As Royals close in on playoff berth, stores see rise in sales

SPRINGFIELD. Mo. — Nine years since the Kansas City Royals won the World Series, they’re on the cusp of making their first postseason appearance since lifting the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Many fans are buzzing with hope the Royals can clinch their spot this weekend and will play in the Wild Card on Tuesday, October 1.

Some stores in Springfield are noticing the rise in fans across the register.

“Over the past couple of days, because of the Atlanta games coming up, we’ve had all of our Royals fans come in and seeing [what we have] for every person in the family,” Jennifer Minor with Rally House said. “Our influx in sales for our jerseys has clearly, as you can see behind me, has gotten to a few selections now.”

Minor says the sales aren’t male-driven either, selling women’s and kids’ merchandise too.

“It’s exciting because now we have a new group of fans that are coming in and talking about new games and new merchandise,” Minor said. “It’s nice to have a different kind of customer base now and to see some blue cross the register.”

She says if the Royals are able to clinch, they will get postseason-branded merch as well.

“Our buyers are very conscious and very focused on what is happening in the world of sports and on which team, so if they go to the playoffs, we will be getting new merchandise,” Minor said.

Across town, at Fastbreak Sports, they are seeing a rise in customers too, but just for something different than a jersey.

“Our central business is cards so Bobby Witt, Jr. rookie [cards] we can’t keep in stock. I don’t even know if I have any, the higher end rookies right now, they sell pretty quickly as soon as we get them in and out the door,” Tim Eakins said. “I think it’s been contagious with how good Bobby Witt, Jr.’s been. It’s been reflected with our sales, with Bobby Witt, Jr. autograph cards, rookie cards and so forth.”

Eakins says the season the Royals have had is a surprise.

“I would think most Royals fans are happy just getting into the playoffs considering last year the huge turnaround that they had. I mean, a 500 season was a pipe dream, really. The Royals management went out and got the pieces they needed and put together a heck of a ballclub this year,” Eakin said. “The fact that they can win the wild card and go to the playoffs is just icing on the cake for that team.”

Eakins says Witt, Jr.’s rise in popularity could also be related to his minor league stops in Springfield at Hammons Field when he was in the Royals’ minor league system.

“When he was playing here in Springfield, a lot of our kids were getting his autographs down there and he was fantastic with the fans. So it’s kind of funny how you can make a fan for life when you’re that young still coming up. I mean, the kids around here have followed him ever since,” Eakins said.

The Royals are in Atlanta for a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves, who are also in the playoff hunt.

The Royals will also clinch a playoff berth if the Minnesota Twins lose, who are three games behind the Royals with three games to go in the regular season.

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