On Wednesday, SportingKC.com highlighted a marquee player from all 16 opponents scheduled to visit Kansas City during the 2018 MLS campaign.
In the space below, we shift the focus to Sporting KC's 17 away games, which will send the club to 17 different cities across the United States and Canada. And as you'll quickly find out, there's at least one great reason to plan a road trip around every road match throughout the regular season. So open your calendars, save dates and gather friends for a year chalk full of Roaddrons with Sporting KC's most passionate supporters.
Please note that further information about free Sporting KC away tickets will become available in the coming weeks. In addition, Roaddron.com is another excellent place to start your planning.
With that in mind, we offer a compelling reason to participate every Roaddron between March and October.
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<b>REASON(S) TO VISIT</b> |
Saturday, March 10 |
at Chicago Fire |
First things first: there's always just something special about Sporting KC's first roaddron of the year. Having said that, Chicago is one of the most exciting cities in the Midwest, and it's a doable drive (little more than seven hours) from Kansas City. |
Saturday, March 24 |
at Colorado Rapids |
Anyone who goes skiing in the Rockies on spring break will want to make a pit stop here before traveling back to Kansas City. Dick's Sporting Goods Park is consistently home to one of the largest Roaddrons on an annual basis. More than 1,000 fans at a time have descended on the Rapids' stadium in the past, giving Sporting KC a palpable fan presence. |
Sunday, April 8 |
at LA Galaxy |
An April trek to sunny Southern California to see Sporting KC face the five-time MLS Cup champions? That's a no-brainer. |
Saturday, April 28 |
at New England Revolution |
Are you a Kansas City sports addict? Catch this match at Gillette Stadium, then spend a few days in Boston before the Royals visit Fenway Park on Monday for a series with the Red Sox. |
Wednesday, May 9 |
at Atlanta United FC |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has quickly become an essential stop on every MLS supporter's bucket list. Atlanta United FC averaged nearly 50,000 fans per game during their inaugural 2017 campaign, a staggering number for a club that never failed to entertain on the pitch last year. |
Sunday, May 20 |
at Minnesota United FC |
Alas, the closest geographic opponent on the 2018 slate. Minneapolis is a short six-hour drive from Kansas City, and if the Loons give Sporting KC another tough game like they did on two occasions last year, a new rivalry could well and truly emerge. |
Saturday, June 9 |
at Portland Timbers |
Few teams in MLS have such ardent fan support as the Portland Timbers, who play at historic Providence Park in the city's downtown. Soccer purists will rejoice at how closely Portland's matchday experience mirrors that of a European club. |
Saturday, June 30 |
at Montreal Impact |
Montreal may not be known as a quintessential soccer town, but it remains one of the most culturally rich cities in North America. A unique French infusion adds distinct character to a place that boasts stunning weather at this time of year. |
Wednesday, July 4 |
at Real Salt Lake |
A Fourth of July matchup at picturesque Rio Tinto Stadium will be something to behold. With the Wasatch Mountains looming large in the distance, it's hard to imagine a better postgame fireworks show. |
Saturday, July 14 |
at New York Red Bulls |
Red Bull Arena lies just 15 miles west of a sprawling metropolis called New York City. Perhaps you've heard of it? |
Saturday, Aug. 4 |
at Houston Dynamo |
We get it, Houston in early August will probably be scorching hot and unbearably humid. But it's an easy trip from Kansas City, and any game against the Dynamo is one worth attending. |
Saturday, Aug. 11 |
at LAFC |
Behold, one of the most anticipated road games of the year. Sporting KC's inaugural trip to the new Banc of California Stadium in downtown Los Angeles will also serve as a reunion with Benny Feilhaber and Latif Blessing, both of whom have joined LAFC this offseason. |
Saturday, Sept. 1 |
at Seattle Sounders FC |
The Pacific Northwest's largest city is crazy about soccer, regularly packing 40,000 people into CenturyLink Field for MLS matches. Showdowns with the Sounders are always fierce, but once the dust settles on this Saturday afternoon fixture, you'll have the rest of Labor Day Weekend to soak in all the sights of Seattle. |
Saturday, Sept. 15 |
at San Jose Earthquakes |
San Jose may not have the grandeur of San Francisco, but it's every bit as nice this time of year. We advise time spent outdoors prior to visiting Avaya Stadium, which opened in 2015 and hosted the MLS All-Star Game the following year. |
Sunday, Sept. 23 |
at Philadelphia Union |
Sporting KC fans looking for a dose of nostalgia can visit the site of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, where Peter Vermes' men beat the Union on penalties at Talen Energy Stadium. It's an extra bonus if you're a history buff, as Philadelphia's Historic District offers a special at the country's origins. |
Wednesday, Oct. 17 |
at Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
If 2018 is like any of the previous seven seasons, Sporting KC will be jockeying for playoff position in one of the most beautiful Canadian cities. BC Place is located in the heart of Vancouver, an ethnically diverse metropolis with plenty of spots to see. |
Sunday, Oct. 21 |
at FC Dallas |
The new National Soccer Hall of Fame, connected to FC Dallas' Toyota Stadium, <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/12/12/20/02/20171212-news-hof-national-soccer-hall-of-fame-to-open-october-20-2018-frisco">will open on Saturday, Oct. 20</a>, with an induction ceremony, concert and Hall of Fame game the day before Sporting KC visits FC Dallas. In other words, this weekend is an absolute must for soccer fanatics. |
