Baseball fans in Kansas City have become accustomed to the routine. For one weekend a year, St. Louis Cardinals fans take over Kauffman Stadium and watch their heroes beat up on their sad-sack American League cousins.
But not this year! The Royals are off to a respectable 18-16 start, and the organization is beginning to act as though it has a purpose greater than providing employment for team owner David Glass' son, Dan. Demonstrating new pride, the team has launched a "Keep the K Blue" campaign in an effort to nudge fans of the hometown team to buy tickets for the May 20-22 series against the Cards.
Sure, it would be nice to hear boos instead of cheers when Tony LaRussa, St. Louis' terminally annoying manager, leaves the dugout to make a move next weekend. But the Cardinals' popularity throughout Missouri is well-earned. The franchise is more than 100 years old, and it makes the postseason on a regular basis. The Royals are trying to reclaim the relevance they lost around the time that the players went on strike in 1994.
Plus, Kansas City wins when Cardinals fans from Springfield and Ballwin come to town and spend money.
Proponents of new sports stadiums and arenas inflate their power to contribute to the local economy. No wealth is created when a family in Lee's Summit chooses a ballgame over a movie. But for one weekend a year -- the one when Albert Pujols mans first base, and the K fills with people whose cell phones weren't issued with 913 or 816 area codes -- the promise of economic activity is real enough.
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