Kansas City is in a DEEP love affair with the hometown baseball team…
When the Royals play it’s stop what you’re doing and watch the game time.
Kansas City wants to ride the Royals bandwagon in the worst way to try and gain some damn respect. That’s pretty clear. Now we’re a town that loves our two big pro teams, the Chiefs in the NFL and the Royals in MLB.
Both teams have been trapped in Nowhereville for decades.
While the Chiefs sometimes back into post season play, they haven’t won a playoff game in more than two decades. And for the Royals until last year, make that three decades.
We’re used to never hearing or seeing much about our teams on ESPN because they haven’t been important enough.
Well, now one of them is.
And not just because the Kansas City Royals were in the World Series last year, they started off this season with seven straight wins – and even better – now they’ve become controversial with big, bench clearing brawls.
Now the Royals have got a little bad boy in them, like me.
And god, do local baseball fans love it.
We have a young team that’s really good and has reality tv fights, You gotta love that.
Lord knows baseball needs a shot in the arm to gain more attention, especially from a younger following. Outside of Mike Trout, not too many average fans know many other players on other teams these days.
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 12: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals holds back Yordano Ventura #30 from Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels after his run to trail 7-2 during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 12, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The game has few stars, and baseball needs new stars and fast.
And who better than a guy like Eric Hosmer or Yordano “Ace” Ventura.
Nice ring, huh?
Eric is handsome, young and may be a huge star in the making – a young Johnny Damon – maybe better.
Not only are the Royals packing the ballpark, we’re watching the games on the tube because they’re all televised.
The George Brett Era wasn’t like that.
We loved the Royals of the 1970’s and 1980’s, because they were so good – with two World Series appearances and one win. However, the home games were not on TV and we got so used to them winning that every regular season game was not a must see like they seem to be today.
People still went out and did other things at night.
Now, not so much – at least at this point in the season.
The Royals have everyone’s attention.
Every game seems really important. We gotta watch. People are glued to their tv sets eating pizza and drinking beer. Why not? It’s inexpensive family fun.
Does it slow up the nightlife in KC? You bet.
Why go out to eat when you can stay home and watch the game for free! Saves money, KC wins, everyone feels good.
Remember, most Royals fans of the Brett era are over 50 today.
But this is all new to younger folks.
It’s their first time having a WINNING TEAM. It matters and Kansas City wants to be part of the feelings the players now have. We matter. We’re winners.
This year’s Royals are a MLB blessing with more to come.
True, it’s early, but even with injuries and suspensions, until Sunday KC had the American League’s best record.
And there are some big series ahead for weekends to come with Detroit and St. Louis.
All at home.
We may be in for an endless summer of playoff type game atmospheres.
That’s the good news…
The bad news is with people staying home more and watching the games, live evening entertainment including movies, restaurants, bars (that aren’t sports bars), concerts and the like are taking a financial hit. Which isn’t good for our economy.
Hey, if it makes Kansas City feel good, maybe that’s what matters most.
Because barring major injuries or a complete breakdown, these young guys are one of baseball’s best teams and will be in the post season again come this fall.
as a business owner…you compete with every type of business and entertainment
outlet. But we were at maloneys Saturday and they were packed for the ufc
matches on ppv.
I saw your list of comics and never heard of any of them…nor have I seen any
of them….and all the big shows are just starting.
I think you’ve got to up your lineup of commics just like the royals upped
their lineup of players.
good luck…this weekend its Detroit and its the two best teams in AL….
you better have some talent this weekend to compete with those gamees
because they’re in kc.
good luck….its a long season.
Allow me to step in for Craig here…
While it’s true, entertainment venues compete at every level, I think Craig’s points are valid.
Certainly grocery, liquor and perhaps carryout food places will benefit from Kansas Citians bunkering another 160 nights a year – plus playoffs. And it could be argued that those people will maybe have more disposable income left to spend in other areas.
However, if people go out that much less, especially on weekends, it’s not going to be good for bars and restaurants and maybe blowing alleys, miniature golf courses, T Bones baseball games, Sporting KC gamees, comedy clubs, movie theaters and other businesses that cater to the going out crowd (in other words non Star subscribers).
As for Craig’s comics, my experience has always been that the best comics at Stanford’s are the ones I’ve never heard of. They book some excellent comics and with three a night it’s a bargain.
The bigger name, established comics are going to play far larger venues, so Craig and other comedy clubs can’t just start booking Lisa Lampanelli and Jim Jeffries to “step up” like the Royals did.
What the public needs to realize is, the Lisa Lampanelli’s and Jim Jeffries of tomorrow are playing Stanford’s and similar sized comedy clubs TODAY.
