Drones or fireworks? Why not both? Royals plan double Fourth of July shows in KC
Colorful displays will light up the sky this week, thanks to the flurry of fireworks celebrations planned for the Fourth of July around Kansas City and throughout Kansas and Missouri.
That includes double spectacles at Kauffman Stadium, and they’re not related to the exciting play of Bobby Witt Jr.
The Royals are hosting Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday and Thursday after their games against the Tampa Bay Rays that fans can stick around to watch.
The first is a “Fireworks and Drone Show Spectacular,” where more than 300 drones will create patriotic light displays Wednesday as fireworks shoot in the air.
The team brought drone shows to its postgame entertainment lineup in 2022, said Chandra Stadtmueller, Royals manager of game entertainment, and it’s been a popular addition. She saw drones were being used at events in the area more than fireworks and wanted to see what the Royals could do with them.
The team last used them in September after a game against the Miami Marlins. They wanted to make this year’s show bigger than before and since it’s right before the holiday, they decided to add fireworks to the display.
“We kind of hopped on the newest and greatest technology out there, and it’s a fun, new addition versus just seeing fireworks,” she said. “But it’s funny because you think people would get tired of seeing the same stuff blow up in the sky, but they still love fireworks just as much.”
Other teams around the MLB added it to their rotation after seeing the Royals’ display, she said.
The drones will be programmed to show various American-themed images that Stadtmueller’s team have prepared, like bald eagles and the Statue of Liberty. They’ll also be away from where the fireworks are lit, so none of the drones catch fire and ruin the show.
The postgame display will run for around eight minutes, Stadtmueller said.
The Independence Day postgame festivities only include fireworks, but Statdmueller said it will be a bigger show since it’s a holiday. The fireworks will run for around 10 minutes after the game’s conclusion.
How can I see the Royals’ drone and fireworks shows?
The Royals play the Rays at 7:10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets for Wednesday’s game start at $20 per person, and tickets for Thursday’s game start at $23 per person.
A ticket to the game will get you access to the postgame drone and fireworks display, which you can watch from your seat. You can also buy a special pass to watch the shows from a special outfield spot at Kauffman Stadium for $45 per night.
Passes are bought in addition to a game ticket, but you cannot buy a field pass for the show without a gameday ticket:
