A wire service called it a "delighted" crowd of 39,464 that watched the first game at Royals Stadium on April 10, 1973. Sitting in their cool, new ballpark, Royals' fans cheered Amos Otis, Paul Splittorff and the rest as they drummed the Texas Rangers, 12-1. After that, tickets to the K that year were easy to score. A mere 8,581 spectators showed up on April 11 to check out the fountains, the artificial turf and the American League's new designated-hitter rule. Attendance really didn't pick up until the 1976 Royals won the AL West Division. The Royals no longer play in the AL West, but the Rangers still do. Texas makes its one-and-only appearance of the year at the remodeled Kauffman Stadium (Interstate 70 and the Blue Ridge Cutoff) this weekend. A fireworks show commences at the conclusion of tonight's 7:10 game. Call 816-504-4040 for tickets.
Fri., July 24, 7:10 p.m.; Sat., July 25, 6:10 p.m.; Sun., July 26, 1:10 p.m., 2009
