Sporting Kansas City will travel to Tucson, Ariz. and Orlando, Fla. for the team’s 2013 pre-season, the club announced on Thursday.
The team will arrive in Tucson on Jan. 20 for a two-week stay and will participate in The Desert Friendlies presented by FC Tucson against other MLS competition at the Kino Sports Complex. The matches will be open to the public with tickets to go on sale later this month. Visit FCTucson.com for more information.
The upcoming pre-season will mark the third straight year that Sporting Kansas City has selected Tucson as a pre-season site.
"We're excited to be able to go back to Tucson,” Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. “We feel that it's a very good replica of what we have available to us resource-wise in Kansas City. When we're on the road for pre-season, it's great to be in a different location but it's also important to have all the resources that we have at home in regards to fields and equipment. It's a great climate, as well, and working with FC Tucson has been a pleasure. We're really happy to be going back."
After returning home to Kansas City on Feb. 2, the club will depart for the second leg of the 2013 pre-season in Orlando on Feb. 7. Sporting Kansas City will be one of several MLS teams once again competing in the 2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from Feb. 9-23.
Sporting Kansas City supporters can follow the club to Central Florida to see the team compete in the tournament while enjoying all of the world class attractions Orlando has to offer. Travel packages are available that include lodging, match tickets, attraction tickets and exclusive VIP experiences. Visit SoccerSpringTraining.com for details.
"I think that the pre-season environment in Florida and the collection of teams that we are playing right before starting League play is a tremendous build-up to the first game of our season," Vermes said. "With an excellent tournament and great facilities in Florida, it was important to us to find that type of environment in order to properly get ready for our first game."
In addition to the MLS regular season schedule, Sporting Kansas City’s 2013 campaign will be highlighted by the club’s defense of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title and participation in the 2013-2014 CONCACAF Champions League. Season tickets for the 2013 season at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park start at $300 for a 20-game package and are available to purchase by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
