"This Week in Sporting" is a biweekly series that highlights the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City. To visit the series archive, click here.
1. Ready for Leg Two
Sporting Kansas City has announced its roster for the second leg of the 2020 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. The current preseason squad consists of 31 players, with 24 members of the first team joined by five Sporting KC II players and two Sporting KC Academy standouts.
The Sporting KC II contingent includes Wilson Harris, John Pulskamp, Kaveh Rad, Camden Riley and new arrival Brooks Thompson. Academy players Jake Davis and Tucker Lepley will also make the trip, having participated in the first leg of preseason training last month.
First team midfielders Felipe Hernandez and Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal will continue their preseason preparations with Sporting Kansas City II, while goalkeeper Eric Dick has been loaned to Phoenix Rising FC for the 2020 season.
2. Friendly Fire
Sporting will play four friendlies over the next two weeks in Arizona, facing Columbus Crew SC at noon CT on Wednesday before launching into the Visit Tucson Sun Cup, where they will face Real Salt Lake, Rising FC and the New York Red Bulls. Tickets for all Visit Tucson Sun Cup fixtures are on sale now at FCTucson.com. Manager Peter Vermes' side will then return to Kansas City ahead of the club's first MLS regular season match at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Feb. 29.
3. Tickets on Tap
Single-game tickets for Sporting Kansas City’s first 10 home matches of the 2020 MLS regular season are now on sale. Individual match tickets for contests at Children’s Mercy Park through June 28—beginning with the highly anticipated home opener against rivals Houston Dynamo on March 7 and continuing through a summertime matchup versus the Portland Timbers—can be purchased at SportingKC.com/tickets.
4. Kit Collection
Sporting Kansas City's newly unveiled 2020 kit collection is now available at the SportingStyle Pop-In Store, located inside the Budweiser Brew House at the northeast corner of Children's Mercy Park. The new collection of merchandise includes Sporting's 2020 secondary kit in four different offerings—men's authentic and replica, women's and youth—as well as the new Anthem Jacket, Travel Jacket and Secondary Scarf.
The SportingStyle Pop-In Store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. Fans can shop inside the store, email stylist@sportingkc.com or call 913-912-7563 to place orders. All purchases over $50 ship for free.
5. Salloi Sound-Off
A Sporting Kansas City forward. An eligible bachelor. The object of Patrick Mahomes' affection.
Daniel Salloi can lay claim to all of the above.
The Sporting KC Academy product and 23-year-old joined The Border Patrol hosts Nate Bukaty and Steven St. John on Monday morning, rehashing a wild and unforgettable week in Kansas City. In a lively and humorous interview on Sports Radio 810 WHB, Salloi discussed the Kansas City Chiefs' momentous Super Bowl victory, his status as an eligible bachelor and what he looks for in a romantic partner. He also asserts that his biggest fan in town is Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes himself. Listen to the podcast below.
6. Blazin' Barbecue
Sporting Kansas City announced last week a new partnership with the American Royal Association, a Kansas City tradition with over 120 years of celebrated history in national competitive events and programs, scholarships and education. The local partnership will introduce American Royal Barbecue to Children’s Mercy Park, treating supporters to revered Kansas City barbecue at every Sporting home match beginning this season.
7. Done Deal
Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Major League Soccer Players Association announced last week that they have reached an agreement in principle on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement, covering five seasons, commencing with the 2020 season and continuing through the 2024 season, is subject to the approval of the MLS Board of Governors and the membership of the MLSPA. The new agreement includes:
- Increased investment in player spending;
- Greater flexibility for clubs to use those new resources across the entire roster;
- Player spending to include a share of MLS’ new media rights deals in 2023 and 2024;
- A substantial increase in charter flights by the end of the term;
- Expanded free agency.
