Sporting Kansas City announced on Tuesday that the club will head to Arizona for its 2016 preseason and participate in the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. The tournament will take place at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. It will begin on Feb. 17 with the final matches scheduled for Feb. 27.
Sporting KC is one of nine MLS teams training in Tucson during the 2016 preseason along with Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers, Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids.
Sporting KC’s new USL team, the Swope Park Rangers, will also compete in the tournament in advance of their inaugural campaign along with PDL side FC Tucson to round out the playing field.
Sporting Kansas City will spend both phases of the 2016 preseason in Arizona, first reporting from Jan. 24 – Feb. 8 and then returning for the Desert Diamond Cup. The Rangers will join Sporting KC for the second phase on Feb. 14.
Sporting KC were crowned champions of the inaugural Desert Diamond Cup in 2011 with more than 10,000 fans in attendance for the team’s 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls. In 2015, Sporting KC finished the Desert Diamond Cup with a 1-2-1 record, securing a 1-1 tie against Seattle Sounders FC in their final match. Peter Vermes’ side featured six newcomers in the draw, including a pair of 2015 MLS SuperDraft picks who went on to see significant minutes during the 2015 season along with then-17-year-old center back Erik Palmer-Brown.
Similar to the 2015 edition of the tournament, FC Tucson will host games consecutively at Kino North Stadium and North Grandstand starting at 6:30 p.m. CT and 7 p.m. CT. Then, a third showcase match will kick off at 9 p.m. CT at Kino North Stadium.
“We are always seeking to improve the gameday experience for our local and out-of-town guests,” said FC Tucson Ownership in a joint statement, “as well as ensure a great atmosphere for the MLS teams.”
2016 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup Schedule (All times CT, subject to change)
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Game #1, 6:30 p.m. CT: Kino North Stadium
Game #2, 7 p.m. CT: Kino North Grandstand
Game #3, 9 p.m. CT: Kino North Stadium
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Game #4, 6:30 p.m. CT: Kino North Stadium
Game #5, 7 p.m. CT: Kino North Grandstand
Game #6, 9 p.m. CT: Kino North Stadium
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Game #7, 6:30 p.m. CT: Kino North Stadium
Game #8, 7 p.m. CT: Kino North Grandstand
Game #9, 9 p.m. CT: Kino North Stadium
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Game #10, 6:30 p.m. CT: 5th Place v. 6th Place, Kino North Stadium
Game #11, 7 p.m. CT: 3rd Place v. 4th Place, Kino North Grandstand
Game #12, 9 p.m. CT: 1st Place v. 2nd Place, Kino North Stadium
