Strong start, fan turnout go together for Royals

KANSAS CITY -- Royals owner David Glass is extremely pleased with the team's 16-9 start. Glass also is delighted with the support from Royals fans.

After drawing 143,609 fans for the four-game series with Detroit, Kansas City is averaging 30,965 fans per game at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals are on pace to top 2.5 million fans for the season, which would break the club record of 2,477,700 set in 1989.

"It's not just the Detroit series, but all the games so far," Glass said by phone. "There's nothing better than looking out over the stadium and seeing everyone in blue. It's a beautiful sight."

The attendance spike is significant -- last year through 13 games, the Royals were averaging 19,674 fans -- because Glass committed to a franchise-record payroll of more than $112 million, which is up more than $20 million from last season.

Glass made the commitment despite a local television contract that ranks among the lowest in baseball.

"The really big television money is in the bigger markets in California and New York," Glass said. "Unfortunately we don't have that available to us. But we'll make do."

Glass is not surprised in the least by the fan support at The K.

"The fans in Kansas City have proven again that this is truly a great baseball town," Glass said. "If you put a decent product out there, they will support you.

"They have been supporting us for years, and that support really grew last fall and into this season. We owe it to the fans to compete and put the best product on the field that we can."

A solid start on the field this season was vital, Glass said.

"It is a great start, and we really needed that to build on the October momentum we had," Glass said. "We've done that. It's unfortunate we've had so many injuries, to our right fielder and to our shortstop and to our closer. Last year, we were fortunate to not have that many injuries.

"But fortunately, we have the depth to be able to handle it. And the guys who have filled in have been very competitive.

"Dayton [Moore] and his staff have done a really good job of getting talented guys who also have high character, and that's why they fit in so well here. And I think that's why they play so well together."

And Glass has high expectations for the rest of the season.

"I told Ned [Yost] he needed to win every game," Glass said with a laugh. "He's already messed that up. But he can make amends by winning the rest of them."