Where do you think Lampanelli and Jeffries came from? They were the comics Harley never heard of just a handful of years back.
And that you never heard of some of these comics Harley, frankly says more about you than it does Stanford’s.
not really….hearne….stanfords has to compete with movies…
balls…concerts….other bars events (some are now charging
$1.00 for large draws….and they’re fighting for a diminishing
amount of disposable income from the public.
People don’t care that Stanford introduced some comics
40 years ago…they only care who’s on stage now.
And then for many people they have to get sitters…and the
costs of these igths put have increased.
You can get all the comedy you want on youtube…nextflix…
comedy channel…amazon….and all the websites gthat
carry comedy shows.
Hell…Obama’s stint Saturday night was funnier than
most of the comics I’ve seen on tv in the last 3 years!
Lewis black is at sprint…the improve has upped their
lineup….there’s more theatre…movie theatres…and options
for entertainment than ever before.
Saturday night had ufc and maloneys was packed….
You’re right…glaze can’t afford the top names…so it seems
that its names no one has heard of or old time comics from
the 80’s.
Hardly a way to attract that newer audience he wanted
to bring in to his new joco location.
I don’t follow comedy….I follow music…that’s why we
go to most of the starlight/sprint/smaller venueslike
brewtop where for $5.00 we have a blast.
This weekend about 130,000 people will be at the k…(thrus-sun)
sold out Friday and Saturday night….so that has got to
hurt.
I don’t know many of the names glaze promotes…he
used names of shows I don’t watch on tv as references…
and yes…the royals will hurt business at many places
especially restaurants and clubs early.
remember games end about 9pm this week…10-11pm on
Detroit series…except Saturday which finishes at
about 9pm (6pm start)….but just like the royals
who upped their lineup….every other entertainment
venue has to either promoteharder or offer better
value.
Right now (and probably thru October) the royals are
going to be “it” ……but that’s competition.
AS far as comedians do you know any of these names?
90% of the people don’t so until he gets some big names
or ones people are familiar its going to probably hurt his
business.
And despite your b.s……if people haven’t heard of these
comics…he’s been cut off of 2/3 of his listening audience
by entercoms ban…and people aren’t spending money like
before…he has to come up with some unique packages or
talent to draw in crowds.
I do wish him luck and hope his biz picks up but the public
isso tuned into the royals and with their games on fri
and sat. its going to be a tough summer.
sorry….I’m sure you never heard of many of these guys
unless you watch the fringe comedy shows on cable.
He always said this guy was on Chelsea…but we see where
she went!!!!!
and besides…john stewarts 15 minutes arefunnier than
most comedians 1-2 hours on stage.
sorry just my opinion.
Harley
In short, Stanford’s does compete with big time sports and movies, just not on the scale you describe…
They don’t have to and they aren’t built to.
People who go to Stanford’s and other comedy clubs see excellent, funny comics. And they know there will be some gems. Like when I saw Jerry Seinfeld there.
It’s a different formula, Harley, don’t you get that?
then hearne…why did he write this story..
and although I like the guy he’s out
hustling free tickets….
his formula is not different….I think thisweek
the improve is having the star of one of
MTV”s hottest shows…a girl…can’t remember
name…but they will sell out….
Hearne…again…you’re trying to take me on.
and every tme you do…you look bad.
So lets get glaze to tell us who said kc
night life is down…..I think its b.s.
hpe he makes it…but you are wrong again.
People want stars!!!!! put a new rock band
at sprint and see how many tics are sold no
matter how much pub they gt.
Put Fleetwood mac in there and they get
17k seats sold.
you were a small time promoter…my family
sold 100,000 tickets to single events….you
can’t beast me on this hearne….
stick with the hot dog guy…that is your
specialty.
Geez, I have to explain everything, I guess…
Craig is out “hustling” free tickets because that’s part of his marketing plan. More for slow selling, less well known acts – fewer for more popular, better known acts. Fewer for better weekend nights; more for slower weekday nights.
You can take things out of context all you want, H.
Sometimes the clubs getting somewhat bigger names and sell out. Other times they are developing acts.
People who go out and sample the shows because they like the comedy club experience find that accounting for taste, Stanford’s and other clubs bring in some excellent entertaining acts. And again, from my experience – and I’ve gone to a ton of shows – the best ones are the ones you never heard of.
When I say “accounting for taste,” I mean, find out of the act is a country act, urban, really dirty, etc in advance and make your decision that way. I’m not real big on the Larry the cable Guy type humor, for example.
Telling Craig to start booking big stars to keep up with the Rouyals is like telling the Record Bar they should start booking bands like Green Day to keep up with Sprint Center.
