Royals Host Grow with the Pros Event on March 23

The Kansas City Royals, together with Royals Charities and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, will host the Grow with the Pros Open House at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  During the event, which is free to the public, fans will have an opportunity to learn tips and techniques on grass and field maintenance from the Royals Grounds Crew and participating vendors. 

In conjunction with Grow with the Pros, fans can also visit with Royals sales associates to learn more about a great variety of season ticket packages and select from the best available season ticket seat locations.  Fans have the opportunity to choose a 21-game, half-season or full-season plan or select the games that work best with their individual schedules with the Royals 15 Pick'em Plan.  Through the Pick'em Plan, which starts at just $150 for a minimum of 15 games, fans can choose from all 81 home games (including Opening Day) to build a perfect 15-game plan!  Plus, stock up on the latest merchandise at the Majestic Team Store, which will offer a 20 percent discount to fans during the event.  

Beginning at 10 a.m., fans will have the chance to step onto the Kauffman Stadium field and visit with members of the Royals Grounds Crew - including Trevor Vance, Director-Groundskeeping and Landscaping - and local vendors set up along the warning track.  Raffles and drawings with prizes from participating vendors will also be held throughout the event.

Local vendors scheduled to participate include: 

Fans may enter the Truman Sports Complex through Gate 1, located off Blue Ridge Cutoff on the east side of the complex; the Premium Entrance/Bus Exit, located off Stadium Drive on the west side; or the Gate 5 Truck Lane off Raytown Road.  Fans should park in Lot M and enter through the Royals Majestic Team Store located next to Gate C.  For additional information, please visit www.royals.com/openhouse or www.royals.com/grow.

Following the Grow with the Pros Open House, Royals Charities and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will host a private field maintenance clinic for previous grant recipients.  In conjunction with the clinic, Royals Charities and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will present $10,000 grants to both Lee's Summit (Mo.) North High School and Grain Valley (Mo.) High School for baseball field upgrades.     

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches' training materials and other selected program expenses.  Since its formation by the MLBPA and MLB in 1999, BTF has awarded approximately 665 grants totaling more than $23 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia.  More than 325,000 youth players have benefited from programs and facilities supported by the fund.  BTF also facilitates league-wide initiatives including the collection and distribution of new and gently used equipment to organizations in need as well as field maintenance education clinics.  For more information, visit baseballtomorrowfund.com and follow BTF on Facebook, Twitter and MLBlogs.

Royalty Fields, an ongoing Royals Charities matching grant program, provides financial support to improve baseball and/or softball facilities throughout the Midwest.  Since its inception in 2006, Royalty Fields has awarded more than 60 matching grants.

For additional information, members of the media may contact the Royals Publicity Department at (816) 921-8000.