The Royals are spending “less than $5M” to have their Kaufman Field outfield fences brought in prior to next season, GM J.J. Picollo told local reporters during a Tuesday news conference.
“I don’t have the exact number but it’s less than what you might’ve thought,” Picollo said. “It’s less than $5 million. As we get closer to the end of the project, we can get more specific.”
The change will result in the addition of approximately 150 left-field seats and 80 drink-rail seats in right field. The team will not lose any of its 130 feet of LED boards, though they will be “moving in and slightly towards the wings,” Picollo said.
The team is on schedule to finish the project at least 10 days before Opening Day, Picollo said. Kansas City starts the 2026 season March 27 on the road in Atlanta before its March 30 home opener against the Twins.
The LF and RF walls are moving in nine to 10 feet, according to MLB, “starting close to the foul poles and then tapering toward CF, where 410 feet will remain the distance from homeplate.” The wall height will change from 10 feet to 8.5 feet in most places.