Getting ‘The K’ ready for gameday: Inside the Royals’ grounds crew’s operation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - If you’re one of those people who work to keep a lush, green lawn, you know how hard it can be.

Now, imagine keeping an entire baseball field. Just how are the groundkeepers at Kauffman Stadium able to keep the grass so lush, so green, so beautiful -- no matter what Mother Nature deals out?

KCTV5 talked with head groundkeeper Trever Vance. This week, Vance is tasked with taking up the old field, and putting in a new field.

Workers started right after the Royals wrapped up with Detroit on Sunday, June 1, and will have it ready and waiting when the Yankees come in for the next home stand on Tuesday, June 10.

“We replaced a field about every eight years, just because of all their organic buildup and everything,” said Vance. “Just trying to always provide the best playing surface for our team.”

Vance knows a thing or three about grass. He’s been on the groundskeeping team at the K for 40 years, and he’s hoping for another 10.

“Just call it an even 50,” he said.

“I’m (a believer in) the old KISS--Keep it simple, stupid,” said Vance. “That’s the way I was raised. I know what grass needs. I know when it needs it. You get to know your field, like your child.”

This week, groundskeepers are putting in a Bermuda grass that has a great track record of being able to withstand some of the toughest winters.

“It was designed at Oklahoma State,” said Vance. “People are using it all over the country now. It’s probably the hottest Bermuda out there where it’s where it takes cold weather.”

Vance points out that Kansas City gets as hot as Texas, and as cold as Minnesota. And while there is not one ideal grass that grows year-round, we’re getting into the perfect weather for the new Bermuda field.

“And with this Bermuda, now it’s going to love the rest of the summer and give us a great playing surface,” said Vance.

Vance isn’t too concerned about the rain.

“This field is built on sand, so it’ll take all the rain,” said Vance. Plus, the sod is about an inch and a half thick.

“But we still need to know what we got to get ready for,” said Vance. “I would love to control the moisture, but Mother Nature is going to give us what she gives us.”

He says he has the tools to overcome the weather, but it’s not always easy.

‘If you can grow grass in Kansas City, you can grow it anywhere in the country,” said Vance.

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