Sporting KC signs Chance Myers to new contract
St. Croix Soccer Club becomes new academy affiliate
Sporting KC opens pre-season with 1-0 victory over FC Tucson
Sporting KC plays Portland in Tucson, Ariz. on Saturday
Sporting KC single-game tickets on sale via Ticketmaster
Besler, Feilhaber and Zusi on U.S. roster for Saturday's friendly
Plamer-Brown named to U.S. U-18 MNT for trip to Spain
Sporting KC partners with The Roasterie for new coffee
Sporting KC honored by Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Sporting KC selects four in MLS SuperDraft
Five former players among Hall of Fame class nominees
Sporting KC staff honored at MLS Club executive awards
Sporting KC announces full 2014 pre-season schedule
CONCACAF times and dates set for CCL quarterfinal
SKC TV Network adds Diego Gutierrez to broadcast team
Sporting KC crowned MLS Cup champions
MLS Cup triumph voted Moment of the Year
Sporting KC adds second USL Pro affiliate in 2014
Sporting KC acquires Andy Gruenebaum and Sal Zizzo
Kansas City to host 14 NCAA championships
Construction on phase II of Swope Soccer Village begins
Sporting KC releases 2014 MLS schedule
38 The Spot (KMCI) named Sporting KC's new local TV partner
Secure 2014 season tickets at Sporting Park
Follow Sporting KC online
SPORTING KC SIGNS CHANCE MYERS TO NEW CONTRACT
Sporting Kansas City defender Chance Myers signed a new contract with the club on Thursday and arrived in Tucson, Ariz. to join the team for the 2014 pre-season. Myers enters his seventh season with the club and is the second-longest tenured player on the Sporting KC roster.
Myers is the fifth Sporting KC player to sign a new contract for the 2014 season along with Eric Kronberg, Josh Gardner, Christian Duke and Paulo Nagamura. Of the 27 players currently under contract with the club, Sporting Kansas City returns 25 from the team's 2013 MLS Cup championship season. Manager Peter Vermes added winger Sal Zizzo and goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum to a 2014 roster that accounds for 96.8% of all minutes logged by field players in MLS competition (including playoffs) last year.
ST. CROIX SOCCER CLUB BECOMES NEW ACADEMY AFFILIATE
St. Croix Soccer Club, of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, has officially joined forces with Sporting Kansas City and Sporting Club as the newest Academy Affiliate in the Sporting Club Network. Rebranded as Sporting St. Croix, they will now be the most northern Academy Affiliate, expanding the program's reach into Minnesota and Wisconsin, while giving players of that region a direct path to the Sporting Kansas City senior team. Read more.
SPORTING KC OPENS PRE-SEASON WITH 1-0 VICTORY OVER FC TUCSON
Sporting Kansas City opened the 2014 pre-season with a 1-0 victory over USL Premier Development League's FC Tucson on Tuesday. C.J. Sapong scored the lone goal of the match with a 20th minute strike, assisted by Claudio Bieler and Sal Zizzo. Sporting Kansas City featured 26 different players in Tuesday's match and will face the Portland Timbers on Saturday.
SPORTING KC PLAYS PORTLAND IN TUCSON, ARIZ. ON SATURDAY
Sporting KC will play the Portland Timbers at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday at North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex (3600 S. Country Club) in Tucson. Tickets can be purchased online and the match will be streamed live on SportingKC.com in addition to in-game coverage on Sporting KC's social media channels.
SPORTING KC SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE VIA TICKETMASTER
Sinlge-game tickets for Sporting KC's first nine home matches of the 2014 season at Sporting Park went on sale to the general public on Monday via Ticketmaster.com. The first nine matches include Sporting KC's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal match vs. Cruz Azul (March 12), the MLS home opener vs. FC Dallas (March 15) and the MLS Cup rematch vs. Real Salt Lake (April 5).
Individual match tickets for fixtures in the opening three months of Sporting KC's 2014 home schedule - beginning with the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Cruz Azul on March 12 and continuing through the showdown with Supporters' Shield holders New York Red Bulls on May 27 - can be secured here.
BESLER, FEILHABER AND ZUSI ON U.S. ROSTER FOR SATURDAY'S FRIENDLY
The U.S. Men's National Team, featuring Sporting KC's Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi, will open their highly-anticipated 2014 campaign against fellow FIFA World Cup finalist Korea Republic at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The international friendly will be shown live on ESPN2, WatchESPN and UniMas in the United States and will also be broadcast nationally on ESPN Deportes Radio.
