Fans of the Kansas City Royals can expect to hear their radio play-by-play broadcasts for many years to come, as Audacy’s 96.5 The Fan and the Royals announced a multi-year extension on Monday morning. This announcement comes just as the 2025 MLB season is set to begin full regular season play this coming Thursday.
96.5 The Fan was born in August of last year as Kansas City’s first full-time FM sports station after the company moved the signal from its original home on 610 AM. This move signaled a larger dedication to carrying more play-by-play coverage, with both the AM and FM signals now fully dedicated to sports programming. Furthermore, today’s Royals announcement follows a similar deal made last year when Audacy reached an agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs for their broadcast rights.
“We’re thrilled to extend our longstanding partnership with the Royals and, for the first time ever, bring every pitch, hit, and home run to fans on crystal-clear FM,” said Roxanne Marati, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Kansas City. “As the premier home for everything Kansas City sports, we’re proud to be the go-to destination for Royals fans and keep them connected to their favorite team throughout the year.”
With this extension, 96.5 The Fan will continue to air all spring training, regular season, and postseason Royals baseball games. Additionally, fans can listen both on-air and via the Audacy app, provided they are within the Royals broadcast territory. Returning for his 57th season behind the microphone, Royals Hall of Famer Denny Matthews will continue play-by-play duties. Meanwhile, commentary will feature a rotation of Ryan Lefebvre, Jake Eisenberg, and Steve Stewart. Eric Guthrie will serve as the producer and engineer of the broadcasts.
“Audacy is an important and valued partner for us and has earned their reputation as one of our fans’ favorite platforms to connect with the Royals,” said Brooks Sherman, President of Business Operations, Royals. “Moving to FM is a positive for everyone, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Audacy to serve the needs of our passionate and knowledgeable fans.”
As part of the new extension, 96.5 The Fan will also feature weekly interviews with Royals players and coaches. This will include a weekly sit-down with manager Matt Quatraro, as well as executive vice president and general manager J.J. Picollo.
Beyond Royals coverage, The Fan also serves as the flagship radio station for the Kansas City Chiefs, a role that was highlighted in Audacy’s announcement last August. Additionally, the station broadcasts Kansas State University men’s basketball and football games, further cementing its presence as a major hub for sports coverage in the region.
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