KANSAS CITY, MO — (CNN) The initial estimates were 200,000, maybe 250,000. That’s how many Royals fans were expected to swell downtown on Tuesday for the World Series celebration.
After all, Kansas City’s total population is about 470,000. About 2 million live in the area.
With most area school districts closed and a 30-year World Series drought quenched, eager fans flocked downtown. The intensity of their desire to share the glorious moment with the team was woefully underestimated.
“When they said yesterday there would be a quarter of a million people I laughed. I thought there’s going to be so many more than that,” said Shane Rudman who rented a room at the Cashew so he, his family and friends had a good view.
So many eager fans trekked downtown that Kansas City was left in a state of gridlock only seen during a middle-of-the-day blizzard or more likely the scene of a zombie movie.
The only blizzard Tuesday was the confetti raining down on Royals players, staff members and manager Ned Yost. They basked in the huge cheers.
Some slept outside overnight or in cars to get a good viewing spot. Hotels in downtown Kansas City were booked. Pictures of the throng around Union Station prompted gasps from national sports writers. first baseman Eric Hosmer said, “The turnout is something you can’t make up in a dream.”
The final number approached 800,000, according to Kansas City Mayor Sly James.
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