Clubs like the Record Bar are booking the Green Days of too and their patrons understand that and that’s why they go.
BTW, I really have no intention of “beasting” you, but thanks for thinking of me.
I’ll leave that to Paul Wilson.
blowing alleys? do you frequent those often ;-P
Just Hearne looking for love in all the wrong places.
hearne does….remember he’s married now! hahahaha!
I couldn’t have said it better than Hearne did. First off this article is not about us, we have been pretty busy. As for names, uh, we have plenty. This spring summer, from Richard Pryors daughter this week, Rain Pryor to TJ Miller, Andrew Santino, Jim Norton, Steve Hytner(Seinfeld Kenny Bania) coming later Carlos Mencia and tons more. I can’t book Bobby Slayton every week Harley, who you love but never came to see. You are older, the new guys out there have tv shows and films but you never heard of them cause you aren’t up on it…you only know the golden oldies who I still like and have like JJ Walker, Dave Coulier, Judy Tenuta, so on…we have to bring in the young guys too…TJ is one of comedies biggest names and I doubt you ever heard of him..Transformers 4, HBO’s Silicon Valley the star, won an oscar for Big Hero Six last month..kinda big..we are one of two clubs he still does, he’s too big for clubs, but we are pals…again this wasn’t about Stanfords it was about KC.
Hearne’s best point was see tomorrows big stars today at Stanfords we pride ourselves in doing that better than almost any club in America, not only did we start Jim Jefferies and bring Lisa in when nobody here knew them add recent stars, Kat Williams(stanfords six times before he became a huge star) Kevin Heart(had him twice before anyone really knew who he was in Westport), Rob Riggle at Legends a former door man at Stanfords, newer guys who are hot like Colin Kane who just costarred in Wedding Ringer with Kevin Heart…we introduced Ellen Degenerous, Dennis Miller, Jerry Seinfeld, Sinbad(doorman at club) Louie Anderson, Eddie Griffin to KC and some to America…I think we are well known nationally for all this, its in books, documentaries and on and on…
heard of all of them….especially jim Norton whos getting tons of
ink these last 2 weeks…now he’s funny,
but this weekend you’ve got shows…pacquiao versus maywhether being
shown right down the street….royals…and besides the real summer
hasn’t started…weather has been pretty shitty…
but when summer comes and many people (thousands are at lake)
on vaactions plus all the other events I can see problems for entertainment
spots.
You’ve been lucky that wether has been pretty bad…once it warms up
people are outside….not inside.
Lets see what happens….
yes you have had some comics before they made good…but that doesn’t
sell tickets today.
also..why did you write this story. If your business hasn’t been hurt…who’s
has. Power and light is on fire….westports doing well…was in waldo for
dinner last Thursday and the bars there were doing well.
All sports bars (tanners/jonhhys/nick and jakes etc. have had big crowds!)…
so where is business off for entertainment spots? You said the royals
were huring night life…where and we’ll check it out with our sources.
thanks.
What this was about really is how the Royals have taken our city by storm…I spoke with several biz owners and they felt it…our neighbor has a liquor store, he said lately everyone is buying booze and going home to watch the games, they tell him that…so he is fine with it…but many places that are early evening spots like restaurants are much slower now because of the ‘staying in’ to watch mentality…thats all…hopefully it will go away in time and all will be fine.
ain’t going away in time glaze…..liquour guy has to be killing it.
You said night lifeis dead…where?
games don’t start til 7pm…and kc people eat “early”…..so who’s
getting killed by the royals games?
I asked it before….please give us specific examples.
If I go to the liquor store I can get a six pack of the best beer for $9.00. If I go to the bar, I can get a six pack of the worst beer for $18.00 to $24.00. The bars need to be giving great specials for the remaining games to get people to not watch at home. This isn’t the nfl with 16 games or NCAA basketball with up to 40 games.
This Royals team reminds me of the Philadelphia Flyers in their back-to-back Cup years. The other clubs didn’t like them because they didn’t follow the unwritten rules. They played tough and emotional.
Only in America are baseball players (supposed to be) unemotional about the games. Celebrate a win. The horror of it!
Baseball is steeped in the past. Fans average age is 57, five out of seven are white. Blacks don’t care for the past that much. Throw back Thursday is about it.
Chris Rock had a funny but true take on baseball. When they think of the good old days, they think of Ruth, DiMaggio and Emmitt Till.
That players in the Hall before 1960 should have an * next to their name indicating they did not play against ALL the great players in the game.
The Flyers had Kate Smith and God Bless America to spur them on.
The Royals have local bands playing before the game on Wednesday games.
Maybe they need to play a version of Jack Johnson’s Kansas City Blues rather the lame music they use.
