Sporting KC loans Kei Kamara to Norwich City F.C.
Sporting KC teams up with Boulevard Brewing Company
Win a trip for two to Orlando
Sporting KC trio feature for USMNT, Besler earns first cap
Kick off for May 12 game against Houston moved to 7 p.m.
Sporting KC 2013 media credential application available
MLS, Sporting Innovations in new reality TV show
Sporting KC draws 1-1 with FC Tucson
Sporting KC enters into affiliation with Orlando City SC
Vermes on ballot for veteran U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
Pre-sale now open for Sporting KC's 2013 home uniforms
Sporting Park to host 2013 MLS All-Star Game, Vermes named coach
Partial season ticket packages on sale now
Pre-Academy Spring Break Camp registration open to the public
Sporting KC releases 2013 full season schedule
Sporting Park hosting job fair tonight
2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic schedule announced
Sporting KC now taking deposits for 2013 reserved seating
Follow Sporting KC online
SPORTING KC LOANS KEI KAMARA TO NORWICH CITY F.C.
Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has loaned forward Kei Kamara to Norwich City F.C. (English Premier League) through May 6, pending Kamara receiving authorization for a work permit. Sporting Kansas City will receive two-thirds of the substantial loan fee to use as allocation money^ per MLS rules. If Norwich City elects not to acquire the player on a full transfer by May 6, then Kamara will rejoin Sporting Kansas City, where he will be available to play immediately for the club. As part of the agreement, Kamara's contract with MLS has been extended.
In seven MLS seasons, Kamara has 45 goals and 21 assists in 178 appearances. He has led Sporting KC in scoring each of the last three seasons, including a career-high 11 goals and eight assists last year.
Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman penned a letter to fans on the loan. Read here.
SPORTING KC TEAMS UP WITH BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY
Sporting Kansas City has named Boulevard Brewing Company the official craft beer sponsor of the team. The five-year deal expands last season's informal partnership between the two homegrown organizations.
The brewery will serve as title sponsor of the Boulevard Members' Club, enjoyed by fans before, during and after games at Sporting Park. The club - adjacent to the Members' Stand - is home to the most vocal supporters of Sporting KC. In conjunction with its local distributor, Central States Beverage, Boulevard will also implement a variety of programs and initiatives throughout the city in support of the new alliance. Central States is also the brewery's partner in the new agreement.
WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO ORLANDO
Sporting Kansas City and Boulevard Brewing Company are teaming up, in conjunction with the Central Florida Sports Commission and Get Travel, to send two lucky supporters to Orlando, Fla. for the 2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic. The trip for two includes round trip airfare, a three-night stay, two-day ticket admission to area theme park attractions, two all-tournament passes to the 2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic and two admissions to a special VIP function.
Tune into Sports Radio 810 WHB today and tomorrow, and listen for the "Hometown Team, Hometown Beer" prompt once an hour. The eighth and tenth callers after each sounder will be entered for a chance to win the trip. At 9 a.m. CT on Friday, Sports Radio 810 WHB will randomly select the contest winner from the pool of qualified listeners and the winner must be listening live to follow instructions in order to claim the trip.
Visit soccerspringtraining.com for all the details on the 2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic from Feb. 9-23, including travel packages and a calendar of events.
SPORTING KC TRIO FEATURE FOR USMNT, BESLER EARNS FIRST CAP
Sporting Kansas City's Graham Zusi, Matt Besler and Benny Feilhaber were all featured in last night's 0-0 draw with Canada and drew praise for their performances. It was a particularly special night for Besler, who earned his first start and first appearance for the U.S. Men's National Team. Hear their reactions and read the player ratings from media.
KICK OFF TIME FOR MAY 12 GAME AGAINST HOUSTON MOVED TO 7 P.M.
Sporting Kansas City's match on Sunday, May 12 against MLS Cup runners-up Houston Dynamo will kick off at 7 p.m. CT on KSMO-TV at BBVA Compass Stadium, the teams announced on Tuesday.
The Mother's Day match-up, the first of three meetings between the Eastern Conference contenders during the 2013 regular season, was moved to prime time from the previously scheduled 3 p.m. CT kick off and will no longer air on ESPN.
SPORTING KC 2013 MEDIA CREDENTIAL APPLICATION AVAILABLE
Media members planning to cover Sporting Kansas City during the 2013 Major League Soccer season may now apply for full-season media credentials for Sporting Kansas City home MLS matches at Sporting Park.
Media members may also request single-game credentials through the Sporting Kansas City communications department on a game-by-game basis. Please visit www.sportingkc.com/media-info for more information.
Media credential applications are evaluated on an annual basis and credentialed media from previous seasons are not guaranteed full-season credentials in 2013. Applicants must be 18 years or older to be considered for a full-season credential. Single-game credentials for those under the age of 18 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Sporting Kansas City will accommodate as many media outlets as possible, but it may be necessary to credential some media on a single-game basis.
