extended protective netting in their stadiums past that point in the last year, following incidents of fans being struck by foul balls.
The foul poles removed were original to the stadium, which opened in 1973. The Royals said a piece of them will be included in the Royals Hall of Fame beyond left field.
For the first time in 47 seasons, the original foul poles at #TheK are being replaced.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) January 8, 2020
A piece of one of the originals will be sent to the #Royals Hall of Fame.
#AlwaysRoyal pic.twitter.com/bnqduNB0Z2
The Royals on Wednesday also announced all game times for the team’s 2020 regular season schedule, which begins on March 26 against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
The team’s home opener is set for 3:05 p.m. Thursday, April 2, against Seattle.
All but four of the 81 games at Kauffman Stadium will begin at 5 minutes past the hour, including all weeknight games at 7:05 p.m. Six of the 14 Saturday home games will begin at 6:05 p.m., and all Sunday home games are scheduled for 1:05 p.m., with the exception of the regular season finale on Sept. 27 vs. Minnesota.
For more information and to see the Royals’ complete 2020 schedule, click here.
