LIVESTRONG Sporting Park has the opportunity, yet again, to capture the country’s attention. After a little over a year since the grand opening, LSP has seen its share of big time events.
From hosting games in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Olympic Qualifying Tournament, to hosting Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference Championship and now U.S. Soccer’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, it’s been a busy year at the state-of-the-art venue in Kansas City, Kan.
The U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams have both played inside the park, and the USMNT will be back on October 16 for a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala. The English Premier League has sent Newcastle United and Stoke City to get a glimpse of the facility, along with Mexico’s CD Guadalajara and France’s Montpellier Herault SC.
And tomorrow, the spectacle comes directly from the hard work of Sporting Kansas City, as they have fought their way into the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
Along with the advantage of playing on their home soil, Sporting Kansas City gets to play in front of their fans – a group boasted among the best in the MLS.
“It’s very good to have a final here, you cant ask for more,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. “It’s a reward for our fans, and more importantly it’s a reward to our ownership as well. One of the things that they’ve set out to do here in Kansas City is to bring in events like this to this new stadium that obviously they’ve invested a great deal of money.”
Despite the fact that the Seattle Sounders have won the past three U.S. Open Cup Finals, Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi said his team will approach the championship with the more important advantage.
“They have won the past three, but that’s not in the back of our heads,” Zusi said. “We’re just very excited to have this one at home playing for our fans.”
The last time Sporting KC played in the Open Cup final was in 2004, and they came away with a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire. Defender Matt Besler said he and his teammates are ready to do it again.
“We really want to leave our mark on this club and this team,” Besler said. “This is the first step. If we can get this one, [we can] use that experience to get more. It’s a great opportunity that we’re playing it at home, so we’re going to give it all we have. We’re excited.”
Along with the fans and the ownership of Sporting Kansas City, Vermes said the U.S. Open Cup Final is a special moment for everyone who lives in Kansas City.
“To the community, it’s a reward,” Vermes said. “I think this organization has turned the sport around in Kansas City. Obviously, with every game we have a sellout now, and that was something that never existed since this team has been here.”
Follow all the buildup leading to tomorrow's match on Twitter with the hashtag #8812SKC.
