Sporting Kansas City has celebrated the club’s 25-year anniversary as an original member of Major League Soccer by creating a commemorative book for Season Ticket Members.
"One Club: The First 25 Years of Major League Soccer in Kansas City" chronicles the modest beginnings and meteoric rise of Sporting KC through the lens of club legends and passionate supporters alike. Featuring untold stories, anecdotes and interviews with many of the players, coaches and fans who shaped the course of soccer in Kansas City, "One Club" brings to life Sporting’s remarkable evolution over the last 25 years.
"One Club" is the definitive story of Sporting KC—described by MLS Commissioner Don Garber as “one of the greatest turnaround stories” in modern sports—presented in a coffee table book format. Filled with compelling features, illustrations and photographs from the team’s first two and a half decades, "One Club" is a collaborative work created by Sporting KC associates, supporters and soccer enthusiasts who have followed the club over time.
Prominent figures who reflect on their Kansas City journeys in "One Club" include Wizards legends (Preki, Mo Johnston, Tony Meola, Jimmy Conrad and Jimmy Nielsen), Sporting stars (Roger Espinoza, Graham Zusi, Tim Melia and Matt Besler) and current members of the Sporting KC technical staff (Peter Vermes, Kerry Zavagnin and Benny Feilhaber). The book also contains fascinating insight from Sporting Club ownership, MLS executives and longtime fans.
To kick off the 2021 MLS season, all Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Member accounts will be given a copy of the 208-page hardback book as part of their STM gift package. The first opportunity for STMs to secure their books and gift packages will be Saturday, April 17, at Children’s Mercy Park during the Season Kickoff presented by Michelob Ultra when Sporting opens the 2021 MLS campaign at the New York Red Bulls.
The Season Kickoff at Children’s Mercy Park will be free and open to the public. Fans attending the watch party must claim a complimentary ticket via SeatGeek, with STM gift pickup on the Mazuma Plaza beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT and Sporting’s season opener set for 7 p.m. CT. The watch party will utilize distanced outdoor seating in the stadium bowl with the match shown on the north and south videoboards. Face coverings will be mandatory for all in attendance.
Season Ticket Members will have additional opportunities to pick up their books and gift packages on the Mazuma Plaza for at least Sporting’s first four regular season home matches on April 23, May 9, May 16 and May 29. As an added benefit, Season Ticket members will have an exclusive window to purchase additional copies of "One Club" at a discounted price beginning in late April.
"One Club" will be released to the general public later this year at select retailers and fans can fill out this form to be notified when the book becomes available.
