THE REBRANDING OF THE WIZARDS Kansas City franchise announced on Wednesday their new identity, including a new name, new crest, new colors, and a totally new look to go along with the new stadium that will open in 2011: The Kansas City Wizards are now Sporting Kansas City. Check out the new website: www.SportingKC.com “We acquired our team from the greatest entrepreneur in the history of American sports,” Sporting President Robb Heineman said in a statement released by the club, referring to previous owner Lamar Hunt. “Moving forward, the vision of our brand is to continuously innovate and provide high-performance experiences for our members.” More than 1,000 supporters attended the official unveiling in Kansas City. And Sporting's recently signed designated player, Mexican striker Omar Bravo, was also on handing, making his first appearance in town since signing. “Our mission is to connect Kansas City to the premier professional sports experiences in the Midwest,” Heineman said. “We look forward to sharing more exciting news about future events and to hosting all our great fans in our new home upon its opening in June.” The club's new crest has several elements, including boasting the upside-down teardrop shape of the original Wiz shield. The 11 stripes represent the 11 players on a field, and the right edge of the lines forms the angled shape of the Missouri-Kansas stateline. The crest's designers took inspiration from Greek mythology and art, including the rod of the Greek god Asclepius and the statue Winged Victory, and from Spanish architecture, a major part of Kansas City's Country Club Plaza district.
Dumbest shit ever...or at least since since Real Salt Lake. Can't we just let American style names be? MLS is the American league after all.
Apparently the idea is to make Sporting KC a franchise in multiple sports, as most are in Europe. Rob Herman quotes from the RugbyMag article: “You’ll see it running through everything we do, so whether it’s a rugby jersey, a lacrosse jersey…the ‘SC’ will be the common thread that binds us all together.” “Rugby’s an important sport for us long term. I think it’s the fastest growing sport in the United States right now, and we’ve got a hell of an organization here in the Kansas City Blues, and it’d be a good platform for us to build rugby in this community, so with all the fields we’re building and a beautiful new stadium, rugby makes a whole lot of sense, so we’re going to do everything we can to get involved.” More ok with this name change now.
Heineman on KC's stadium and potential DP Part One - Q&A with Sporting KC's ambitious, and busy, president Sporting KC president Robb Heineman doesn’t profess to be a patient man. He is, however, an ambitious one. With Sporting Kansas City’s new stadium steadily rising in Kansas City, Kan., and the club enthusiastically preparing for what promises to be a crucial season, Heineman has his hands full. MLSsoccer.com’s Andrew Wiebe caught up with Heineman to discuss the team’s efforts in the player market, the current squad, progress on the business side of things and the feverish construction being undertaken on it’s new stadium. http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/01/heineman-kcs-stadium-and-potential-dp
Heineman: KC shirt, stadium sponsor in the works Sporting KC president discusses 2011 from a business perspective In Part II of a two-part series, MLSsoccer.com’s Andrew Wiebe caught up with Sporting Kansas City president Robb Heineman to discuss the Gold Cup and how that relates to Kansas City's demographics, a potential membership program, the latest updates on the stadium construction and upcoming announcements relating to sponsorship deals. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/heineman-kc-shirt-sponsor-works
I don't care for the name, but as I mentioned elsewhere, Sporting KC is planning to become a multi-sport organization and are rumored to be looking into acquiring a rugby team to make the first professional rugby team in the United States. From that standpoint, it makes some sense.
Awesome name, must of taken a lot of time in the boardroom to come up with that one. To be fair, the American teams do need to have nicknames or it will just become confusing.
First preseason phase begins for Kansas City Tests, light training await players prior to traveling to Arizona ANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sporting Kansas City’s contracted players, draft picks and selected trialists reported on Monday for the beginning of the preseason, officially marking the start of preparations for the 2011 campaign. Sporting’s players will spend this week undergoing various fitness tests, taking physicals and partaking in light training at the Kansas City Chiefs’ indoor training facility before moving on to Arizona, where SKC will spend the majority of their time prior to opening their season at Chivas USA. “From a coaching perspective, it’s very exciting to get back on the field,” Sporting manager Peter Vermes said. “But we still have a lot of work to do in preseason here, preparing the team and acquiring a few more players. There is still a lot of work to be done.” The work starts with molding the roster. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/first-preseason-phase-begins-kansas-city
Sporting's Bunbury suffers dislocated elbow Youngster taken to area hospital during 3-1 Houston preseason win PHOENIX – An elbow injury to Sporting Kansas City youngster Teal Bunbury forced the US national team striker off the field and into an ambulance during a preseason match against the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday at the Reach 11 Sports Complex. Houston’s 3-1 win was held up for roughly 20 minutes during the second of three 30-minute periods after Bunbury collided with Dynamo defender Andrew Hainault near the Houston penalty box. As Bunbury attempted to round Hainult, he was tugged forward and to the ground, the Sporting forward instantly began screaming for assistance from the sideline. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/sportings-bunbury-suffers-dislocated-elbow
Based on what? Anyway, seems like two to four weeks for a return for Bunbury. He should be back in time for the match against Argentina. Not sure if he'll play in it as he's still behind Altidore, but he should be on the roster.
