Kansas City / St. Louis Road Trip Tips and Suggestions Please

[natron20]

Hey Everyone,

I am heading out later this week for a road trip to Kauffman Stadium and the new Busch Stadium. We will be watching the Thursday and Friday games in KC then heading to St. Louis for their Saturday afternoon game.

Here are some questions that I am hoping some can help me with.

In KC should I go ahead and buy tickets on StubHub or are tickets cheap and plentiful outside of Kauffman Stadium before the game? The other issue I'm struggling with is for one game I was thinking of buying a couple of cheap $10-$15 tickets for the Thursday game and then splurging on Friday and spending around $50 each. The problem is ticket prices seem to be rather inflated on StubHub right now, hence whether I should wait until game time or bite the bullet and go ahead and buy some.

When attending a game at Kauffman are there any particular sections we should try to sit in?

Does anyone know where I can find a Gates BBQ in KC? We are planning to stay at the Holiday Inn next to Kauffman Stadium and just walk over so if there are any Gates BBQ joints near here I would greatly appreciate details on how I should get there.

Also, I will try to take pictures of the Kauffman Stadium renovations and post them here for everyone to see.

The Friday game is a night game of course but the game Saturday in St. Louis is Saturday at 1. We are trying to decide if we should get up early on Saturday and drive from KC to St. Louis or if we should hit the road and drive a few hours Friday night to allow for a few more hours in St. Louis the next day. Has anyone ever tried this trip? Any thoughts or suggestions on how we should do this? As it stands right now the group will be staying in KC Friday night but now I'm thinking about maybe driving a few hours after the game and staying somewhere in between.

(I already have tickets for St. Louis so that is already taking care of at least).

Thanks in advance to any and all for suggestions and guidance.

[Brokertothestars]

Hi,
I live in St Louis and have friends in KC so know the routine well. Don't bother with StubHub as there are always lots of available seats in KC, unless the Yankees/Red Sox/Cardinals are in town. Should be people selling, or you can just walk up to the box office.
Re Gates BBQ, I would skip Gates altogether in favor of Arthur Bryant's. A KC BBQ institution, and not far from the stadium.
The drive from KC to STL is around 4 hours. You could drive half way to Columbia, MO after the game. Columbia is home to the University of MO, so there are plenty of reasonable hotels right off of I-70. Otherwise, you could just leave early a.m. from KC and get to Busch in plenty of time....

Have fun!
BTTS

[mdseverin]

Hey Everyone,

I am heading out later this week for a road trip to Kauffman Stadium and the new Busch Stadium. We will be watching the Thursday and Friday games in KC then heading to St. Louis for their Saturday afternoon game.

Here are some questions that I am hoping some can help me with.

In KC should I go ahead and buy tickets on StubHub or are tickets cheap and plentiful outside of Kauffman Stadium before the game? The other issue I'm struggling with is for one game I was thinking of buying a couple of cheap $10-$15 tickets for the Thursday game and then splurging on Friday and spending around $50 each. The problem is ticket prices seem to be rather inflated on StubHub right now, hence whether I should wait until game time or bite the bullet and go ahead and buy some.

When attending a game at Kauffman are there any particular sections we should try to sit in?

Does anyone know where I can find a Gates BBQ in KC? We are planning to stay at the Holiday Inn next to Kauffman Stadium and just walk over so if there are any Gates BBQ joints near here I would greatly appreciate details on how I should get there.

Also, I will try to take pictures of the Kauffman Stadium renovations and post them here for everyone to see.

The Friday game is a night game of course but the game Saturday in St. Louis is Saturday at 1. We are trying to decide if we should get up early on Saturday and drive from KC to St. Louis or if we should hit the road and drive a few hours Friday night to allow for a few more hours in St. Louis the next day. Has anyone ever tried this trip? Any thoughts or suggestions on how we should do this? As it stands right now the group will be staying in KC Friday night but now I'm thinking about maybe driving a few hours after the game and staying somewhere in between.

(I already have tickets for St. Louis so that is already taking care of at least).

Thanks in advance to any and all for suggestions and guidance.

The closest Gates BBQ is about 5-10 minutes from the stadium. The address is: 10440 East 40 Highway, Independence, MO.

As far as tickets, I'm sure you can get some at the stadium. In years past it has been very easy but I'm not sure how the demand is now that the renovation is copmplete. Have you tried the Royals website for tickets already?

I think all the seats at Kauffman are great. I want to try the new fountain seats since the K has never had outfield seating. The nice thing with the renovation is you can now walk around the entire stadium. So even if you don't have tickets to the outfield seats, you can still walk over there and check out the view. They also have the new Pepsi porch that is SRO. I hope you enjopy your trip. The K is a great place for baseball.

The only thing I would have advised you against was getting a hotel near the stadium. There really isn't much to do around there. But since you plan on walking, you do save $ on parking.

[DiggerODell]

So cool natron20! Myself, my wife and two of my kiddos plan to do a similar trip the 21st & 22nd of May (KC & Stl.) Through some great information provided to me on about page 5 or 6 of this thread we plan to hit Arthur Bryants BBQ (approx 2-3 miles west from the ballpark) at 1727 Brooklyn Ave. That is approx 4 blocks from the site of old Municipal Stadium site at 22nd & Brooklyn. Time permitting after a day game at Kauffman and vittles at Arthurs, the Negro Hall of Fame is just 6 blocks due west from the BBQ eatery. Then onto St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee & Minnesota. Hope ya'll have a good time on your trip!