PALMER-BROWN NAMED TO U.S. U-18 MNT FOR TRIP TO SPAIN
Sporting Kansas City defender Erik Palmer-Brown was named to the United States Under-18 Men's National Team roster on Tuesday for the Copa del Atlantico in Spain. The Lee's Summit, Mo. Native is one of 18 players selected by U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team head coach Javier Perez and departed from Sporting Kansas City's pre-season camp in Tucson, Ariz. on Wednesday.
The tournament will be held in Las Palmas, Spain from Jan. 30 thru Feb. 8 and the United States will face Spain (Feb. 4), Argentina (Feb. 5) and Canary Islands (Feb. 7) in their first ever appearance at the competition. See the full list here.
SPORTING KC PARTNERS WITH THE ROASTERIE FOR NEW COFFEE
Sporting Kansas City and The Roasterie announced on Tuesday a strategic partnership for the release of Sporting Blend. The brand new coffee blend is now available at each of three The Roasterie Cafes and The Roasterie's more than 75 grocery partners, and will also be sold at Sporting Park for Sporting Kansas City home games during the 2014 season.
Marketed as "smooth and satisfying, like the sweet taste of vicroty," Sporting Blend is a premium quality French (medium) roast with origins in Brazil, Ethiopia and Sumatra. The blend's one-of-a-kind tast is tailored for a flavor profile described as delicate and pleasing brightness with a sweet, mesquite-like aftertaste. Find more on the new partnership here.
SPORTING KC HONORED BY MISSOURI SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Sporting KC's 2013 championship season was honored by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday with the Special Achievement Award at the annual Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony held at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield, Mo. Read more on the accolade.
SPORTING KC SELECTS FOUR IN MLS SUPERDRAFT
Sporting KC selected four college seniors in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, beginning with the selection of Adnan Gabeljic with the 38th overall pick. Gabeljic is a 21-year-old forward out of St. Louis University and was joined in the team's draft class yesterday by defender Peter Schmetz, midfielder Alex Martinez and forward Reinaldo Brenes.
Schmetz, a 6'6 left-footed centerback, led the University of California Santa Barbara to a top 25 finish in 2013 and a No. 10 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Martinez, a 22-year-old All-ACC selection, began his collegiate career at High Point before transferring to North Carolina State University after his sophomore season. Brenes was a team captain and two-time All-MAC selection at the University of Akron. After winning a national championship in his freshman season, Brenes led the Zips in scoring as a junior and senior. All four draftees are with Sporting KC in Tucson, Ariz. for the pre-season.
FIVE FORMER PLAYERS AMONG HALL OF FAME CLASS NOMINEES
Five former KC players are among the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2014 nominees announced last week by the U.S. Soccer Federation. Chris Henderson and Chris Klein are eligible on the Player Ballot while Mike Burns, Frank Klopas and Mike Sorber are in contention on the Veteran Ballot.
Read more on the nominees here.
SPORTING KC STAFF HONORED AT MLS CLUB EXECUTIVE AWARDS
Major League Soccer held it's annual Club Executive Awards Ceremony on Friday evening in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) annual convention in Philadelphia, Penn.
Sporting Kansas City and its employees collected the following awards for outstanding achievements in 2013:
- Public Relations Team of the Year, accepted by Rob Thomson (Executive Vice President of Communications/Digital)
- Ticket Sales Team of the Year, accepted by Gregg Allen (Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service)
- Commissioner's Club (12,000+) for Full Season Tickets, accepted by Jordan Kelsey (Sales Manager)
- Commissioner's Club (90%+) for Full Season Ticket Renewals, accepted by Matt Evans (Director, Client Services) and Amesha Tate (Manager, Premium Services)
- All Rookie (175+ New FSEs) for New Season Tickets: Josh Frishberg (Account Executive)
- Bronze Threshold (300-399 New FSEs) for New Season Tickets: Beth Brittain, Zack Robinson and Casey Miles (Senior Account Executives)
- Bronze Threshold (10,000-14,999) for Group Tickets: Chris Flynn (Manager, Group Sales) and Zack Robinson (Senior Account Executive)
SPORTING KC ANNOUNCES FULL 2014 PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
Sporting KC will travel to Tucson, Ariz. for training and exhibition matches before competing in the 2014 Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, Fla. as Manager Peter Vermes puts the team through six weeks of preparation leading into the 2014 campaign.
For the fourth straight year, Sporting Kansas City returns to the Old Pueblo from Jan. 24 thru Feb. 8 to train at the Kino Sports Complex with three exhibition matches scheduled during the initial phase of pre-season.
