Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

The first game of the 2015 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets will be played at Kauffman Stadium (nicknamed “the K”), the home of the Royals since 1973. Built by architecture firm Kivett and Myers, the ballpark was originally known as Royals Stadium and was renamed in 1993 to honor the team’s founder, businessman and philanthropist Ewing M. Kauffman. In 2009 the stadium unveiled the results of a $250 million renovation by Populous, a global leader in stadium design that is, conveniently, based in Kansas City.

Citi Field, Flushing, Queens

Completed in 2009, the current home of the Mets is located just yards from the site of the team’s former ballpark, the little-loved Shea Stadium, which housed the club for nearly 45 years. The sparkling new Citi Field was designed by Populous—the same firm that renovated the Royals’ ballpark—and cost $850 million to build (significantly less than the new Yankee Stadium, also finished in 2009). The Manhattan-based bank Citigroup bought naming rights to the stadium for $400 million.

Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

The stadium was designed as a baseball-only park during an era of multiuse arenas, which may be one reason it has remained a fan favorite (outlasting venues like Shea, which was built for both baseball and football). The recent overhaul by Populous refreshed its concrete façade, added an outfield concourse (providing 360-degree circulation), and updated its signature scoreboard, one of the largest displays in the league. Still, the 37,903-capacity stadium is probably best known for the picturesque fountains that lie beyond the outfield, a nod to its hometown’s designation as the City of Fountains.

Citi Field, Flushing, Queens

The 41,922-capacity ballpark has the retro-classic styling popularized by Orioles Park at Camden Yards, another Populous project, with a distinct New York flavor. The brick-clad façade was loosely modeled after Ebbets Field, which housed the storied Brooklyn Dodgers, and the stadium’s large steel trusses echo the supports of the nearby 7 subway train. Out on the field, a tradition from Shea Stadium lives on: When a Mets player hits a home run, a big red apple rises from its housing beyond center field, honoring the team’s hometown.

Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Fans can tailgate in the massive parking lot, which is shared with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Inside the park, concessions include Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbeque, Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen Links, the ice-cream shop Belfonte, and Craft & Draft, featuring a selection of 70-plus beers, including picks from Kansas City’s popular Boulevard brewery.

Citi Field, Flushing, Queens

Thanks to the stadium’s large, unobstructed concourses, Mets fans have great views of the field even when they’re standing in line for food. Lucky for them, because Citi Field offers choice eats from some big names on the New York restaurant scene, including chefs Danny Meyer, Dave Pasternack, and Josh Capon. Among the local favorites are Shake Shack, Pat LaFrieda’s Chop House, and Blue Smoke, a satellite of Meyer’s Manhattan barbecue joint.