...based on the fact that some folks think he should play for the Canadian MNT and have some sour grape taste in their mouth
KC Signs Brazilian Defender Julio Cesar Highly rated centerback brings new level of experience to Sporting defense Sporting Kansas City announced on Monday that the club has signed 32-year-old Brazilian defender Júlio César. César joins Kansas City after previously playing for some of the most successful clubs in the sport, including tenures with Real Madrid and A.C. Milan. “The wealth of experience that he has received playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world will be very valuable for us over the course of a 34-game MLS season,” Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. “Although he has to get fully acclimated to our team in the short term, I think that his experience and playing ability will be invaluable to us throughout the upcoming season.” http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/03/kc-signs-brazilian-defender-julio-cesar
Coming June 9th, 2011 Sporting Kansas City will open its brand new, state-of-the-art LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on June 9, 2011 against the Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. CT on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.com. The $200 million venue will be one of the best stadiums of its size in North America and will combine the best attributes of European and South American soccer stadia with the modern fan amenities American sports fans desire. http://www.livestrongsportingpark.com/
Sporting KC snag Brazilian midfielder as designated player Attacking midfielder Jeferson joins Sporting from Vasco da Gama One of the most offensive-minded teams in MLS has added another weapon. Sporting Kansas City announced on Sunday the loan acquisition of Jéferson, a 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder, as the club’s second designated player. He joins Mexican striker Omar Bravo as a DP. “I’ve been preparing physically to be able to come here and make an immediate impact,” Jéferson said in a club statement. “I’m very excited to be here and I come with the goal to help the team fulfill its goal of making the playoffs and ultimately going to the final.” A native of Brasilia, Jéferson has spent the past two seasons with Rio de Janeiro giants Vasco da Gama. The attacking playmaker has also spent time with Santo Andre, Guarani, Atlético Goianiense, and Brasiliense. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...c-snag-brazilian-midfielder-designated-player
CD Guadalajara unveils roster for SKC friendly Michel, Reynoso & Magallón among squad for Wednesday's match Club Deportivo Guadalajara announced today their roster for their upcoming international friendly against Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park (Kansas City, Kansas) on Wednesday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Roster- Club Deportivo Guadalajara GOALKEEPERS (2) Luis Ernesto Michel, Victor Hugo Hernández DEFENDERS (8) Héctor Reynoso, Patricio Araujo, Edgar Mejía, Mario de Luna, Jonny Magallón, Arturo Ledesma, Kristian Álvarez, Uriel Navarro MIDFIELDERS (6) Marco Fabián, Xavier Báez, Jorge Mora, Antonio Gallardo, José Luis Verduzco, Isao Torres FORWARDS (6) Alberto Medina, Antonio Salazar, Julio Nava, Omar Arellano, Carlos Fierro, Erick Torres HEAD COACH Fernando Quirarte http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/10/cd-guadalajara-unveils-roster-skc-friendly
Recap: SKC, Guadalajara play to entertaining 2-2 draw Stojcev's wayward back pass opens door for Goats to steal result CITY, Kan. – Kevin Ellis and Erick Torres scored back-to-back goals just seconds apart a few minutes from time as Sporting Kansas City and Chivas de Guadalajara played to an entertaining 2-2 draw Wednesday night in a friendly at Livestrong Sporting Park. The Goats took an early though a Marco Fabián penalty kick before Kansas City answered back through substitutes Soony Saad and Ellis in the second half, only to give up the equalizer in frustrating fashion when Torres latched on to Milos Stojcev’s wayward back pass. Sporting outshot Chivas 20-5 but couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities in front of net, earning the club’s second friendly draw this season after tying Newcastle United 0-0 in July http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/12/recap-skc-guadalajara-play-entertaining-2-2-draw
Sporting's Bunbury set for training stint with Bolton US forward turns down Hoffenheim to stay sharp with Wanderers AMSTERDAM — Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury is set for a training visit with English Premier League side Bolton, MLSsoccer.com has learned. The 21-year-old spurned the chance to work out with Hoffenheim to visit Wanderers, becoming the latest in a long line of Major League Soccer players to arrange such trips in Europe this offseason. One source indicated to MLSsoccer.com that Bunbury may also work out with another English club after his Bolton stint. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/22/sportings-bunbury-set-training-stint-bolton
