Academy

Sporting KC Weekly Update: April 13, 2016

SPORTING KC TO HOST COLORADO ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY NIGHT
Following a 2-0 road win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, Sporting Kansas City (4-1-0, 12 points) is back atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings heading into Week 7 of the regular season. The club will meet two Western Conference opponents this week, beginning tonight at 7:30 p.m. CT when the Colorado Rapids (2-2-1, 7 points) visit Children’s Mercy Park for Sporting KC’s highly anticipated 20th Anniversary Night, presented by Ivy Funds. The historic occasion will commemorate Kansas City’s inaugural game, a 3-0 win against Colorado at Arrowhead Stadium on April 13, 1996.


Tonight’s match will be broadcast on 38 The Spot, SKCTV, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM, with three hours of live television coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CT. A limited number of tickets for the game are available at Ticketmaster.com, including South Stand GA tickets for just $19.96 courtesy of Ivy Funds. Fans can secure their tickets in the South Stand using promo code WIZ1996 at checkout. 


The first 10,000 fans to Children's Mercy Park this evening will receive a complimentary Sporting KC retro jersey koozie, and Legends Hospitality will offer discounted concession pricing until 7 p.m. For more information on 20th Anniversary Night, visit SportingKC.com.


SPORTING KC BACK ON THE ROAD SUNDAY TO FACE FC DALLAS
After hosting the Rapids, Sporting KC will play its first of three straight road games on Sunday in a nationally televised match against FC Dallas (3-1-2, 11 points) at Toyota Stadium. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. CT on FS1 and FOX Deportes, with a live radio broadcast on La Grande 1340 AM.


UPHORIA APP TO INCLUDE NEW TICKETING FEATURES
Sporting KC announced Tuesday new mobile ticketing options for supporters available through the Sporting KC Uphoria app. Sporting KC Uphoria is a free mobile application available for download on all iPhone or Android phone devices. Keeping a focus on innovation, new Uphoria features include flexible tickets for Season Ticket Members and last-minute tickets available for purchase via text, email or social media. These new offerings are delivered in partnership with Experience, the award-winning fan experience technology company. (Full story)


SPORTING KC TAKES 2-0 ROAD WIN OVER RED BULLS
Sporting KC returned to winning ways on Saturday, moving atop the MLS Supporters' Shield standings with a 2-0 road victory over the New York Red Bulls. Benny Feilhaber and Dom Dwyer scored on either side of halftime, while goalkeeper Tim Melia enjoyed a brilliant night at Red Bull Arena with six saves, including one from the penalty spot, to post his third shutout of the season.


With the result, Sporting KC (4-1-0, 12 points) snapped a six-game winless run against the Red Bulls and notched consecutive road wins for the first time since July 2014. Despite holding a 22-7 edge in shots, New York (1-4-0, 3 points) suffered their second straight loss and failed to score for the fourth time in 2016. (Full story)


TIM MELIA TAKES TEAM OF THE WEEK HONORS
Goalkeeper Tim Melia delivered arguably the best performance of his seven-year MLS career on Saturday, making six saves, including one from the penalty spot, to propel Sporting KC to a 2-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls. Melia's heroics landed him a Team of the Week spot on MLSsoccer.com and Bleacher Report. The 2015 Comeback Player of the Year has started 2016 in fine form, leading MLS in wins (four), shutouts (three), save percentage (87.5) and goals against average (0.60). On Saturday, he became the first goalkeeper in Sporting KC history to record at least six saves, one penalty kick save and a shutout win in the same match.


TIM MELIA UP FOR MLS SAVE OF THE WEEK
Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia has been nominated for MLS Save of the Week after stopping a penalty kick from Bradley Wright-Phillips in Saturday's 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls. (Vote here)


SPORTING KC PARTNERS WITH ARVEST BANK THEATRE AT THE MIDLAND
Sporting KC announced last Wednesday a multi-year partnership with the historic Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland, located in downtown Kansas City’s Power & Light District. As part of the relationship, a premium seating area on the venue’s Mercedes Benz Executive Level will be renamed the “Sporting Suite” and select shows at Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland will receive promotional support from Sporting KC via ticket giveaways, social media contests and other strategic campaigns. (Full story)


RANGERS STAY UNBEATEN WITH DRAW AT SAN ANTONIO
The Swope Park Rangers played to a 1-1 draw with San Antonio FC on Saturday night to preserve the club’s unbeaten start to the season. Daniel Salloi scored in just the second minute to put the Rangers in front before Danny Garcia equalized for San Antonio in what was their first-ever home game at Toyota Field. (Full story)


MEYER AND KEMPIN ON USL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Swope Park Rangers defender Tommy Meyer was named to the USL Team of the Week after leading the team to a hard-fought 1-1 tie against San Antonio FC on Saturday night. In addition, goalkeeper Jon Kempin was selected to the bench of the Team of the Week. (Full story)


RANGERS TO HOST UNIVERSITY OF TULSA ON SATURDAY
The Swope Park Rangers have a bye weekend in the United Soccer League but will host the University of Tulsa in a scrimmage at 4 p.m. CT Saturday at Swope Soccer Village. Admission is free and open to the public.


SPORTING KC ACADEMY SWEEPS COLORADO RAPIDS
On a day Sporting KC and the Swope Park Rangers resumed their impressive starts to the 2016 season away from home, the Sporting KC Academy enjoyed a successful road trip of their own. The U-18s, U-16s and U-14s combined for a clean sweep of the Colorado Rapids on Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. All three teams secured one-goal wins as the 2015-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season hits the final stretch before playoffs commence in June. (Full story)


SPORTING KC ACADEMY IN ACTION ON SUNDAY
The U-18s and U-16s will return to Swope Soccer Village on Sunday to host the Colorado Rush as the 2015-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season enters its final stretch.  Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter as both teams continue their push for the 2016 USSDA playoffs in June.


WIN A TRIP TO SEE SPORTING KC PLAY IN LA FOR FREE
Sporting KC supporters can enter the Sabates Eye Centers sweepstakes at SportingKC.com/Sabates for a chance to win a free trip to see Sporting KC play at LA Galaxy on June 2. The prize includes two game tickets, round-trip air fair, a two-night stay in Los Angeles, a rental car and Sporting KC gear. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. CT on April 30.


FOLLOW SPORTING KC
For news, photographs and instant updates throughout the 2016 season, follow Sporting KC on its TwitterInstagramFacebook and Snapchat (sportingkc) accounts and visit the club's social media page.