Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update
Published on June 15, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
SPORTING KANSAS CITY HOSTS SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES ON FRIDAY
Following the club's historic home opener last Thursday, Sporting Kansas City will play its second ever match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park when they take on the San Jose Earthquakes Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT. Friday's match will be broadcast nationally on Fox Soccer Channel as part of FSC's new Soccer Night in America series.
San Jose (5-4-4) sits in sixth place in the Western Conference after 13 matches, most recently scoring four goals on the road in a win against D.C. United on Saturday. Check SportingKC.com on Thursday for full game notes and an audio preview podcast.
LIVESTRONG SPORTING PARK HOSTS FINAL MATCHES OF 2011 CONCACAF GOLD CUP GROUP C
Just five days after opening its doors for the very first time, LIVESTRONG Sporting Park was again at the center of the American soccer world as it played host to its first premier international soccer event on Tuesday as Canada drew 1-1 with Panama and the United States Men's National Team squeaked out a 1-0 win over Guadeloupe in the final two matches of the group stage of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
SPORTING CLUB LAUNCHES NEW SITE FOR MEMBERS
Sporting Club launched an online network for members last week that allows fans to connect with one another and Sporting Kansas City as the team moves into a new era with the opening of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The membership program is free and anyone can become a member by signing up at SportingMembership.com.
Members will have the opportunity to reserve a complimentary ticket for up to three games via the online and day-of-game membership methods for every Sporting Kansas City home MLS match during the2011 season.
AUVRAY MAKES LIVESTRONG SPORTING PARK DEBUT FOR GUADELOUPE
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Stephane Auvray missed out on the inaugural match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park last Thursday, but Tuesday Auvray was finally able to take the pitch at Sporting KC's new home as Guadeloupe took on the United States in the final match of Group C in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Guadeloupe were eliminated prior to the start of the match in light of the 1-1 draw between Canada and Panama, which means now that Auvray could be available for selection when Sporting Kansas City take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday.
SIX NOMINATED FOR ALL-STAR VOTING
The 2011 MLS All-Star game is set for July 27 at Red Bull Arena against Manchester United. Matt Besler, Roger Espinoza, Davy Arnaud, Teal Bunbury, Kei Kamara and Omar Bravo were all nominated by media covering MLS closely to be eligible for the match.
ZUSI, SASSANO HONORED BY MLS
On the strength of goalscoring performances in Sporting Kansas City's 4-1 win over FC Dallas on Sunday, midfielders Graham Zusi and Luke Sassano were named to the MLS Team of the Week for week 13. Zusi scored twice, including a 45-yard strike from a free kick, and Sassano got his first goal in a Sporting Kansas City uniform with a neat finish past Kevin Hartman. Zusi's free kick was also nominated for Goal of the Week in week 13.
THECOOLTV ANNOUNCED AS LIVESTRONG SPORTING PARK FOUNDING PARTNER
Sporting Club announced on Thursday a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership with THECOOLTV as a founding partner of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
The multicast television network, based out of Lawrence, Kansas, is available in over 70 cities and will be the official music content partner, event production partner and alpha technology partner of LIVE STRONG Sporting Park. THECOOLTV will also receive the naming rights to the Members Club, a first-of-its-kind space reserved for Sporting Club members.
U16 SPORTING KANSAS CITY JUNIORS SET FOR ACADEMY PLAYOFFS
After finishing in second place in the Frontier Division of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, the Sporting Kansas City U16 Juniors are preparing to begin the 2011 Development Academy playoffs against the nation's premier youth sides. The U16 Juniors, coached by Jon Parry, finished with a record of 8-3-3 in division play, and will now have the chance to compete with other MLS academy sides such as the Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and the Columbus Crew in the playoff format.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR NEWCASTLE UNITED FRIENDLY
Sporting Kansas City announced recently the release of tickets for the club's international friendly against English Premier League side Newcastle United on July 20.Tickets for the match start at just $20, and can be purchased on-line via Ticketmaster, or by calling 1-888-4KC-GOAL.
The match is the second international event scheduled to be held at newly-completed LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, the 18,467 seat venue in Kansas City, Kansas. The state-of-the-art, $200 million home ground of Sporting Kansas City is Major League Soccer's newest soccer-specific stadium and was selected to host a 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader on June 14, featuring the United States Men's National Team.
The match will be included in all SportingKansas City season ticket packages, which are currently available for purchase at SportingKC.com/VirtualVenue. For more information, call 888-4KC-GOAL.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY CONTINUES NEW AD CAMPAIGN AND PROMOTIONS:
Sporting Kansas City recently launched a new marketing campaign aimed to build anticipation for Sporting Kansas City and its historic 2011 season. Currently, there are four new billboards displayed throughout the metropolitan area with images of Omar Bravo, captain Davy Arnaud and striker Kei Kamara. The boards are at the following locations...
-- I-35 North near Cambridge Circle -- Omar Bravo
-- I-435 North at Woodend -- Omar Bravo
-- I-70 and Blue River -- Davy Arnaud
-- I-435 North, south of Truman Sports Complex -- Kei Kamara
Two new commercials promoting the club will continue to run during KSMO-TV's broadcast of Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids, beginning with a 30-minute pre-game show at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The spots will also air on KSMO's weekly soccer show, Off the Pitch with Sporting Kansas City, on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. CT. The spots will also feature during a variety of prominent network shows, including SportsCenter, Modern Family and American Idol.
Recently, Sporting KC has also activated the Put Out the Fire promotion in partnership with local sandwich outlet Firehouse Subs. The promotion, based around the performance of rival Chicago Fire, rewards Kansas City fans with a free medium sub with the purchase of chips and a drink theafter a Chicago Fire loss in MLS play.
Finally, select fans around the KC metro area were shown red cards of a different variety recently as part of Sporting Kansas City's new grassroots marketing initiative. Fans were approached by referees on recently and asked about their past attendance at matches. Those that had never attended before were 'shown a red card' with a promotional code directing them to the club's Facebook page to register for a voucher for two free tickets to a match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
The referees made their most recent appearance in Lawrence, Kansas.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TO HOLD VARIOUS YOUTH CAMPS IN 2011:
Sporting Kansas City and the Sporting Kansas City Juniors will hold four more youth camps in 2011 for boys and girls of all ages. Interested players and parents are encouraged to visit SportingKC.com/camps for additional information and to sign-up using the online registration forms.
Remaining camps available in 2011, include the following:
Boys Development Camp, June 20-22, 2011
Sporting Youngsters Camp, June 20-23, 2011
2011 Fantasy Camp, August 1-4, 2011
For more information on all youth camps and Juniors programs, please contact Betsy Pollard at 913-387-3883.
Major League Soccer Stories from June 15, 2011
- Red Bulls to Host 2011 U.S. Open Cup Third Round Match at Red Bull Arena - Red Bull New York
- OneRepublic Post-Game Concert Rescheduled for September 17 Match - Real Salt Lake
- Chivas USA to Launch Unique "Heart Soccer Camps" for Special Needs Children - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Chicago Fire to Face Winner of Harrisburg - Rochester Tilt in 3rd Round of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Chicago Fire FC
- RSL to Host Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round Tilt - Real Salt Lake
- Timbers U-23s Play Host to Tacoma Saturday - Portland Timbers
- Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Whitecaps FC Launch Area Code 250 Match Pack - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Chicago Fire Agree to Transfer Fee with Club Atlas for Forward Gaston Puerari - Chicago Fire FC
- Former MLS All-Star Alecko Eskandarian Joins Philadelphia Union - Philadelphia Union
- Tickets for CONCACAF Gold Cup Available - D.C. United
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
