Sporting KC to host Chicago Fire in battle for first place Friday
LSP sold out for USMNT World Cup Qualifier
USMNT to host public training at LSP on Oct. 14
Sapong named No. 2 on 24 under 24 series
Mobile phone charging stations added at LSP
Nielsen on downloadable cover of FIFA 13
Sporting KC, Braden's Hope team up for Year of Hope calendar
Sporting KC in the community
Sporting KC earns four points on two-game road trip
Sporting KC drops Reserve League finale at FC Dallas
Sporting KC launches 2013 Season Ticket renewal campaign
Sporting KC now taking deposits for 2013 Reserved Seating
Prorated 2012 Season Ticket Plans Available
Follow Sporting KC Online
SPORTING KC TO HOST CHICAGO FIRE IN BATTLE FOR FIRST PLACE FRIDAY
Sporting Kansas City will host rivals the Chicago Fire on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT this Friday at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Tickets for the match, sponsored by Mainstreet Credit Union, are available online at Ticketmaster.com and at the LSP Box Offices. The match will be nationally televised on the NBC Sports Network and locally broadcast on Sports Radio 810 WHB, including pre-game and post-game coverage.
Chicago trails Sporting Kansas City by two points in the battle for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and have defeated Sporting KC twice this season. If Sporting Kansas City wins, the club will become the first Eastern Conference team to secure a berth in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.
LSP SOLD OUT FOR USMNT WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
A sellout crowd will witness the decisive U.S. Men’s National Team’s 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala on Oct. 16 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The match will mark the first time the stadium has hosted a World Cup Qualifier.
The USA faces Guatemala on the final matchday of the Semifinal Round in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. U.S. Soccer credentials are required for this match, and Sporting KC or MLS All-Stadium media credentials will not be valid. The deadline to apply for credentials to this match is Oct. 3, 2012.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2, WatchESPN and the Univision family. Fans can also follow the match live on
ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker
and on
.
USMNT TO HOST PUBLIC TRAINING AT LSP ON OCT. 14
As part of the continuing effort to connect with the fans, the U.S. Men’s National Team will host a public training session on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 10:30 a.m. CT at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Admission and parking for the event are free. Fans who pre-register on ussoccer.com will be entered to have a chance to meet U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann at the stadium prior to the training session.
At the session, fans will get a first-hand look at how the National Team prepares for an important match and hear exclusive interviews with Klinsmann and select players. With tickets sold out for the decisive USA-Guatemala match two days later, the event gives more supporters a chance to see the team in action. U.S. Soccer Supporters Club members will have field-level access during the training session. If you are not yet a member, U.S. Soccer SC memberships are available to purchase.
SAPONG NAMED NO. 2 ON 24 UNDER 24 SERIES
Sporting Kansas City striker C.J. Sapong was voted the No. 2 player on MLSSoccer.com's 24 under 24 series for 2012. The reigning MLS Rookie of the Year, who came in at No. 15 on last year's list, has seven goals in his sophomore season and has earned time with the U.S. Men's National Team in January.
Sapong participated in a Google+ Hangout with the No. 1 overall selection Darren Mattocks on Friday, shown live on Major League Soccer's YouTube channel, Google+ page and MLSSoccer.com. Joining Sapong on this year's list was fellow forward Teal Bunbury, voted No. 20 by fans and media.
MOBILE PHONE CHARGING STATIONS ADDED AT LSP
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park and Sporting Kansas City will add to the technological features and in-stadium fan experience with the availability of three new mobile phone charging stations, powered by Sprint and conveniently located throughout the venue. The charging stations will be accessible beginning on Friday when Sporting Kansas City takes on the Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The stadium, considered one of the most technologically advanced sports facilities in the world since its opening in June 2011, has teamed with local start-up company inCharge to provide the charging stations at no cost to fans. The Kansas City-based company, founded last year by entrepreneur and Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Member Bryan Richard, will unveil their prototype for the first time on Friday.
The charging stations will complement the Sprint charging station located in the concourse on the north end of the stadium and will be available near the Budweiser Corner, Members' Club and Shield Club spaces at LSP. The debut of the charging stations is aimed at allowing fans to stay connected to the club and one another at all times on their mobile devices with the use of mobile apps like Sporting Explore and through the popularity of social media.
"It's an issue everyone has when their mobile device has little or no battery, especially in a concentrated environment like a stadium," Richard says. "This solution is a lifeline for the customer in public places and Sporting Kansas City was our first choice to launch the systems. We're thrilled and honored to be doing this together."
The stations will natively charge nearly any cell phone, with support for the iPhone – including the new iPhone 5 – and all devices that require a micro- or mini-USB charger, including Android-based phones. Users will not need to bring their charging cable to the game as the multi-sided charging stations can be connected to a minimum of 16 devices at a time per location and provide power at the standard charging rate for the battery.
Each charging station, designed and manufactured in Kansas City, will include a 32-inch video monitor with venue-specific content and also features customizable branding for the appearance. For more information, follow @inchargemobile on Twitter and visit www.incharge.io.
NIELSEN ON DOWNLOADABLE COVER OF FIFA 13
FIFA 13 celebrated its North American release on Tuesday, being made available in stores and online for the first time. MLS took part in the official launch party in NYC on Monday night and this year's edition of the game has several special features available for MLS fans.