- Jan. 28: vs. FC Tucson (PDL) at 12 p.m. in Tucson
- Feb. 1: vs. Portland Timbers (MLS) at 7 p.m. in Tucson
- Feb. 7: vs. Indy Eleven (NASL) at 12 p.m. in Casa Grande
Sporting Kansas City will travel to Central Florida from Feb. 14 thru March 2 for the team's participation in the 2014 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, an eight-team pre-season tournament held annually at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
- Feb. 19: vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS) at 2 p.m. in Kissimmee
- Feb. 22: vs. Fluminense FC U23 (Brazil) at p.m. in Kissimmee
- Feb. 26: vs. Montreal Impact (MLS) at 7 p.m. in Kissimmee
CONCACAF TIMES AND DATES SET FOR CCL QUARTERFINAL
Sporting Kansas City's quarterfinal series with Mexico's Cruz Azul in the 2013-14 CONCACAF will take place at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 12 at Sporting Park (leg one) and 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 19 at Estadio Azul (leg two) CONCACAF announced. Tickets for the opening leg at Sporting Park are included in Sporting Kansas City's 2014 full season ticket member packages and individual tickets for the match-up will go on sale later this month.
Sporting Kansas City advanced to the championship stage of the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League as Group 2 winners and the seventh overall seed in the competition. The club is paired with Cruz Azul from Liga MX, the tournament's second seed after a perfect 4-0-0 record in Group 3. Read more on CCL here.
SKC TV NETWORK ADDS DIEGO GUTIERREZ TO BROADCAST TEAM
Sporting Kansas City announced that Diego Gutierrez will join the Sporting KC Television Network as a commentator alongside Callum Williams (play-by-play) and Jake Yadrich (sideline) for all locally televised matches on KMCI-TV during the 2014 season.
A Blue Springs High School graduate and two-time NSCAA All-American at Rockhurst University, Gutierrez began his 13-year MLS career in Kansas City as a club original in 1996 for the first of six seasons with the team. He recorded 13 goals and 46 assists in 316 career MLS matches (including postseason), earning MLS All-Star honors and a debut for the U.S. Men's National Team in 2001.
In 2004, Gutierrez captained Kansas City to the U.S. Open Cup championship and a berth in MLS Cup. He was a member of four U.S. Open Cup championship teams and won MLS Cup in 1998, scoring his first professional goal in the final. His 40 career playoff appearances rank third most in MLS history, and included starts in three MLS Cup finals.
SPORTING KC CROWNED MLS CUP CHAMPIONS
Sporting Kansas City prevailed in MLS Cup 2013 in a 10-round penalty shootout after regulation and two-15 minute extra time periods concluded in a 1-1 draw at Sporting Park on Dec. 7. The match was nationally broadcast on ESPN and UniMas.
Alvaro Saborio gave Real Salt Lake the first goal of the match in the 52nd minute of play, receiving a well-placed pass from teammate Kyle Beckerman. Collin equalized for Sporting KC in the 76th minute off a Graham Zusi corner kick. The goal was Collin's third during the MLS postseason, most among all players in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Collin also notched the game-winning goal in the penalty shootout to secure the second league title in the team's 18-year history and a berth in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League. Collin was named the Volkswagen MLS Cup 2013 MVP.
MLS CUP TRIUMPH VOTED MOMENT OF THE YEAR
For the second consecutive year, a Sporting Kansas City championship at Sporting Park has been voted MLSsoccer.com Moment of the Year. In 2012, it was Sporting KC's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win over the Seattle Sounders. In 2013, it was Sporting KC's MLS Cup win over Real Salt Lake.
The title match drew 34 percent of the final vote, followed by Portland's postseason win over Seattle (16 percent) and Clint Dempsey being introduced in Seattle (11 percent). Read more here.
SPORTING KC ADDS SECOND USL PRO AFFILIATE IN 2014
Sporting Kansas City announced that the club will partner with two USL PRO teams for the 2014 season, adding a one-year agreement with OKC Energy FC to join Orlando City SC as an official USL PRO affiliate of Sporting KC. A minimum of two Sporting Kansas City players will be loaned to each USL PRO team throughout the season as part of the agreements.
Additionally, former Sporting Kansas City captain Jimmy Nielsen will serve as the head coach of OKC Energy FC in their expansion season in 2014. Nielsen retired after a 19-year playing career that culminated with an MLS Cup championship at Sporting Park.
SPORTING KC ACQUIRES ANDY GRUENEBAUM AND SAL ZIZZO
Sporting Kansas City has acquired goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum from the Columbus Crew in exchange for Sporting KC's second round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. Gruenebaum has been added to Sporting Kansas City's roster and will occupy a senior roster spot.
