Elizabeth Orosco
Managing Editor

It seems Mark Brandmeyer’s path was paved for him long before he was born.

As the new owner of the Kansas City T-Bones baseball club, Brandmeyer comes from a long history of baseball and wholesale meat. 

His grandfather was the owner of the American Meat Company that once stood at 2448 Broadway, as well as a semi-pro baseball team in Kansas City.  

His father, a journeyman butcher by the age of 16, was the club’s batboy. 

Today, Brandmeyer is the new owner of the Kansas City T-Bones and is mere weeks away from the club’s first exhibition game.

The Kansas City T-Bones, originally the Duluth-Superior Dukes, have played 17 seasons at the T-Bones Stadium (formerly Community America Ballpark) in Kansas City since June 2003. 

The team name and mascot, Sizzle the bull, were selected in fan contests and reflect the strong ties of the city to the Kansas City stockyards in the West Bottoms that thrived from 1871 to 1991, the same time and space where Brandmeyer’s grandfather’s wholesale meat business also flourished. 

According to the Kansas City Public Library website, “by 1914 the Kansas City Stock Yards covered over 200 acres, had a daily capacity of 170,000 animals, and employed over 20,000 people. It was receiving stock from 35 different states and shipping stock to 42 different states, Canada, and Mexico.”

A member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, the Kansas City T-Bones won their first-ever American Association Championship in 2018. 

In 2019, the club faced an uncertain future as they received an eviction notice from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County to vacate the ballpark on the grounds of unpaid dues that accumulated to over $760,000 in rent and utility payments.

That’s when Brandmeyer stepped into the picture. 

“It would be a shame to lose such a great asset for Kansas City,” Brandmeyer said when asked why he decided to purchase the organization. 

“I’ve always been a sports fan,” he said. “When I was a kid, [my dad] traveled all week and baseball was our time to be together on the weekends. 

After agreeing to steer the organization into 2020, Brandmeyer said there are lots of changes coming to increase overall fan experience. 

An upgrade in the food experience, he said, is a major renovation he is proud to bring to fans. 

“We are almost creating ‘neighborhoods’ within the stadium,” he said.
The entrance to the ballpark will be known as The Grove, which will include a bar and provide a space for fans to socialize and watch players warm up before the game. 

Near right field, there will be a party terrace that includes a beer garden and a large open space to play cornhole, outdoor ping pong, Jenga, and other games. 

The Centerfield Party Area will be able to accommodate groups of up to 1,000 people with a high-quality food venue. 

Left field will include the Boneyard, a space for groups of 20-200 people, a bar and a rooftop deck. 

Other upgrades include a bourbon and cigar deck, a family tailgate tent, and upgrades to all the suites. 

“It’s the same shell, just new finishes, and a new experience,” Brandmeyer said. 

While ticket prices have gone up slightly, he said a family of four can go to the game, sit in great seats, and have a great food experience for under $100.

The Kansas City T-Bones also offer great benefits for host families who open their home to a player including season tickets, invitations to special events, discounts, and other season ticket holder benefits.

But Brandmeyer said it’s more than just perks. 

“For us, our host families are very special. We treat them like family. It goes beyond the benefits because how do you quantify being part of a family?”

A big focus for Brandmeyer, he said, is player and intern development. 

“These guys are coming here and chasing their dream. This is their opportunity. We are doing a lot of development with them in skills, but off the field, we also help them move to the next level in business or at an MLB team.”

The Kansas City T-Bones also offer extensive internships in nearly every area of the ballpark including stadium operations, group ticket sales, marketing and promotions, media relations, grounds crew, and hospitality. 

“Part of what we want to continue to do is bring in interns and help them develop and help them reach their career goals,” he said. “There are skills you’re going to learn in this position that will serve you throughout [your life] and that’s what we’re trying to do. We are trying to show them behind-the-curtain of what this business is really like.”

The team’s first exhibition game is Monday, May 11 and the first regular-season game is Tuesday, May 19. 

The T-Bones will be hosting Tyrann Mathieu’s Celebrity Kickball Weekend on Saturday, May 16 at 2 p.m. 

“It’s really cool because he shares the same vision as us,” said Brandmeyer.

“A lot of our focus is going to be on youth athletics. We feel like youth athletics is a ground where kids learn leadership skills, learn to win and lose, and learn to work hard. We want to continue to sponsor that.” 

Tickets for the kickball event start at $10 and can be purchased at www.tbonesbaseball.com. The ticket includes the 7:05 game against the Winnipeg Goldeyes and post-game fireworks. 

Brandmeyer said ultimately, it’s about creating an entire experience for every fan. 

“Whether you’re buying a season ticket package or just going to ten games, I can think of no better way to get the kids to a place where you can hang out and interact with them. Take them to the ballpark.”