Partnership will begin at Kauffman Stadium in 2028, establishing the local relationships and operational foundation for the Royals new home
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals and global hospitality company Delaware North today announced a new partnership that will make Delaware North Sportservice the food and beverage provider for the Royals new downtown ballpark in the heart of Kansas City.
Sportservice will begin operations at Kauffman Stadium in 2028, giving the Royals and Delaware North an opportunity to build the team, systems and local relationships that will carry forward to the new ballpark.
The partnership will place Kansas City’s culinary community at the center of the future food and beverage experience. The Royals and Sportservice will work with area restaurants, businesses, purveyors and culinary talent to create a program that reflects the region and helps ensure the new ballpark feels welcoming and connected to the community it will serve.
“Delaware North has a proven track record of best-in-class service with an entrepreneurial spirit and high value on distinctively local options for fans,” Royals President of Business Operations Cullen Maxey said. “Their experience and success in other ballparks and the feedback we have seen from fans in those cities gives us confidence they are the right partner. Our new ballpark will be a reflection of Kansas City and our fans, and this partnership is a critical piece of bringing that vision to life.”
Sportservice, Delaware North’s sports hospitality business, has been serving Major League Baseball fans since 1930 and currently partners with 10 MLB clubs. Seven rank among the top 10 in Major League Baseball’s “Voice of the Consumer” survey for concessions, including the No. 1 and No. 3 spots.
“The Royals have a tremendous connection to Kansas City, and we’re honored to help bring their vision for the new ballpark to life,” said Tom Barney, President of Sportservice. “That starts with listening to the community and building meaningful relationships with the local restaurants, businesses and culinary partners that make Kansas City distinctive. Beginning our work at Kauffman Stadium in 2028 will allow us to establish those relationships and build an experienced local team before carrying that foundation into the Royals new home.”
Beginning operations at Kauffman Stadium in 2028 will also allow Sportservice to recruit, train and develop its Kansas City team ahead of the move. That continuity will support a smooth transition and establish a strong operational foundation for the future ballpark.
ABOUT THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS: The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team operated by a hometown ownership group led by Chairman and CEO John Sherman. Ewing Kauffman founded the club in 1969 because, in his words, “I believe the people of Kansas City deserved a Major League Baseball team.” No MLB team founded along with or since can match the Royals four American League pennants and two World Series Championships. Since Sherman’s purchase, the Royals won the Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence in 2021 and been a finalist three other times.