Kansas City officials estimate half a million people attended festivities for the World Series champion Royals. Some media estimates were as high as 800,000 people. Yet despite a crowd larger than the city’s population, city officials report no major problems, unless you were trying to park.
Streets were clogged Tuesday for the downtown parade and rally at Union Station. Most area schools canceled classes and many employers excused their workers to they could attend the event.
The local transit authority estimated its shuttles carried more than 100,000 people to downtown from several staging areas around the city. Officials say some people had to wait as long as three hours for a ride.
Despite the turnout, Police Chief Darryl Forte says that as of 4:30 p.m. there had been only three arrests during the celebration — and they were for minor incidents.