Sporting Kansas City supporters,
The last 10 years have been a remarkable ride.
Upon taking ownership of Kansas City’s Major League Soccer team in 2006, we saw great potential to build something special — something the entire city would embrace and cherish long into the future. Our goal was to deliver exactly what you deserved as fans: a championship team in a world-class venue, committed to entertaining, innovating and connecting meaningfully with the Kansas City community.
Yet none of this would have been possible without your unwavering support. In that respect, you have helped fulfill our vision more than anyone or anything else. You purchase tickets, wear our colors, revere our players and show tremendous pride for the club. You have made our dream a reality, and for that we are eternally grateful.
For the last decade, the journey we’ve shared has trended upward. You remained loyal during the early stages of our tenure as we set out to assemble a competitive team and find a new home. We received a special glimpse of Kansas City’s appetite for soccer when we beat English powerhouse Manchester United in front of 52,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. That momentum was carried into 2011, which proved to be the club’s most transformative chapter to date.
At that time, you bought into our new identity as Sporting Kansas City and began filling Children’s Mercy Park. Five straight sellouts became 10. Ten became 20. That number presently stands at 84 and shows no signs of ending anytime soon.
Your brilliant support makes a legitimate impact on the field. We saw this in 2011 when you pulled us from the bottom of the conference in June to the top in October. We saw this in 2012 when the rafters shook during the euphoric Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, and again in 2013 when a record crowd pushed us to an MLS Cup championship in 10-degree weather. We’ve seen this in places such as Colorado, Chicago, Dallas and even Philadelphia, where a Roaddron of 1,000 fans helped us to Open Cup glory last fall.
We are incredibly proud to have shared these powerful experiences with you.
We are also beaming with excitement about what lies on the horizon. Given what you’ve helped us accomplish over the last 10 years, together we can approach the future with endless optimism. And while we can’t predict exactly how it will unfold, we as owners proclaim the following promise to supporters:
- We will continue to contend for championships. Sporting Kansas City has won three major trophies over the last four seasons, playing a trademark brand of soccer while working tirelessly for one another. This is a true testament to the players and coaches, and we will ensure that the club has every resource needed to stay ultra-competitive as MLS grows into one of the world’s best leagues.
- We will continue to entertain — on the field, in the stadium, throughout the city and across our digital platforms. The fan experience at Children’s Mercy Park is something of which we are extremely proud. But a world-class facility doesn’t come to life without an ardent fan base and an electric atmosphere. We plan to give you every reason to be excited about the team, whether you’re at a game, tuned into a TV broadcast or following us on Twitter.
- We will continue to innovate, leveraging social strategies, cutting-edge technologies and creative branding to strengthen the connection between the club and its fans. From fresh new jerseys to mobile ticketing, we intend to remain trendsetters within our industry.
- We will continue to connect with the Kansas City community. Our multifaceted relationships with Ivy Funds, Children’s Mercy, UMB and Price Chopper are prime examples of our commitment to local. We will also strive to leave a philanthropic mark throughout the region, utilizing The Victory Project and other vehicles to give back to a city that has given us so much.
On behalf of Sporting Kansas City, we thank you — the fans — for your passionate support over the last decade. Because of you, the future is bright. We are humbled and honored to serve the Soccer Capital of America.
The Sporting Kansas City Owners