MLS, SPORTING INNOVATIONS IN NEW REALITY TV SHOW
MLS is the featured company in the fourth episode of THE JOB, airing on March 1 from 7-8 p.m. CT on the CBS Television Network, and Sporting Innovations will be one of the three guest companies for the episode, along with Modell's Sporting Goods and FC Harlem. Representatives from the guest companies will have the opportunity to make an on-the-spot offer to one of the candidates, who must decide if they will accept the offer or remain in the running for the episode's dream job.
For this episode, the five candidates will be vying for an associate producer position at MLSSoccer.com and will participate in several rounds of elimination challenges before a panel of MLS executives that will include Kathy Carter (President of Soccer United Marketing), Howard Handler (Chief Marketing Officer), Nelson Rodriguez (Executive Vice President of Competition, Technical and Game Operations) and Greg Lalas (MLSSoccer.com Editor-in-Chief).
Hosted by Emmy Award nominee Lisa Ling, THE JOB is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Embassy Row. Emmy Award winners Michael Davies, Mark Burnett and Jay Bienstock are executive producers. For more information, visitwww.cbs.com/thejob and follow them on Twitter at @TheJobCBS.
SPORTING KC DRAWS 1-1 WITH FC TUCSON
Sporting Kansas City picked up their second consecutive draw in preseason with a 1-1 result against FC Tucson at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. on Tuesday.
The match started out slowly in the opening minutes but quickly picked up momentum just before the 10-minute mark, when Sporting KC took a 1-0 lead on a Soony Saad goal.
Sporting Kansas City will conclude their pre-season trip to Arizona on Friday with a match against the Portland Timbers at 7 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed live online at SportingKC.com/live.
SPORTING KC ENTERS INTO AFFILIATION WITH ORLANDO CITY SC
Sporting Kansas City (Major League Soccer) and Orlando City (USL PRO) have entered into a two-year partnership, with the Lions becoming the official USL PRO affiliate of Sporting KC. The landmark agreement made by the two clubs kicks off an important stepping stone in the U.S. Soccer pyramid, with MLS reserve players to be integrated into USL PRO play beginning in 2013.
Starting with an announcement via the two leagues, MLS teams now have the chance to partner with USL PRO clubs. As an official affiliate, Orlando City will retain a minimum of four Sporting KC players for development throughout the USL PRO regular season. Those players would then get playing time, in preparation to be called up by their MLS club. The four reserve players Sporting will send to Orlando for the 2013 season have not yet been announced.
In addition to providing loan opportunities for select Sporting Kansas City reserve players, the technical staffs from both teams will pursue several strategic initiatives such as joint coaching seminars, business endeavors, scouting mechanisms and access to facilities. These efforts would strive to be mutually beneficial for both clubs and serve to build upon the foundation that has been established.
VERMES ON BALLOT FOR VETERAN U.S. SOCCER HALL OF FAME
Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes is among 15 nominees on the National Soccer Hall of Fame Veteran Ballot, announced last Friday by U.S. Soccer. Also appearing as Class of 2013 candidates are former Kansas City players Chris Henderson and Roy Lassiter (final year of eligibility) on the Player ballot, as well as Mike Burns and Mike Sorber on the Veteran ballot.
Vermes represented the United States in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and was named 1988 Chevrolet U.S. Male Soccer Athlete of the Year for his efforts. He also starred for the bronze-medal winning U.S. team at the World Five-a-Side Tournament in Holland in 1989, where he was the tournament's leading scorer with six goals.
He was next an integral part of a young U.S. team that qualified for their first World Cup in 40 years and appeared in every U.S. match at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where he nearly scored a sensational goal against the host Azzurri. Over the course of eight years with the U.S. Men's National Team, Vermes earned 66 appearances with 11 goals and three assists.
Following his retirement at the end of the 2002 season, Vermes now enters his seventh season as Sporting Kansas City's technical director and fifth season as manager in 2013. He has been a finalist for MLS Coach of the Year each of the last two seasons after leading Sporting KC to back-to-back first place finishes in the Eastern Conference.
PRE-SALE NOW OPEN FOR SPORTING KC'S 2013 HOME UNIFORMS
Sporting Kansas City's new 2013 home uniform will launch on Feb. 26. Prior to the official launch, fans may access a special pre-sale for 2013 authentic home jerseys at shop.sportingkc.com and be among the first to order the team's newest gear.
The officially licensed MLS product is manufactured by Adidas and can be customized with your favorite personal or player name and number.
SPORTING PARK TO HOST 2013 MLS ALL-STAR GAME, VERMES NAMED COACH
Kansas City will be the host city for the 2013 MLS All-Star Game . The annual showcase event will feature three days of festivities, culminating in a match between the League's top players and a renowned international club on Wednesday, July 31 at Sporting Park, home of Sporting Kansas City.
