Kansas City Royals: Comparing Kauffman Stadium to Newest MLB Park

Sports Complex vs. Shopping Center

When it comes to comparing Kauffman Stadium and SunTrust Park, the biggest difference is easily location. Comparing the Truman Sports Complex to The Battery Atlanta is like comparing night and day.

As Kansas City Royals fans know, the Truman Sports Complex includes The K and Arrowhead Stadium. The respective homes of the Chiefs and Royals are surrounded by vast parking lots. It’s a destination people only have reason to visit when one of the teams is hosting a game. The rest of the time—for the most part—the complex sits unused by the public at large.

Contrast that with the location of SunTrust Park.

After moving from the downtown Atlanta location of Turner Field, the new ballpark sits in Cobb County. While the move from the heart of the ATL would suggest a somewhat more secluded area, that’s far from the case.

SunTrust Park is easily accessible from interstates 75 or 285 and is located in an advantageous area. Two different shopping centers sit in close proximity to the stadium. There are also several places to eat and shop just outside the ballpark in The Battery Atlanta.

To put in perspective how much the Braves value the area around the ballpark, it was reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that SunTrust Park would cost $672 million to build. The entertainment district—which would eventually be called The Battery Atlanta—would be a $400 million project.

Advantage: SunTrust Park. The Battery Atlanta allows for the area, which even includes living spaces, to have a vibrant social scene even when the Braves aren’t playing.