For the first time in the 25-year history of Major League Soccer, the month of February will mark the start of regular season play. On Feb. 29, clubs across the United States and Canada will step between the white lines with hopes of collecting three points to begin 2020.
A delectable opening day of MLS action will see Sporting Kansas City visit Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 9:30 p.m. CT, giving supporters their first real look at Manager Peter Vermes’ side since last October.
As the anticipated date approaches, SportingKC.com is rolling out a 28-day countdown to first kick, offering a comprehensive preview of the season ahead. From key storylines and positional breakdowns to new fan initiatives and perks at Children’s Mercy Park, our Countdown to Kickoff series highlights the many reasons to be pumped for Sporting’s 2020 campaign. To visit the series homepage as it expands, head to SportingKC.com/countdown.
In our Feb. 6 edition of the Countdown to Kickoff, we listed off the biggest reasons Sporting fans should attend all 17 home matches at world-class Children's Mercy Park.
In the space below, we shift the focus to Sporting's 17 away fixtures, 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 away match throughout the regular season. So open your calendars, save dates and gather friends for a year chalk full of Roaddrons with Sporting's most passionate supporters.
Before we dive in, take note that tickets for Sporting's first three away matches of 2020 are now available at SportingKC.com/tickets. Sporting is proud to provide its traveling Season Ticket Members with complimentary tickets for away matches. Full complimentary tickets will be made available to current Season Ticket Members, up to the number of seats on their account, and to active members of recognized supporters groups. All other fans looking to attend away games will be eligible for a half-priced tickets through the club to sit with traveling supporters. Visit the Away Ticket Policies for more information.
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>REASON(S) TO VISIT</strong> |
Saturday, Feb. 29 |
at Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
If the sheer excitement of opening day doesn't suffice, beautiful Vancouver is an outdoor lover's haven. Few MLS cities are more stunning than this British Columbia metropolis, which offers hiking, skiing and snow sports as well as world-class Asian and seafood cuisine. |
<s>Saturday, March 14</s> |
at Atlanta United FC |
Make no mistake: Mercedes-Benz Stadium boasts one of the best soccer atmospheres in North America, regularly welcoming over 50,000 fans for MLS matches. Atlanta has been just as good on the field, winning the 2018 MLS Cup before hoisting the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last year. |
<s>Saturday, March 21</s> |
at San Jose Earthquakes |
San Jose is a bustling Silicon Valley town in its own right and just a short drive from San Francisco. Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda had a promising 2019 season and could deliver even more success to San Jose in his sophomore campaign. |
<s>Saturday, April 4</s> |
at LA Galaxy |
The Hollywood lights will shine on Sporting twice in the space of a month, first when Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez play host in early April. Southern California has a place for everyone, so making a weekend trip out of this match will be a walk in the park. |
<s>Saturday, April 11</s> |
at Nashville SC |
Nashville is one of the trendiest cities in the United States, renowned for its booming music scene. Sporting will also make its inaugural visit to cavernous Nissan Stadium, the temporary home of expansion side Nashville SC as well as the NFL's Tennessee Titans. |
<s>Saturday, May 2</s> |
at LAFC |
LAFC lit the league on fire last season, storming to the Supporters' Shield title with a record point total and a 21-4-9 record. Banc of California Stadium will be packed to the gills, to be sure, but Sporting has won at the heralded venue once already. This is a must-visit for any soccer fan seeking a tremendous matchday experience. |
Saturday, May 16 |
at Philadelphia Union |
Philadelphia is one of the country's great American cities, a hotbed for history buffs and Philly cheesesteak fanatics. From the Liberty Bell and countless museums to...Talen Energy Stadium, supporters will have plenty of sites and an awesome inter-conference clash to look forward to. |
Saturday, May 30 |
at FC Dallas |
The brand-new National Soccer Hall of Fame is literally attached to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, giving soccer lovers a day's worth of entertainment in a quarter square mile. Dallas is also within driving distance of Kansas City, mind you. |
Saturday, June 13 |
at Portland Timbers |
Providence Park routinely packs a rousing punch as one of the finest matchday experiences in MLS. Located in the heart of downtown Portland, the stadium is within walking distance of several terrific shopping spots and restaurants. This city lives and breathes soccer like few others in the country. |
Wednesday, July 1 |
at Real Salt Lake |
Rio Tinto Stadium is situated on the edge of the Wasatch Mountains, treating fans to one of the most picturesque settings in MLS. And while Salt Lake City may be abundantly friendly, especially to those who love the outdoors, nothing about this Western Conference rivalry is. |
Saturday, July 18 |
at Minnesota United FC |
Allianz Field opened last season to rave reviews, and a vastly improved stadium atmosphere played a legitimate role in Minnesota United FC's jump from cellar dweller to playoff team. It's definitely worth noting that this is Sporting's nearest geographic rival, just a six hour drive up I-35. |
Saturday, Aug. 1 |
at Montreal Impact |
Want an authentic French experience without leaving the continent? Grab your passport and head to Montreal, one of North America's best destinations during the summertime. In addition to catching the action at Stade Saputo, fans can treat themselves to top-notch parks, museums, festivals, shopping and French cuisine. |
Saturday, Aug. 8 |
at Seattle Sounders FC |
CenturyLink Field, the home of the defending MLS Cup champion Sounders, is a bucket-lister for every MLS fan. Like Portland, Seattle reveres the sport of soccer and infuses every match with a playoff-like atmosphere. There's also no better time to visit the Pacific Northwest than the summer. |
Saturday, Aug. 22 |
at New England Revolution |
Gillette Stadium is a hefty drive from Boston and more widely known as the house that Tom Brady built. Nevertheless, Boston is an undeniably splendid city and its MLS team has plenty of brilliant individual talents, including Gustavo Bou, Carles Gil and Polish newcomer Adam Buksa, not to mention former Sporting players Seth Sinovic, Teal Bunbury and Kelyn Rowe. |
Saturday, Sept. 5 |
at Chicago Fire FC |
This will be Sporting's first match at iconic Soldier Field since Aug. 10, 2005. The stadium sits in the heart of downtown Chicago along the banks of Lake Michigan. If you can't make Labor Day Weekend work in Chicago, we can't help you. |
Saturday, Sept. 12 |
at Colorado Rapids |
Roaddrons of around 1,000 fans regularly make the trip from Kansas City to Denver for this Western Conference fixture. Colorado in the late summer will undoubtedly provide perfect conditions, minus the altitude, as these MLS charter members write the next chapter of their head-to-head history. |
Sunday, Sept. 27 |
at Houston Dynamo |
Houston has some of the best Tex Mex in the nation. Just saying. But the real appeal of this match is the fact that playoff positioning could be on the cards for a pair of fierce, longtime rivals. |
