The English Premier League's Stoke City FC arrived in Kansas City on Sunday ahead of their international friendly against Sporting Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or at the LSP Box Offices.
In advance of Wednesday's match, Stoke City FC will train at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday. The session is open to the general public and the first 250 fans to arrive at the stadium for the training will have access to an autograph session to be held immediately after training inside the LSP Field Club.
Parking is available in Lot D and all guests should enter through the North Premium Entry. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CT.
Stoke City FC will be the second Barclays Premier League side to face Sporting Kansas City at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park following the visit of Newcastle United in July of 2011. In 2010, Sporting Kansas City defeated Manchester United by a 2-1 scoreline in front of over 52,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium.
Founded in 1863, Stoke City are the oldest club in the Premier League and are led by Manager Tony Pulis and forward Peter Crouch, an England international with 22 goals in 42 appearances.
Since gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2008, Stoke have enjoyed considerable success in England's top division, advancing all the way to the 2011 FA Cup final against Manchester City. The club also gained entrance to the 2011-12 Europa League, where they progressed to the knockout stages of the tournament before falling in a two-legged series to Spanish powerhouse Valencia CF.
Stoke City FC is the fourth international club to visit the state-of-the-art stadium, along with Newcastle United FC (England), Montpellier Herault SC (France) and Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Mexico).
Schedule of Events (all times CT, subject to change)
Monday, July 30
5:30 p.m. - Jimmy Nielsen community appearance at Rally House
7:00 p.m. - State Line Soccer Show on 610 Sports Radio
Tuesday, July 31
9:00 a.m. - Sporting Kansas City training at Sporting Club Training Center
5:30 p.m. - North Premium Entry opens at LSP (park in Lot D)
6:00 p.m. - Stoke City FC training open to media and general public
7:00 p.m. - This Week in Sporting on Sports Radio 810 WHB
7:00 p.m. - Stoke City FC autograph session (first 250 fans)
Wednesday, August 1
4:30 p.m. - Parking (media in Lot F), Sprint Plaza Box Office & Media Will Call open
5:30 p.m. - Sprint Plaza, West Tower and Members' Club open
6:00 p.m. - East Gate opens, fans may begin accessing their seats
7:30 p.m. - GAME: Sporting Kansas City vs. Stoke City FC
Stoke City FC Roster
Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic, Thomas Sorensen, Carlo Nash
Defenders: Andy Wilkinson, Ryan Shotton, Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross, Matthew Upson, Danny Higginbotham, Marc Wilson, Danny Collins
Midfielders: Glenn Whelan, Dean Whitehead, Rory Delap, Matthew Etherington, Wilson Palacios, Diego Arismendi, Michael Tonge, Jamie Ness
Forwards: Peter Crouch, Kenwyne Jones, Jonathan Walters, Cameron Jerome, Mamady Sidibe
