Audacy, Kansas City Royals Announce Extended Partnership

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, March 24, 2025 | 10:59am CT

KFNZ-FM (96.5 The Fan)/Kansas City

Audacy and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a multi-year extension of their partnership, keeping KFNZ-FM (96.5 The Fan) as the Royals' flagship outlet. The station, Kansas City's first full-time FM sports broadcaster, will air all Spring Training, regular season, and postseason Royals games. Additionally, fans within the Royals broadcast territory can stream the games via the Audacy app.

Roxanne Marati, Senior Vice President and Market Manager at Audacy Kansas City, said, "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," Marati said. "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."

Brooks Sherman, President of Business Operations for the Royals, also commented on the collaboration's significance. "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," stated Sherman. "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."

The Royals' broadcasting team remains strong with Hall of Famer Denny Matthews returning for an extraordinary 57th season. He will be joined by Ryan Lefebvre, Jake Eisenberg, and Steve Stewart, with Eric Guthrie continuing as the Producer/Engineer. The Fan will also feature comprehensive pregame and postgame coverage hosted by the station's Royals insider, Josh Vernier.

Adding to the regular broadcasts, 96.5 The Fan will conduct weekly interviews with Royals manager Matt Quatraro and bi-monthly sessions with J.J. Picollo, the Executive Vice President and General Manager. Josh Vernier will enhance the station's weekday programming with regular updates and discussions on the latest team developments.

In addition to Royals baseball, 96.5 The Fan is also the play-by-play home for the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas State University.