BANZ® at the K
Where the crowd gets loud, the sun gets real, and the app keeps track of both.
Series: BANZ® in the Stands | Game Day with BANZ®
Author: Shari Murphy, BANZ® Carewear USA
A day at Kauffman: the Royals, the noise, and a lot of sunshine
We spent a full day out at Kauffman Stadium for a Royals game, and it might be one of the best all-around family days we've had at a ballpark. Kauffman does a lot of things right for families: shade, splash pads, quiet space, and enough energy in the stands to make the BANZ® Protect app earn its keep.
Using the app to actually see the noise
One of the more useful things we did all day was just glance at the BANZ Protect app between innings. It tracks UV index and noise level in real time, right from your phone, using the microphone.
- Early in the game, noise sat comfortably in the “safe” range, down in the 60s
- Once the crowd got into it, readings jumped into the high 80s, flagged as “Protect”
- The app doesn’t just show a number — it tells you when hearing protection is actually worth grabbing
In-game entertainment that hypes the whole stadium up
Kauffman doesn’t leave crowd noise to chance. Between innings, the scoreboard is doing its part:
- A “Get Loud” graphic that cues the whole stadium to make noise on command
- “Take Me Out With the Crown” during the seventh inning stretch, sung by the whole place
- Fountain shows and lighting that ramp the energy up after a good play
It’s genuinely fun — and it’s exactly the kind of moment where a noise spike sneaks up on kids fastest, since they’re cheering right along with everyone else.
The noise meter doesn’t lie
Between the crowd reactions, the entertainment cues, and a packed section on a big play, our readings climbed into the high 80s more than once. That’s well into the range where hearing protection is worth having on hand — not just for babies, but for kids of any age spending hours in that kind of sound.
A quiet zone, tucked away
Something worth knowing before you go: Kauffman has a designated Quiet Zone, set back away from the main concourse traffic and noise. It’s clearly marked and meant for anyone who needs a break from the sound or the crowd — not just kids. If sensory overwhelm is ever a real consideration for your family, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes a day out easier to plan around.
Ice cream in a helmet, because obviously
No day at the ballpark is complete without a mini batting helmet sundae, and Kauffman does not disappoint. It’s a small thing, but it might be the single best souvenir of the day — the kids agree every time.
Splash pads, play areas, and actual shade
This is where Kauffman really wins for families. The kids’ area in the outfield concourse has a splash pad and play space, and there’s real shade back there, not just a strip of awning. We spent a solid chunk of the afternoon back there and it made the whole day easier.
- The splash pad area gets busy between innings — plan for a short wait
- Shade doesn’t mean skip the water — everyone still needs to stay hydrated
- The rest areas are a good reset spot if noise or sun start to feel like too much
A word for the dads
If you’re the dad attempting the classic nine beers in nine innings challenge: friendly reminder that the app tracks noise and UV, not your pace. Pace yourself accordingly — and maybe let the kids handle water bottle duty for both of you.
Before your next game at the K
Kauffman has a genuinely different feel than a lot of stadiums — more room to spread out, more shade, and enough family-focused spaces that a full day there doesn’t feel like an endurance test. Bring sunscreen, bring water, keep an eye on the app, and let the kids have their ice cream helmet. That’s really it.
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Shari Murphy is COO of BANZ® Carewear USA, a 25-year-old children's hearing and sun protection brand trusted by 2M+ families across 6 continents. She joined BANZ® in 2006 as office manager and has grown with the brand for 20 years across marketing, business development, and operations. She has five children — ages 17 to 27 — all raised in BANZ products. Her youngest still wears the earmuffs she got at age 5.