Ahead of the highly anticipated Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, Sporting KC has teamed up with local artists and makers to launch the club’s Paint The Wall marketing campaign aimed at amplifying attention around the postseason pursuit of a third Major League Soccer championship for Kansas City.
PLAYOFFS INFO: Visit SportingKC.com/PaintTheWall for the latest information throughout Sporting Kansas City’s run in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Paint The Wall, a longstanding reference to the club’s iconic tradition of commemorating championship victories on the wall in the northwest corner of Children’s Mercy Park, celebrates the club’s previous MLS Cup triumphs while also rallying the Kansas City region behind the team as Manager Peter Vermes leads Sporting into the playoffs with the ultimate goal of club captain Johnny Russell painting the wall with the year 2021 after MLS Cup on Dec. 11.
"One of our club's goals has always been to further entrench ourselves in the Kansas City community,” said Sporting KC Creative Director Chad Reynolds. “Painting the wall is our most honored tradition, the postseason is the most important time of the year, and nothing matters more than bringing championships to Kansas City. So as we developed the 2021 playoff campaign around that idea, we knew from the jump that we wanted to involve the people – the artists and makers – that make our city so special."
Sporting has collaborated with Sike Style Industries, a KC design company that specializes in custom murals, for the campaign’s branding, including the graffiti art for the signature Paint The Wall element.
"As a muralist and fan of KC sports, I was ‘sike'd’ to be asked to lend my talents to the Paint The Wall campaign for the playoffs,” said Phil “Sike Style” Shafer, owner and lead artist at Sike Style Industries. “With a theme that represents what Sike Style Industries does, the concept brings art, design and sports together to rally the fans in support of the team."
In addition, Sporting Kansas City has collaborated with Strange Music artist Tech N9ne for use of his recently released track “Face Off” – featuring Dwayne Johnson, Joey Cool and King Iso – on social media and in-stadium at Children’s Mercy Park on matchdays.
“SPORTING KC WILL CONTINUE TO PAINT THE WALL AS VICTORY WILL, INDEED, BE THEIRS! GIVING ALL THE SMELL OF BLUE HELL! Tech N9ne!” said iconic Kansas City hip-hop pioneer TechN9ne.
Sporting has also released Paint The Wall captain’s pennants made in Kansas City by local supplier Sandlot Goods. The limited-edition pennants are available for fans to purchase for $15 while supplies last at SportingStyle retail locations at Children’s Mercy Park on matchdays and online online orders can be placed at SandlotGoods.com.
A portion of proceeds from all Paint The Wall captain’s pennant sales will go directly to The Victory Project – Sporting Kansas City’s philanthropic foundation – as part of the club’s season-long “A Force For Good” campaign.
"It really says something about Sporting KC as an organization that they put such an emphasis on bringing in a local manufacturer for this project,” said Chad Hickman, owner of Sandlot Goods. “We are just so incredibly proud to be involved in the making of the Paint The Wall banners and that the proceeds benefit such an important cause."
Sporting Kansas City will kick off the team’s 10th playoff appearance in the past 11 seasons at home on Saturday, Nov. 20 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Round One of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT at Children’s Mercy Park and tickets are available online at SeatGeek.com.
In the buildup to the postseason, Sporting Kansas City will host two fan-focused events at Children’s Mercy Park in the next two days.
On Friday, Sporting Kansas City will host a Playoff Rally in the Budweiser Brew House, immediately followed by a watch party for the USMNT's World Cup qualifier against Mexico. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. CT with the rally to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT and kickoff in USAvMEX at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Free tickets for the event can be reserved online at SeatGeek.com.
On Saturday, SportingStyle will host a Friends and Family Pre-Sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Wise Power Shield Club. Parking will be available on the Mazuma Plaza, accessible via Sporting Way, as fans can shop discounted team merchandise ahead of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and upcoming holiday shopping season.