In addition to a specially designed MLS "Hero Cover," each of the 19 clubs have a customized cover available for their supporters to download and print as an insert for the game. Sporting KC captain Jimmy Nielsen -- the MLS leader in wins, shutouts and goals against average this season -- earned the honor to represent Sporting KC. Users can also unlock the MLS All-Star team -- including Nielsen, Aurelien Collin and Graham Zusi -- by reaching at least Level 14 in the EA Sports Football Club and earning at least 750 Football Club Credits to spend on the team.
Next month, EA Sports will bring their Soccer & Speed Tour to Kansas and Missouri.
SPORTING KC, BRADEN'S HOPE TEAM UP FOR YEAR OF HOPE CALENDAR
Sporting Kansas City teamed up with Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer and DeCloud Studios for a 2013 calendar for the Kansas City-based organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for treatments of childhood cancer. The 2013 Year of Hope calendar features 12 local childhood cancer heroes and Sporting Kansas City players: Matt Besler, Teal Bunbury, Bobby Convey, Michael Harrington, Kei Kamara, Chance Myers, Jimmy Nielsen, Soony Saad, C.J. Sapong, Seth Sinovic, Konrad Warzycha and Graham Zusi.
Fans may purchase calendars for $15 at www.BradensHope.org or at Harvest Moon Natural Foods in Olathe, Kan. Braden’s Hope will also be selling calendars during the Sporting KC game on Friday in the Sprint Plaza. All money raised from the sales of the 2013 Year of Hope calendar will go directly to Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer to raise awareness and fund research grants given to hospitals and research institutions dedicated to find treatments and cures for childhood cancers exclusively.
SPORTING KC IN THE COMMUNITY
Denotes events that are open to the general public
- Wednesday, Sept. 26 from 5:30-7pm: Chance Myers, Matt Besler, Roger Espinoza and C.J. Sapong will assist at a Sporting Club Network clinic at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park.
- Friday, Sept. 28 from 3-4:30pm: Teal Bunbury will be signing autographs at the Belinder Elementary School Walkathon.
- Saturday, Sept. 29 from 12-1:30pm: Seth Sinovic and Jon Kempin will be at the American Royal Post-Parade event in the KC Power and Light District.
- **Saturday, Sept. 29 from 3-4:30pm: C.J. Sapong will be at the Papa Murphy's Pizza store opening in Roeland Park.
SPORTING KC EARNS FOUR POINTS ON TWO-GAME ROAD TRIP
Sporting Kansas City have returned from a successful road trip to New York and Montreal on which they earned four points, keeping them atop the Eastern Conference with 55 points. Sporting Kansas City earned a decisive 2-0 road victory at the New York Red Bulls last Wednesday, earning their first victory at Red Bull Arena in club history and snapped the Red Bulls home-unbeaten streak at 16 games.
Both goals were scored in the opening 20 minutes of the match, first by C.J. Sapong in the 12th minute followed by Kei Kamara’s blazing header seven minutes later. Sporting Kansas City held New York scoreless at home for the first time this year.
Sporting Kansas City then traveled to Montreal where they drew 0-0 with the Montreal Impact on Saturday afternoon at Stade Saputo. Jimmy Nielsen recorded his 13th shutout of the season and lowered his goals against average to 0.83; both stats lead the League this season.
SPORTING KC DROPS RESERVE LEAGUE FINALE AT FC DALLAS
Sporting Kansas City fell 2-0 in the team's 2012 MLS Reserve League finale on Tuesday. FC Dallas midfielder Bryan Leyva scored both goals for the home side, striking in the 34th and 79th minutes, to go along with a shutout from Homegrown player Richard Sanchez.
Sporting KC concluded the 2012 Reserve League season with a 2-6-2 record in the Central/Mountain Division. Click here for player stats from the campaign.
SPORTING KC LAUNCHES 2013 SEASON TICKET RENEWAL CAMPAIGN
Sporting Kansas City has begun the club's 2013 season ticket renewal campaign for current Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members to secure their seats at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park next season.
The "Love and Sporting" themed renewal campaign gives current Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members the first chance to secure 2013 season tickets by contacting their Client Service Representative. Additionally, Sporting Kansas City is offering renewal incentives for Season Ticket Members who pay in full and/or renew during the First Chance Campaign.
Beginning with the 2013 season, all Season Ticket Members will receive a 5% discount on team merchandise by presenting their Season Ticket Membership Card at any Sporting Style store during a Sporting KC home match. Additionally, the 2013 Sporting Kansas City Referral Program will reward Season Ticket Members whose friends and family members purchase new 2013 full season ticket seats.
To learn more, visit loveandsporting.com and watch the video series here.
SPORTING KC NOW TAKING DEPOSITS FOR 2013 RESERVED SEATING
Sporting Kansas City supporters can now place 2013 Season Ticket Deposits for all Reserved Seating at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or visiting www.SportingKC.com.
PRORATED 2012 SEASON TICKET PLANS AVAILABLE
Sporting Kansas City prorated season ticket plans are available for the remainder of the 2012 Major League Soccer season. The benefits include discounted rates, priority for purchasing playoff tickets, preferred parking and access to special events.
For ticket information, visit www.sportingkc.com or call 888-4KC-GOAL.
FOLLOW SPORTING KC ONLINE
Sporting Kansas City fans looking to keep up with the club on the worldwide web now have a place to go. The social media page on SportingKC.com features Twitter account information for the club, its players as well as many staff members. Additionally, fans may take advantage of the Media Recap page for all the latest independent news coverage available online.