The 2013 MLS All-Star Game will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. CT on the ESPN, Univision, TSN and RDS family of networks. Exact networks will be announced at a later date. Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes, a finalist for MLS Coach of the Year each of the last two seasons, will coach the 2013 MLS All-Stars.
The 2013 All-Star Game will mark the 10th time that an elite international club has played the MLS All-Stars, who are 6-2-1 in those matches. In addition to honoring the best players in MLS, the game has featured successful, world-famous clubs such as Manchester United (2010 & 2011), Everton FC (2009), Chelsea FC (2006 & 2012), and Chivas de Guadalajara (2003). The opponent for this year's game will be announced at a later date.
PARTIAL SEASON TICKET PACKAGES ON SALE NOW
Sporting Kansas City partial season tickets (10-game packs) plans are now available for the 2013 season at Sporting Park. Fans may choose between two options, each of which feature eight MLS regular season home games and both CONCACAF Champions League group stage matches.
More information can be found on our 2013 Partial Season Ticket Plans page or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
PRE-ACADEMY SPRING BREAK CAMP REGISTRATION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The 2013 Pre-Academy Spring Break Camp is open to all boys (8-16yrs old) who are looking to play for the Sporting KC Academy program in the future. All players will have the opportunity to be trained by and be evaluated by Sporting KC Academy coaching staff members. This camp is offered to the committed player who wants to be part of U.S. Soccer's Development Academy as well as the Sporting KC Academy. The training sessions will be challenging, fun and will allow players to improve technically, tactically, physically, and psychologically.
- When: March 18th-20th (Monday-Wednesday)
- Who: Boys Ages 8-16yrs old
-
Schedule:
- 9am-10:30am: 14-16 years old
- 11am-12:30pm: 11-13 years old
- 1:30pm-3:00pm: 8-10 years old
- Where: Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park
- Cost: $125 (Includes adidas Sporting KC shirt)
SPORTING KC RELEASES FULL SCHEDULE FOR 2013 SEASON
Sporting Kansas City recently released the club's 34-game regular season schedule for the 2013 Major League Soccer season, highlighted by 13 matches that will be carried on national television networks across the United States.
Full season tickets start at $400 for 20-game packages, which will include all 17 MLS home regular season matches as well as both CONCACAF Champions League group stage home games and all home matches in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup through the quarterfinal round (up to three potential games). Visit SportingKC.com, email tickets@sportingkc.com or call 888-4KC-GOAL to reserve seats.
Single-game tickets for the first nine home matches will go on sale to the general public on Feb. 7. Season Ticket Members will have access to a pre-sale starting on Jan. 31 for single-game tickets to all 17 MLS regular season home matches.
SPORTING PARK HOSTING JOB FAIR TONIGHT
Sporting Park will be hosting a job fair to hire part time event staff employees for the upcoming season. The job fair will be held tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Job fairs will be located in the Boulevard Members' Club of Sporting Park, One Sporting Way, Kansas City, KS 66111.
Various part-time positions are needed, including concierges, ushers, ticket takers, merchandise and box office representatives. Applicants must be at least 18. Park in Lot D behind Lonestar Restaurant, and enter the Boulevard Members' Club entrance. For more information, email Stephen at guestservices@sportingkc.com or call 913-912-7511.
2013 DISNEY PRO SOCCER CLASSIC SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
The schedule has been announced for the 2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic. The six Major League Soccer (MLS) teams participating in Central Florida Soccer Spring Training, as well as Orlando City Soccer Club (USL) and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL), will compete in two weeks of group play, with Group A consisting of Orlando City, Philadelphia Union, Toronto Football Club and Columbus Crew. Teams in Group B will include the Tampa Bay Rowdies, D.C. United, Montreal Impact and Sporting Kansas City. All games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
Travel packages are available that include lodging, Disney Pro Soccer Classic game tickets, attraction tickets and exclusive VIP experiences. Additionally, Soccer Spring Training will include a number of events aimed at increasing excitement for soccer in Central Florida, including a College Combine, International Trials and amateur soccer tournaments.
For more information about Central Florida Soccer Spring Training and to book a travel package, please visit www.soccerspringtraining.com or call the official travel provider, GET Travel, at 888-877-4445, option 3.
SPORTING KC NOW TAKING DEPOSITS FOR 2013 RESERVED SEATING
Sporting Kansas City supporters can now place 2013 Season Ticket Deposits for all Reserved Seating at Sporting Park by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or visiting here.
FOLLOW SPORTING KC ONLINE
Sporting Kansas City fans looking to keep up with the club on the worldwide web now have a place to go. The new social media page on SportingKC.com features Twitter account information for the club, its players as well as many staff members. Additionally, fans may take advantage of the Media Recap page for all the latest independent news coverage available online.
Additional news and notes leading up to the team's opening MLS match on March 2 can be found at sportingkc.com/preseason and sportingkc.com/tracker.
