Sporting Kansas City and Central Bank of the Midwest announced today an enhanced partnership highlighted by Central Bank of the Midwest becoming the official jersey partner of Sporting KC II to showcase the company’s logo on the front of the team’s home and away jerseys for MLS NEXT Pro matches through the 2026 season.
“We’re thrilled to introduce Central Bank of the Midwest as the presenting jersey partner for Sporting Kansas City II,” said Sporting Kansas City Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Jon Moses. “The partnership between our two organizations has been mutually beneficial and strategically aligned from the very beginning. We’re proud to now enhance the partnership for the next several seasons and connect Central Bank closer to our club than ever before.”
Sporting Kansas City II jerseys will begin featuring the Central Bank of the Midwest logo this Saturday when the club hosts Western Conference leaders North Texas SC at 7 p.m. CT on the University of Kansas campus at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kan. Tickets are available for $10 via SeatGeek.
A founding member of MLS NEXT Pro for the league’s inaugural season in 2022, Sporting Kansas City II is led by head coach Benny Feilhaber and assistant coach Ike Opara. The former U.S. Men’s National Team players were teammates and fan favorites with Sporting Kansas City for five seasons from 2013-2017, winning an MLS Cup trophy and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles.
Now in the club’s seventh season, the Sporting KC II roster features 19 professional players in addition to top Sporting KC Academy prospects from the MLS NEXT youth development platform as well as MLS players on loan from Sporting KC’s first team. A key part of the club’s pro player pathway, 12 active players on Sporting Kansas City’s roster have played for Sporting KC II -- including MLS All-Star Daniel Salloi and U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper John Pulskamp – since the team launched in 2016.
MLS NEXT Pro is committed to accelerating the growth of soccer in North America with 21 clubs competing this season from across the United States and Canada. In addition to amplifying a new generation of fans and the future stars of tomorrow, the league is establishing a platform for innovation and diversity to provide a new era of opportunities for supporting players, coaches, referees and staff across all stages of development.
Beginning in 2023, MLS NEXT Pro matches will be carried live on the Apple TV app as part of the new 10-year partnership between Apple and Major League Soccer.
Central Bank of the Midwest, which serves 28 local communities with 47 branches in Kansas and Missouri, is part of the Central Bank family of banks whose legacy dates back to 1902. Central Bancompany, headquartered in Jefferson City, Mo., manages $20 billion in assets and has been recognized on Forbes’ annual list of America’s Best Banks for 14 straight years.
The official checking account partner of Sporting Kansas City, Central Bank of the Midwest launched the exclusive Sporting Debit Card for customers in 2021 and joined the club’s First Team partnership platform in 2022. Central Bank of the Midwest, which also has a player endorsement deal with Sporting Kansas City captain Johnny Russell, is integrated in the youth sports community as the official jersey sponsor of Sporting Missouri Valley and the naming rights partner for the new Central Bank Sporting Complex in Platte County, Mo.
About MLS NEXT Pro
Launched in March 2022 by Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro is a professional men’s soccer league in the United States and Canada that completes the player pathway from MLS NEXT through to MLS first teams. With 21 Clubs competing during the inaugural season – 20 MLS-affiliated and one independent club, Rochester New York FC – MLS NEXT Pro will grow the game through innovation and diversity by bringing professional soccer to new markets, creating career opportunities for professionals on and off the field, and providing communities with a strong sense of pride. Additional MLS-affiliated and independent clubs will join MLS NEXT Pro in the years ahead. For more information about MLS NEXT Pro, visit mlsnextpro.com.