Gruenebaum, 30, made 82 appearances in MLS competition (including playoffs) with 277 saves, 18 shutouts and a 1.27 goals against average in eight seasons with the Crew. He led MLS with 124 saves in 2012 and was a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year after being named the Crew's MVP and Defender of the Year. In 2013, Gruenebaum conceded the second fewest goals (28) among goalkeepers with a minimum of 15 games played.
Additionally, Sporting Kansas City has acquired midfielder Sal Zizzo from the Portland Timbers FC in exchange for allocation money. Zizzo has been added to Sporting Kansas City's roster and will occupy a senior roster spot.
In four MLS seasons, the 26-year-old Zizzo has made 70 appearances with two goals and eight assists while playing for Chivas USA (2010) and Portland (2011-2013). He entered MLS through a weighted lottery in July 2010 after spending his first three seasons as a professional with Hannover 96 in Germany's Bundesliga.
KANSAS CITY TO HOST 14 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sporting Park and Swope Soccer Village will host 13 championships over the next four years:
- 2014 Division III (M&W) Soccer: Dec. 5-6 at Swope Soccer Village
- 2014 Division II Football: Dec. 20 at Sporting Park
- 2015 Division III (M&W) Soccer: Dec. 4-5 at Swope Soccer Village
- 2015 Division I Men's Soccer: Dec. 11-13 at Sporting Park
- 2015 Division II Football: Dec. 19 at Sporting Park
- 2016 Division II (M&W) Soccer: Dec. 1-3 at Swope Soccer Village
- 2016 Division II Football: Dec. 17 at Sporting Park
- 2017 Division II (M&W) Soccer: Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at Swope Soccer Village
- 2017 Division I Women's Volleyball: Dec. 14-16 at Sprint Center
- 2017 Division II Football: Dec. 16 at Sporting Park
CONSTRUCTION ON PHASE II OF SWOPE SOCCER VILLAGE BEGINS
Construction on Phase II of Swope Soccer Village's $13.44 million expansion has begun to prepare for the development of five new synthetic soccer fields. Located at 63rd and Lewis Rd. in Kansas City's Swope Park, the Swope Soccer Village will be home to nine full-sized soccer fields and facilities upon the project's completion later this year.
In May, a $13.44 million expansion to the Swope Soccer Village was formally approved by the City Council. Four months after breaking ground, the complex's natural grass championship field - the first of six new fields as part of the expansion - opened in November and hosted the 2013 Big 12 Soccer Championship. The conference's postseason tournament will again be played at the Swope Soccer Village in 2014.
The five new synthetic fields will be built on the east side of Lewis Rd. and will each be furnished with lighting and fencing. Grand Construction serves as the general contractor and Sporting Club Network member Brookside Soccer Club will act as a primary tenant. The development will also provide additional infrastructure updates, including new restroom, concession and storage amenities.
MLS Cup champions Sporting Kansas City opened the team's training center at the Swope Soccer Village in 2007 with over 7,800 square feet of facility space and three soccer fields. The Sporting KC Academy, Sporting Club Network members and numerous community outreach programs utilize the existing four fields at the complex.
SPORTING KC RELEASES 2014 MLS SCHEDULE
Sporting KC released the club's 34-game regular season schedule for the 2014 Major League Soccer season.
Sporting Kansas City is currently taking deposits for the 2014 season ticket member waiting list. The non-refundable deposits are $150 per seat for premium areas and $50 per seat for all other section. Groups of 20 or more can also place deposits, starting at $300, to secure priority consideration for preferred seating areas, game dates and hospitality options ahead of the general public.
38 THE SPOT (KMCI) NAMED SPORTING KC'S NEW LOCAL TV PARTNER
Every Sporting Kansas City regular season MLS match will again be shown live in 2014. KMCI-TV (38 the Spot) will serve as the team's new local broadcast partner and will carry all non-nationally televised regular season matches. Owned by Scripps Media, Inc., KCMI's plans include pre-game and post-game shows, as well as select Sporting Kansas City programing to air on sister station KSHB-TV (Kansas City's NBC affiliate).
SECURE 2014 SEASON TICKETS AT SPORTING PARK
Sporting Kansas City is now taking deposits for new season ticket members for the 2014 season at state-of-the-art Sporting Park. The non-refundable deposits are $150 per seat for premium areas and $50 per seat for all other sections and provide fans with priority position for securing full season tickets in 2014.
Additionally, all fans on the Sporting Kansas City season ticket member waiting list will be given access to pre-sale opportunities for select special events at Sporting Park (subject to availability).
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 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.
Leading up to the start of the 2014 season, fans can visit SportingKC.com/preseason for the team's Preseason Guide and SportingKC.com/tracker for a compilation of player transactions throughout the offseason.
