10 years ago the US played Costa Rica at Arrowhead Stadium in KC. It was my first trip to see
the team in person and a game that I will never forget. At that time, it was difficult to find
US games on TV (many games were on pay-per-view if they were broadcast at all) and you had to scour
the internet for hours just to find any news relating to the team.
photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
The Wizards had another sellout at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park tonight in their win over Real Salt
Lake. That sellout tonight does a few things for Sporting KC's attendance this year. The first, is
that KC could have an announced attendance of 0 for each game for the rest of the season and the
first 8 games (average 8,400 if 0 the rest of the way) this year would out draw the average of the
1999 season of 8,183.
The third of four international friendlies hit tonight and this one is, arguably, the biggest
match with the highest profile club. I know it's not Manchester United, or even Manchester City but
seeing West Bromwich Albion is a treat unto itself. It won't be every year that they come to the
United States like some of the bigger teams so it's kind of nice to relish in the moment.
The opening of LiveStrong Park is set for Sunday. With this exciting event just days away, we
thought it appropriate to set the stage for Major League Soccer's newest SSS. In September, 2006,
On-Goal, LLC purchased the Kansas City Wizards from Hunt Sports Group. Led by Neal Patterson and
Cliff Illig, the purchase brought a local ownership group to MLS and started a new wave of MLS
franchise sales that included Houston and DC United.
They were the Kansas City Wiz and played in Arrowhead Stadium. They then rebranded to the Kansas
City Wizards, and played in a converted baseball park. This season they have rebranded again. Now
they are Sporting Kansas City and will soon be moving into their own soccer stadium. LIVESTRONG
Park will have a roof over all seating, a steep grade and now the club will manage a rugby
team.
Tickets went on sale today for Sporting KC's July 20th friendly against English Premier League
club Newcastle United at Livestrong Sporting Park.
Individual tickets for the game start at $20, but the game is included if you purchase season
tickets for Sporting KC. For tickets visit SportingKC.
Photo by Greig Cowie/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
Lost in the shuffle amid the announcement of Manchester's United's full U.S. schedule Tuesday,
Sporting Kansas City announced a friendly against another English Premier League club with plenty
of tradition -- Newcastle United.
The 2010 NFL playoff schedule is set. The spots in the playoffs weren't decided until the final
game on Sunday night. In the AFC, the Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Chiefs, Ravens and Jets made the
playoffs. In the NFC, the Falcons, Bears, Eagles, Seahawks, Saints and Packers advanced to the
postseason.
