SPORTING KC TO CLOSE OUT PRESEASON THIS WEEK
Sporting KC enters the final week of its 2016 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy, with two Desert Diamond Cup matches at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. The club will face the Colorado Rapids at 9 p.m. CT tonight at Kino North Stadium — with a live stream available on SportingKC.com— before meeting an opponent to be determined in Saturday's placement match.
Sporting KC opened the preseason tournament last week with a 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew SC on Wednesday and a 1-1 stalemate with the New England Revolution on Saturday. Players and coaches will travel back to Kansas City on Sunday ahead of their 2016 MLS regular season opener at Seattle Sounders FC on March 6.
SPORTING KC FAN EVENT SET FOR MARCH 3 AT NO OTHER PUB
Sporting KC will host a fan event at 6 p.m. CT on March 3 at No Other Pub, a new entertainment venue located on the second level of the Kansas City Live! Block in the Power & Light District (1370 Grand Blvd.). The free event will be open to the public and Sporting KC's new secondary jersey will be available to purchase for the first time. Sporting KC players will be in attendance, giving supporters a first look at the team before it travels to Seattle for the 2016 season opener on March 6. In addition, the Swope Park Rangers’ primary and secondary kits for the club’s inaugural USL season will be revealed and available to buy.
NO OTHER PUB NOW OPEN IN POWER & LIGHT DISTRICT
No Other Pub, a new flagship restaurant and entertainment concept in the Kansas City Power & Light District, has now opened. Located at 1370 Grand Blvd. on the second level of the Kansas City Live! Block, No Other Pub is a collaboration between Sporting KC, The Cordish Companies and Entertainment Consulting International. In addition to being Kansas City's marquee destination for live sporting events, No Other Pub will be the new home for Sporting KC watch parties hosted by the team's supporters groups throughout the 2016 season. For more info, visit NoOtherPubKC.com.
SWOPE PARK RANGERS TOP DESERT DIAMOND CUP STANDINGS
The Swope Park Rangers won their first-ever match last Wednesday, defeating MLS club Colorado Rapids 3-1, and tied Arizona United SC 0-0 on Saturday. Entering tonight's round of matches in Tucson, the Rangers sit atop the 2016 Desert Diamond Cup standings and remain the only club to win a match in the tournament.
The Swope Park Rangers continue preparation for their inaugural season in the United Soccer League with two final matches in the Desert Diamond Cup. The Rangers square off with Columbus Crew SC tonight at 7 p.m. CT and FC Tucson on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT. Both matches will be played at the Kino Sports Complex Grandstand Field, with a live stream of Saturday's contest on SportingKC.com.
SWOPE PARK RANGERS SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Single-game tickets are now on sale for all 15 home Swope Park Rangers games in the 2016 USL season. Fans interested in purchasing single-game tickets can call 888-4KC-GOAL or visit the Swope Park Rangers Ticketmaster page. (Full story)
UNITED STATES, HAITI LEARN COPA AMERICA OPPONENTS
On Sunday, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL announced the draw for the 2016 Copa America Centenario that will be held this summer in 10 venues across the United States. (Full story)
The U.S. was drawn in Group A with Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay. Sporting KC's Matt Besler and Graham Zusi have combined for 57 caps since the start of 2013 and will be in contention to feature at the tournament this summer.
Haiti was drawn in Group B alongside Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. Soni Mustivar has made nine appearances for Haiti, most recently helping his nation qualify for the tournament with a 1-0 playoff win over Trinidad and Tobago last month.
SPORTING KC WAIVES AMOBI OKUGO
Sporting KC announced Tuesday that the club has waived defensive midfielder Amobi Okugo. Sporting KC’s current roster is at 26 players heading into the final week of the 2016 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. (Full story)
SPORTING KC LOANS BERNARDO ANOR TO MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Sporting KC announced last Wednesday that the club has loaned midfielder Bernardo Añor to Minnesota United FC in the North American Soccer League for the 2016 season. (Full story)
SKC ACADEMY TO HOST LONESTAR SC ON SATURDAY
On Saturday, the Sporting KC Academy will play its first home games of 2016 when the U-18s and U-16s host Lonestar SC at Swope Soccer Village (6310 Lewis Rd., Kansas City, MO). The U-18s will kick off at 9 a.m. CT before the U-16s conclude the doubleheader at 11:30 a.m. CT. Admission is free and open to the public. For the latest Sporting KC Academy news and updates, follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter and Instagram.
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.