My mother told me, daddy told me too
If by the cramps in your feet son, ain’t no friend to you
You oughta move to Kansas City
You oughta move to Kansas City
You oughta move to Kansas City, baby, honey where they don’t like you
“Now the Royals have got a little bad boy in them, like me.”
I had no idea any of these players were convicted of felonies.
To be fair, some of today’s ballplayers still do ‘roids…so he’s got that in common with them.
+1
Boy pay a team a compliment and still catch hell…never ends. Hah. I wrote that before the two loses to Sox on Sunday. I do worry about the Royals offense and now starting pitching, but I think they will work all that out in time.
I am sure you lose tons of sleep worrying about the Royal’s offense. Probably more than Ned does.
Jeez, everything hurts nightlife I guess. Cold weather people stay home, hurts nightlife, Warm weather, everyone is tired from daytime outdoor activities, hurts nightlife, Royals good, people stay home to watch the games, hurts nightlife Royals suck, people from out of town don’t travel here for the weekend, hurts nightlife etc etc etc…
Does this mean his yuk yuk shack is already looking to relocate?
I guess ya have to blame it on something besides bad business decisions but blaming it on the Royals?
Yep everyone is affected and Glazer is the one constantly b1tch1ng
I think Craig made some valid points…
Some of the f you comments guys just love to mess with him. And that’s fine
no one said f you hearne…its just another b.s. remark by
glaze and the host of writers on kcc.
He wrote “KILLING AREA NIGHTLIFE”…and a statement that
his business is doing pretty well.
Then tell us who is getting “killed’…..and he can’t.
I mentioned his lineup of comics has been pretty thin with
many unrecognizable names (except the references glaze
uses such as the shows these people were on which nobody
watches. He used Chelsea as a reference for his comics
and she’s bye bye. We’re not here to run down the
glazes biz….but the headline said business is dying…then
he quotes a liquor store which is probably booming with
people staying at home drinking while wtching the games.
Give some examples of who’s dying….because havinghad
clients in last week…pretty much everything looked busy
even though there was some pretty cool weather.
once it heats up…there will be moe people out.
You’ve got big shows this weekend….4 big baseball games
with tigers….first Friday….so mich going on that I can
see the entertainment spots like glazes taking a hit.
He complains when the weathermen say weather is going
to be bad…he’s complaining when there’sother things
going on and the royals are mowing down opponents and
giving away $1.00 hot dogs that look like heck.
Tell us who’s hurting…I think the royals get people out
and buying thigs from shirts to booze…sowhythe
glood and doom byglaze again.
thanks for your time
your friend
Harley
Crazy nut Harley. Most comedy people know Stanfords has one of America’s best line ups…all year…in the last few months ‘brilliant one’ we’ve had Chris Tucker, Tom Arnold, Dave Coulier, Michael Winslow, your guy Bobby Slayton who you never came to see, Kris Kattan, Breaking Bads DEA Gomez, female star kind bigger than the MTV girl you mention but don’t know April Macie, Steve O, the list goes on and on, coming up Screech, new big time tv star Andrew Santio, Colin Kane, and super star TJ Miller, you don’t know comics shmo…all big names some were and some are now and some like TJ are off the chart..Santino stars with Tom Arnold in their new tv series and hosted Jack Ass…on and on…in a few weeks we have the hot girl who hosted the Adult Video Awards on Showtime, Rebbecca seen by over 30 million people,,its endless…who do we have you think is a nobody…all that is all our headlners have tv and film credits thats 100%.
Now the Improv is a good club too, they lean to urban acts like Somore, Earthquake, Damon Wayons, Tony Rock on and on…John Witherspoon, they cater to an urban crowd…p.s. all of those acts plus Kat Williams and Kevin Hart came to Stanfords in Westport for us first and several times…you as always don’t know what you are saying or talking about fake name Harley…you are a NUT.
PS we are still on 98,9 comics weekly and often on KMBZ..plus Fox 4, KCTV 5 and NBC 41 and Q 104.3 and 102.1 and others pending on the week and who is here..but thanks for your concern.
glaze…when you lost 610 with the royals
and people turning their radio on in the morning and your spot on the rock that
really took a lot away from your pr campaign.
don’t know when you’re on tv with those
morning shows but if you’re on after about 8:30am
all that’s left are 55 year old women…not your
audience.
Hope you get back on entercom….
you need dare to help push your shows
and kmbz is not your audience and 102 is
not good either.
‘This is our year!’
Part 2015
Verse 30
🙂
Almost every time I see a comedian I’m glad I did. I rarely have a bad time doing that. I think a huge problem is young people are broke and the gestapo out looking for DUI’s.