This evening the Royals are scheduled to play an exhibition game in Omaha against their AAA affiliate, the Storm Chasers. It is the first time the two teams have matched up in almost two decades. The score of the game won’t matter much - the Royals are unlikely to even play many regulars. Nonetheless, this is an important game that the Royals should schedule on a regular basis.
The Royals have had a special relationship with the city of Omaha ever since their inception in 1969. Professional baseball has been played in Omaha since 1879. For many years they hosted a team in the Western League that went through several iterations - the Omahogs, the Indians, the Rangers, the Rourkes (named after their owner-manager Pa Rourke), the Buffaloes, the Crickets, and the Packers.