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Royals Bring Kauffman Fences In for 2026 to Make Park More Neutral

Team officials say analytics guided the redesign to reward well‑hit balls without turning The K into a bandbox.

Overview

  • Left- and right-field corners move in nine feet to 347 and 344 feet, the alleys shift from 389 to 379 feet, center field stays 410, and wall height drops to 8½ feet.
  • The reconfiguration adds roughly 230 outfield seats, including about 150 in left field and 80 drink‑rail spots in right.
  • An internal study led by Dr. Daniel Mack modeled wind, temperature, altitude and batted‑ball run values, resulting in a near‑symmetrical layout that preserves the batter’s eye.
  • Statcast data showed Kauffman suppressed home runs (around an 85 HR park factor) while boosting doubles and triples, motivating the change.
  • The club projects about 1.5 additional home wins per season, expects benefits for its power bats without major pitching trade‑offs, and frames the shift as a multi‑year step before a planned new ballpark after 2030.