SPORTING KC KICKS OFF DESERT DIAMOND CUP TONIGHT
Sporting Kansas City has returned to Tucson, Arizona, this week for the second phase of its 2016 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy. The club will face 2015 MLS Cup finalist Columbus Crew SC at 7 p.m. CT tonight in the Desert Diamond Cup preseason tournament at the Kino Sports Complex Grandstand Field. Visit SportingKC.com/GameOn for match coverage and follow @SKCGameday on Twitter for live play-by-play.
The Desert Diamond Cup will continue Saturday when Sporting KC meets the New England Revolution at 8:30 p.m. CT. The match at Kino North Stadium will be streamed live on SportingKC.com with full play-by-play also available on @SKCGameday.
SWOPE PARK RANGERS SET FOR FIRST-EVER PRESEASON MATCH
The Swope Park Rangers have joined Sporting KC in Arizona ahead of their inaugural season in the United Soccer League. The Rangers will play their first-ever preseason match tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT, meeting the Colorado Rapids in the Desert Diamond Cup. The game at Kino North Stadium will be streamed live on SportingKC.com.
The Rangers' Desert Diamond Cup campaign resumes Saturday against fellow USL side Arizona United SC at 5:30 p.m. CT at the Kino Sports Complex Grandstand Field. Follow the club on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for news, photos and videos throughout the 2016 season.
SPORTING KC CONFIRMS KICKOFF TIMES FOR FIVE MLS MATCHES
Sporting KC confirmed the kickoff times for five MLS matches last Friday, including a 9 p.m. CT kickoff against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Aug. 20 at Children's Mercy Park to accommodate Major League Soccer national broadcast partner TSN. (Full story)
NO OTHER PUB TO OPEN MONDAY IN POWER & LIGHT DISTRICT
Sporting KC has partnered with The Cordish Companies and Entertainment Consulting International to create a new flagship restaurant and entertainment concept in the Kansas City Power & Light District called No Other Pub. Located at 1370 Grand Blvd., on the second level of the Kansas City Live! Block, the 21,000-square-foot No Other Pub will open to the public on Monday. The space will then host a Sporting KC fan event on March 3 where supporters can buy the club's new secondary kit and interact with Sporting KC players and coaches.
No Other Pub will be the new home for Sporting KC watch parties hosted by the team's supporters groups. The “No Other Pub” name is a tribute to the Kansas City Cauldron’s popular chant “No Other Club.” For more information, visit SportingKC.com and follow No Other Pub's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
WYANDOTTE YOUTH SOCCER COMPLEX BREAKS GROUND
Last Thursday marked the groundbreaking of the Wyandotte Youth Soccer Complex, a 12-field facility that will comprise the youth component of the National Training and Coaching Development Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
Sporting Club and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County announced the development of the $75 million soccer village in July 2014. The Center will feature a professional side and a youth side, with the later now beginning construction east of Schlitterbahn Water Park between Parallel Parkway and State Avenue. (Full story)
SWOPE PARK RANGERS PRE-SALE NOW AVAILABLE FOR SKC STM'S
Sporting KC season ticket members now have access to a pre-sale for the Swope Park Rangers' two USL home matches at Children's Mercy Park - March 26 vs. Portland Timbers 2 and Aug. 21 vs. Saint Louis FC. Season ticket members will receive an email with a Ticketmaster link and a promo code to secure their tickets to those games.
ACADEMY U-15S WIN YOUTH FUTSAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sporting KC Academy U-15 Team Argyle won the 2016 U.S. Youth Futsal National Championship on Monday with a 5-2 victory over Team X 01 (Texas) at New Century Fieldhouse in New Century, Kansas. (Full story)
ACADEMY U-16S WIN TWO GENERATION ADIDAS CUP QUALIFIERS
The Sporting KC U-16s were in Texas over the weekend for three Generation adidas Cup qualifying matches at Houston Sports Park. After dropping their first game last Friday, the U-16s bounced back with consecutive wins on Saturday and Monday. Istvan Urbanyi's side now looks ahead to the annual Generation adidas Cup — an elite youth tournament held by adidas and MLS — from March 18-26 in Frisco, Texas. (Full story)
ROGER ESPINOZA PLAYS 90 MINUTES FOR HONDURAS IN FRIENDLY
Sporting KC midfielder Roger Espinoza played 90 minutes last Wednesday for the Honduras Men’s National Team in a 3-1 loss to Guatemala at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City. The match was the final tune-up for Los Catrachos before a pair of World Cup qualifiers in March against El Salvador. (Full story)
MLS LAUNCHES "STAND AS ONE" MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Major League Soccer on Tuesday announced the launch of its new marketing campaign, “Stand as One.” The campaign, which will feature creative elements including television spots, digital and print advertising, in-venue visibility, social content, and storytelling, will be rolled out during the 2016 MLS season. (Full story)
BEST OF MLS TO FACE ARSENAL FC IN 2016 MLS ALL-STAR GAME
Major League Soccer announced last Thursday that English club Arsenal FC will play the best of Major League Soccer in the 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at Avaya Stadium in San Jose on Thursday, July 28 at 8 p.m. CT. (Full story)
COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO DRAW SET FOR SUNDAY
The 2016 Copa America Centenario Draw will take place on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The draw will be televised live on Univision in the United States, determining the four groups and full schedule for the 16-team tournament headlined by the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. The Copa America Centenario, which celebrates Copa America's 100th anniversary, will run from June 3-26 in 10 cities across the U.S.
FOLLOW SPORTING KC
For news, photographs and instant updates throughout the 2016 season, follow Sporting KC on its Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (sportingkc) accounts and visit the club's social media page.
