Royals fans show love for team through all kinds of art

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Thursday night, the Royals face the Yankees for Game 4 of the ALDS. With the success of the team, so many in Kansas City are taking their love for the boys in blue to a whole new level.

Kansas City is filled with talented artists and their creativity is shining through Royals art.

Over at Limitless Tattoo Co., Jaime Gomez has been a Royals fan since he was a kid.

He got a Chiefs tattoo back in February after they won the Super Bowl.

“I wanted to even it out. I gotta represent my Kansas City Chiefs and my Kansas City Royals,” said Kansas Citian, Jaime Gomez.

The sports in Kansas City are creating quite some business for the tattoo parlor.

“It’s been a crazy ride honestly with the Chiefs and everything that’s gone on with the Chiefs and the Royals,” said Limitless Tattoo Co. Co-Owner and Artist, Vincent Torrentt. “Kansas City is one of the biggest cities that gets a lot of tattoos about their sports teams.”

Torrentt’s done a lot of Chiefs tattoos over the last few years. He said this year Royals tattoos are becoming more popular, too.

So far, he’s done about 25 Royals-themed designs this year.

He recently did one of Kenneth Best Sr., who played during Dream Week in the 90s. His grandson sports the tattoo of his grandfather’s baseball card on his arm.

On Thursday, Gomez got a design of the team’s mascot, Slugger.

“The dedication that people have to getting it, it shows how much they really love their city and their team,” said Torrentt.

Across the state line, Hurricane Allie’s Bar and Grill owner Allie Henry had her own idea up her sleeve to represent KC.

“I was like, ‘I have the perfect canvas for it,’” said Henry, who owns the Merriam bar.

After seeing all the murals in KC, she knew she wanted her own on her bar and grill’s brick wall.

“We are coming from two Super Bowl wins and it is just awesome that I incorporated Royals ‘cause I wanted my mural to be all things Kansas City,” said Henry.

She wanted the Chiefs and Royals showcased and artist Mike Elder helped bring her vision to life.

“With everything that is going on this year with the Chiefs and the Royals and the last several years really it just seemed like a great way to kind of celebrate that you know kind of give people something to stand behind,” said Elder.

He’s known for his cake art but recently got into murals and sculptures to live out his passion for art.

Elder painted the Independence Avenue Bridge mural in June, three in City Market, and many more across the metro.

The one at Hurricane Allie’s is his eighth this year.

“The thing I try to do is incorporate Kansas City in all of them,” said Elder. “It was definitely the right time and right topic to do.”

He finished the piece last week after a few days of working on it.

“Now the Royals are doing so well. So it is just so fun to see everything incorporated playing out you know and on the building,” said Henry. She added, “People love obviously when we are winning and it is great for business and it brings me back to 2015 when we won the World Series and so I’m having to go dig all my Royals stuff out of my closet.”

They’ve seen many people stop by for a picture with it, some have even taken photos of their car or motorcycle in front of the piece.

“It’s fun to be able to have both teams doing so well and have something to look forward to and celebrate,” said Henry. She added, “I’m glad that I can be a part of something special for Kansas City.”

Elder said his art is all about bringing the community together.

“I feel like this mural in particular really does that. You know it is where we are at today, it is what is going on and it is bright and in your face and you drive down that street and there is all this gray and raw brick and then all of sudden there is all of this color and I really love being able to do that,” said Elder.

As fans stay creative for the boys in blue, these permanent pieces will live on representing a notable time in Kansas City sports: the Chiefs and Royals thriving at the same time.

Visitors are free to take photos at Hurricane Allie’s Bar and Grill but they ask you to be respectful to the mural.

They also play all the Chiefs and Royals games and have special drinks and food to help you cheer on the teams.

Both Henry and Torrentt said the teams thriving helps their businesses thrive, too.