KANSAS CITY -- Much like the Royals ballclub, Kauffman Stadium is a work in progress with exciting prospects on the horizon.

With the home opener against the Yankees just a week away, Kansas City officials escorted media members on a Hard Hat Tour on Tuesday, pointing out the sights that will give Royals fans a sneak preview of the early work in a $250 million renovation designed to ultimately transform "The K" into a stadium that will rank with the best in Major League Baseball.

"We are really proud of it," said Kevin Uhlich, senior vice president of business operations. "To use the word 'renovation' really doesn't do it justice. I did a renovation in Anaheim and it was $120 million. We're doing twice the amount of work. We are actually building a brand new stadium around a seating bowl. It really is going to match any of these new buildings. I hope the fans take away a little bit of that this year."

The Royals, who anticipate a grand opening for the new-look K on Opening Day 2009 and completion of all work by the All-Star break in '09, set a goal of having five major projects accomplished by next Tuesday's '08 home debut.

That immediate goal has been reached. Fans who attend the opener will be entertained by a new Crown High Definition Video Board, which is 84 feet by 105 feet -- making it the largest in North America. There's also an out-of-town scoreboard along the wall in left-center field, full-view bullpens beyond the fences in left and right, staircases on the ends of the view and club levels and an added row of Crown Seats.

By Opening Day '09, fans will have much more to savor, including a Sports Bar Restaurant down the right-field line and the "Outfield Experience" entertainment amenities. But with construction continuing through the season, the Royals want their fans to have all the information necessary to keep growing-pain inconveniences to a minimum.

The club has announced a new parking and access system in conjunction with the Kauffman improvements. Fans are encouraged to visit royals.com to determine the fastest, most efficient route based on their parking preference before heading to the ballpark.

The Royals also believe a general awareness about early arrival and early ticket purchases will help limit inconveniences.

"We're going to have a great time out here this year," said Bob Rice, vice president of ballpark operations and development. "But doing a little planning will definitely help the experience."

The Royals have added toilets, ticket windows and makeshift concession areas to offset some of the challenges caused by construction. Crews will work from 6 a.m. CT to about 2:30-3 p.m. on days when the Royals have a 7:10 p.m. night game. If the Royals are playing a day game, construction crews won't work.

With construction also taking place at Arrowhead Stadium, Rice said the Royals have leased a water truck for the year to help with dust control.

Once the fans take their seats in a stadium that will have a capacity around 39,000, the Crown High Definition Video Board and out-of-town scoreboard are sure to capture their attention.

The Crown Vision board was displayed for the media on Tuesday. The game-in-progress component shows such items as defensive alignments, the Royals' lineup with batting averages, a bio of the hitter, pitching lines and a linescore. The between-innings entertainment, with vivid color and animation, will be a dynamic that figures to have the fans buzzing.

The out-of-town scoreboard along the wall will keep fans abreast of game developments around Major League Baseball as they happen.

"With people being able to go to their phones and find scores quick, we have to make sure we're that quick, too," said Chris DeRuyscher, the Royals' director of game entertainment. "We'll have stats, league info, pitchers warming up. It's really endless what we can do."