It’s Opening Day, Royals fans! Here’s everything you need to know

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Kansas City Royals begin their much-anticipated 2025 season on Thursday afternoon against division rival Cleveland.

The Royals are looking to improve on an 86-76 campaign in 2024 that saw them win their American League Wild Card Series over the Baltimore Orioles (2-0) before falling to the New York Yankees (3-1) in the American League Division Series.

Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. finished runner-up in the 2024 AL Most Valuable Player race, while right-handed starter Seth Lugo finished second in the AL Cy Young race. Left-hander Cole Ragans placed fourth in the Cy Young voting.

Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. (7) is congratulated by teammate Salvador Perez (13) after scoring during the sixth inning in Game 4 of an American League Division baseball playoff series against the New York Yankees Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)(Charlie Riedel | AP)

Manager Matt Quatraro begins his third year overseeing the team on the field. Quatraro finished as the runner-up for AL Manager of the Year. General manager J.J. Picollo also finished second in the voting for Executive of the Year.

PARKING

The Kauffman Stadium parking lots will open at 9 a.m.

When purchasing parking online in advance:

General Parking pass is $21
Reserved Parking pass is $31
Oversize Vehicle Parking pass is $41

Parking can also be bought at the gate for $30 (General), $40 (Reserved) or $50 (Oversized Vehicle).

Parking passes will be digital and need to be pulled up and scanned through the window at the toll booth on the MLB Ballpark app. There is a $1 service fee on parking tickets.

TICKETS

The Kansas City Royals announced that their home opener is a sellout. The team did note that Fountain Passes are still available for Opening Day.

An Air Force B2 bomber flies over Kauffman Stadium before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)(Charlie Riedel | AP)

FORECAST

The parking lot opens around 9 a.m. with temperatures in the middle 60s and a 20% rain risk.

By noon, when stadium gates open, temperatures push into the lower 70s with a 30% rain risk. As we make it to the late afternoon, first pitch temperatures will be in the upper 70s, with the rain potential around 40% remaining there through the late evening.

BAG POLICY

Fans are allowed one clear bag no larger than 12” x 12” x 6” with all items inside easily visible. A clear one-gallon zip-seal bag is also allowed (Ziploc® bag or similar).

Small clutch bags that do not exceed 9″ x 5″, with or without a handle or strap, may be carried into the stadium along with one of the clear bag options. An exception may be made for medical reasons or manufactured diaper bags accompanying infants and young children after proper inspection.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Backpacks
Any drinks besides water or sports drinks (one sealed/unopened 1-liter or smaller bottle per person allowed).
Weapons/fireworks (including all guns and pocket knives)
Pets or animals not documented as service dogs

For a complete list of prohibited items, click here.

Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals.(Kansas City Royals)

OPENING DAY SCHEDULE

Gates to Kauffman Stadium will open at 12 p.m. Opening Day ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., including:

Introductions of the 2025 Royals team
American flag ceremony held by airmen from Whiteman Air Force Base
National Anthem performance by Branson, Missouri’s most popular act, “The Haygoods”
Flyover from Whiteman Air Force Base A-10s
First pitches featuring former Royals outfielders Willie Wilson and Lorenzo Cain to commemorate the 40th and 10th anniversaries of the 1985 and 2015 World Series champion teams.
Play Ball Kid: Salvy’s Sandlot Crew
First pitch is at 3:10 p.m.

BALLPARK FOOD

Royals fans can expect a fresh line-up of bites and brews at Kauffman Stadium this season.

First up to bat, the Z-Man sandwich. The Kansas City classic from Joe’s KC Bar-B-Que will now be available for about $15. A combo will bump the price up to about $20. But the new food menu goes beyond barbeque.

There’s also the Kauffman Fried Chicken Quesadilla a Mexican staple reimagined with a southern twist. Ingredients include mashed potatoes, crispy fried chicken, corn, gravy, cheddar cheese and green onions.

Also the newly-minted Korean BBQ Bao Buns. The dish features Tempura Battered Chicken Tenders slathered in a Korean BBQ sauce with cucumber pepper relish, fried onions and green onions all in a fresh bao bun.

The Sluggerrr Dog garnered lots of attention with locally-sourced Chorizo topped with Manchego, tempura batter, Doritos Cool Ranch crust, and avocado aioli.

Also on the menu is a Blue Velvet Whoopie Pie, made from blue velvet cake and vanilla fluff.

Aramark provided pictures of a new food item fans will find at Kauffman Stadium during Kansas City Royals games.(Aramark)

Most of these new food items are set to range in price from $12 to $17.

For the complete Kauffman Stadium guide to concessions and dining, click here.

ON THE FIELD

Expectations on the field for the Royals are much higher entering this season than last. Kansas City is set up to be a leading contender for the AL Central divisional race and is projected to win more than 80 games.

Depending on the sportsbook, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is either the favorite or a leading candidate for American League MVP.

The Royals’ 26-man Opening Day roster includes:

PITCHERS

Kris Bubic
Lucas Erceg
Carlos Estevez
Hunter Harvey
Sam Long
Michael Lorenzen
Seth Lugo
Daniel Lynch IV
Alec Marsh
James McArthur (15-Day IL)
Cole Ragans
John Schreiber
Chris Stratton
Michael Wacha
Kyle Wright (15-Day IL)
Angel Zerpa

CATCHERS

Freddy Fermin
Salvador Perez

INFIELDERS

Cavan Biggio
Maikel Garcia
Jonathan India
Michael Massey
Vinnie Pasquantino
Bobby Witt Jr.

OUTFIELDERS

Dairon Blanco
Mark Canha
Kyle Isbel
MJ Melendez
Hunter Renfroe

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