With the success of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team the last couple of seasons many Blue Jays fans have taken to the road to support the team.
Recently, a ThriftyTourist.ca reporter did just that, jumping in his truck and driving 18 hours down to Kansas City, Missouri with a couple of friends to see the Blue Jays take on the Royals in a three-game set.
Purchasing tickets for the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals
There’s no point in driving or flying down to watch the Blue Jays play one of their rivals unless you have tickets.
Purchasing your seats is definitely the first step to planning a road trip to watch the Blue Jays play.
For this trip our ThriftyTourist.ca reporter bought his tickets on the official MLB website for the Kansas City Royals. Prices were similar to what you would pay to watch the Blue Jays play a home game at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The only difference was the tickets were priced in US dollars of course.
Another option is to buy your tickets on StubHub or SeatGeek. You can do this ahead of time or, if you buy them close to game time or just after the game has started, you might get lucky and snag a pair of tickets for less than the face-value price.
Where to stay when visiting Kansas City to watch a Royals baseball game
There are a number of hotels right across from Kaufman Stadium where the Kansas City Royals play their home games.
The Drury Inn & Suites Kansas City Stadium is rated 4.5 out of 5 and has a Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor. At around $200 a night it might be a little pricey for a thrifty tourist but it does include a free breakfast, free dinner and there’s an outdoor pool.
For about the same price you can stay at the WoodSpring Suites Hotel Kansas City Stadium. It too is rated 4.5 out of 5 and has earned a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor reviewers. There’s no free breakfast, dinner or pool here but the rooms do include a full-size fridge along with a sink and stove.
If you’re bringing your kids with you on your road trip to see the Blue Jays play the Royals you will probably want to stay at the Adam’s Mark Hotel and Conference Center. It’s just a walk away from Kaufman Stadium and features a waterpark and arcade, plus there is a free shuttle bus to the stadium.
With all three of these hotels being so close to Kaufman Stadium they fill up fast. This was the case when our ThrifyTourist.ca reporter tried to book his accommodations. As a result he and his crew ended up staying at the Days Inn Kansas City.
Being further away from the Stadium the Days Inn Kansas City was a little cheaper at approximately $130 a night but it did include a free breakfast and there was a swimming pool to cool off in (Kansas City summers can be very hot and humid).
Kaufman Stadium is just a five-minute drive away or you can take a cab for a $10 flat rate which the hotel had pre-negotiated with a local taxi company.
If you want to drive your own vehicle to the stadium parking is $15 or you can park across the street in a lot for $10.
Thrifty Tips and Suggestions for your road trip to see the Blue Jays in Kansas City
- For $5 more, you can get into Kaufman Stadium an hour earlier and see the Royals take batting practice. You can stand right behind the dugout, which can make it easier to get autographs from the players.
- Food and beer prices at Kaufman stadium were equivalent to what you would pay at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
- If you want, you can bring in your own food and drinks into the stadium as long as they are sealed and non-alcoholic.
- If you’re a beer connoisseur pay a visit to the Craft & Draft section of the stadium which is a pub located on the third base side of the field and features 75 beers on tap.
- As I mentioned above, summers in Kansas City can be very hot and humid. If you sit in the outfield next to the famous waterfall, the mist from the falls will help keep you cool.
- At the end of every Friday night game there is a free fireworks show.
- Want to play a cheap round of golf? Book a tee time at the Royal Meadows Golf Club where you can play a round of 18, with a cart, for just $28.
- Kansas City is known for its BBQ joints. One that is rated in the top 10 on TripAdvisor is BB’s Lawnside Blues and BBQ. The meats (sausage, chicken, beef, pork) are slow-smoked in BB’s 60+ year old pit—try the meat platter, order a cold beer and enjoy the live music.
Check Groupon for Deals on Things to Do and Cheap Eats in Kansas City
A great way to enjoy almost-free things to do in Kansas City, Missouri is to check Groupon, the money-saving website that features local discounts in 150 cities.
Visit the Kansas City Groupon page and you’ll find savings of anywhere from 40-90% on tours, comedy, theatre, activities, places to eat, accommodations and more.
The Groupon Kansas City page is a smart place to check out when you’re first planning your trip and even when you’re in the middle of your Kansas City visit because new deals get added weekly and even daily many times.
Be thrifty and practical! This information was accurate when published, but can change without notice. We recommend you confirm all details with the provider in question before planning your excursion.
Photo credits: VisitKC, TripAdvisor.