[natron20]

Thanks to everyone who responded!

We have decided to hit the Arthur place for BBQ too. After researching it more we decided to try it for lunch the day we visit the Negro League Museum. Thanks for providing the details about the location.

I looked into hotels in Columbia and that would turn out to be a bad idea for this weekend. It turns out the University of Missouri will be having their graduation services so pretty much every place I checked was booked. It looks like we will be doing the early morning drive from KC to StL on Saturday.

In regards to tickets, I have gone ahead and bought some for Friday's game in KC because Grienke (sp?) is pitching plus it turns out to be fireworks night. I believe it will be a sellout. I have not yet bought tickets for the Thursday night game but from royals.com I can see that the place is going to be close to capacity. No reasonably priced tickets were available as of this morning. I think we will try our luck outside the stadium Thursday night.

I'm hoping to bum a camera for the trip. If I am able to do so I'll try to upload pictures for my BF folks.

On a side note, does anyone have any tips on parking in St. Louis? Also, are there any food options inside the stadium considered to be a local favorite that we should be sure to try (i.e. Dodger Dog, Montgomery Inn BBQ in Cincy, etc.)

Thanks again everyone! MUCH APPRECIATED!

[JRH11]

As long as there is nothing else going on downtown, weekend parking is very easy. You'll find many lots/garages within several blocks for $10.

Get there early and walk around the outside so you can see the statues.

If you are interestd in driving over to see where Sportsman's Park was located (just a few miles away), shoot me a PM and I'll walk you thorugh what you need to do. The site of Robison Field is also just around the corner. The Cardinals played at Robison Field until 1920.

[mazaratirick07]

I have been to KC a few times and A. Bryants is everything its cracked up to be... then you have to do the Negro museum cuz its down the street and it will make your toes tingle if you are a fan of baseball!...

[mandrake]

I have been to KC a few times and A. Bryants is everything its cracked up to be... then you have to do the Negro museum cuz its down the street and it will make your toes tingle if you are a fan of baseball!...

I love Bryant's. I have some sauce here in my kitchen. However, most of my friends did NOT like their sauce....it is so different, it's been described as a 'gritty' gravy more than what you expect from BBQ sauce. I saw Bryants recently on the food network or travel channel and it is 'gentrified' now. It wasn't like that 25 years ago ! The new owner was yapping about 'burnt ends' being a huge seller; I recall when they did not sell them but inclyded them no charge-sometimes gave them away as 'scraps' to local people looking for a meal.

All of my friends loved Gates, and there are at least 6 locations if I recall. No atmosphere, more like a fast food locale.

Never cared for Zarda. Jack Stack's was not around 'in my day'. Did not like Hayward's despite dating a girl who lovesd that place. Probably why I dumped her.:rolleyes:

Nope you have a great time....maybe you can stop buy Truman's house and presidential library over in Independence.

[mdseverin]

I love Bryant's. I have some sauce here in my kitchen. However, most of my friends did NOT like their sauce....it is so different, it's been described as a 'gritty' gravy more than what you expect from BBQ sauce. I saw Bryants recently on the food network or travel channel and it is 'gentrified' now. It wasn't like that 25 years ago ! The new owner was yapping about 'burnt ends' being a huge seller; I recall when they did not sell them but inclyded them no charge-sometimes gave them away as 'scraps' to local people looking for a meal.

All of my friends loved Gates, and there are at least 6 locations if I recall. No atmosphere, more like a fast food locale.

Never cared for Zarda. Jack Stack's was not around 'in my day'. Did not like Hayward's despite dating a girl who lovesd that place. Probably why I dumped her.:rolleyes:

Nope you have a great time....maybe you can stop buy Truman's house and presidential library over in Independence.

I agree not everyone loves Bryant's. It is different but I think everyone should try it. I do like Jack Stacks and I love Haywords. They have great sandwiches and onion rings.

[Brokertothestars]

Re KC BBQ

If you're really feeling adventurous, check out LC's BBQ

http://www.lcsbar-b-que.nv.switchboard.com/

It's one exit from the sports complex off of I-435, the BBQ is dynamite - best beef brisket I've had period! The burnt ends are also very good.

It's more of a to-go destination vs Bryant's. It's sort of in no-man's-land, not really a neighborhood per se, but not an area I'd want to sit and have a relaxing pig-out session!

Cheers!

[KingmanIII]

Re KC BBQ

If you're really feeling adventurous, check out LC's BBQ

http://www.lcsbar-b-que.nv.switchboard.com/

It's one exit from the sports complex off of I-435, the BBQ is dynamite - best beef brisket I've had period! The burnt ends are also very good.

It's more of a to-go destination vs Bryant's. It's sort of in no-man's-land, not really a neighborhood per se, but not an area I'd want to sit and have a relaxing pig-out session!

Cheers!

Dude, I was JUST ABOUT to type this!

Take it from a fellow Kansas Citian: LC's is THE place to go for KC BBQ. The location is an absolute craphole, but if these photos don't get your mouth watering, either a) you're a vegan, or b) you've lost your tastebuds.

http://www.roadfood.com/photos/9185.jpg
http://www.roadfood.com/photos/9186.jpg
http://www.roadfood.com/photos/5938.jpg
http://www.roadfood.com/photos/5940.jpg
http://www.roadfood.com/photos/5939.jpg

[Brokertothestars]

Dude......those pictures are amazing.....Almost cracked a tooth trying to bite the pic of the brisket sandwich!!

[mazaratirick07]

yumm i miss burnt ends