Sporting KC The soccer revolution is being televised. Proving Sporting got it right.

|Zach| · 08-23-2011, 04:12 PM

The soccer revolution is being televised, play and stadium are proving Sporting got it right

Read more: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries...#ixzz1VtOXu6hH

It’s worth noting that three months ago, before Kansas City’s professional soccer team had moved into it’s gleaming new gem of a stadium, they were in last place in their division, and looked to be about as out of it as teams can get in Major League Soccer (where 10 of 18 teams make the playoffs).

And yet today, they’re the hottest team in a highly competitive league, having lost one of their last 17 games. But this isn’t a sports post, or a sports blog.

Instead, it’s one of the reasons behind the Sporting ascent that should be talked about: Livestrong Sporting Park. Having watched this club with two other names (first the ill-fated Wiz moniker which did create a great cheer, and then the long version) and in two different homes (the cavernous Arrowhead, the inappropriate for soccer CAB) this new home isn’t just an improvement, it’s a different world. The fan experience has morphed from high school baseball game to European football match. It’s wonderfully loud and cheerful, aside from the occassional bobblehead toss, it’s a wholly positive experience.

And that’s been clearly reflected in the play of the team. The players smile, a lot, in this venue. They press relentlessly through the game, just as the fans, especially those in the ultra-cool Members Stand sing cheers relentlessly. The non-soccer fans I’ve introduced to this experience have all shared a similar reaction.

“That’s not what I was expecting.” As several have noted, “I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Simply put, right now, Sporting games are the best fan experience in Kansas City. And it’s a very good team to add to that experience.

Which, in all, is a long way of saying I was wrong to doubt the instincts of the Sporting team when they were putting their plan in motion. I mean, I still don’t understand why if the team was still called Wizards this wouldn’t work just as well, but right now there can be no doubting Robb Heineman et al got it right, and in a big way. And, in return, Kansas Citians got one of the best sport stadiums in the United States, which is to say one of the best in the world (this isn’t simple jingoism, the US has a lot of very, very nice stadiums. Other places do as well, of course, but Livestrong Sporting Park stacks up well against anyplace.)

08-23-2011, 04:12 PM	Topic Starter
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5196768	The soccer revolution is being televised. Proving Sporting got it right. The soccer revolution is being televised, play and stadium are proving Sporting got it right Read more: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries...#ixzz1VtOXu6hH It’s worth noting that three months ago, before Kansas City’s professional soccer team had moved into it’s gleaming new gem of a stadium, they were in last place in their division, and looked to be about as out of it as teams can get in Major League Soccer (where 10 of 18 teams make the playoffs). And yet today, they’re the hottest team in a highly competitive league, having lost one of their last 17 games. But this isn’t a sports post, or a sports blog. Instead, it’s one of the reasons behind the Sporting ascent that should be talked about: Livestrong Sporting Park. Having watched this club with two other names (first the ill-fated Wiz moniker which did create a great cheer, and then the long version) and in two different homes (the cavernous Arrowhead, the inappropriate for soccer CAB) this new home isn’t just an improvement, it’s a different world. The fan experience has morphed from high school baseball game to European football match. It’s wonderfully loud and cheerful, aside from the occassional bobblehead toss, it’s a wholly positive experience. And that’s been clearly reflected in the play of the team. The players smile, a lot, in this venue. They press relentlessly through the game, just as the fans, especially those in the ultra-cool Members Stand sing cheers relentlessly. The non-soccer fans I’ve introduced to this experience have all shared a similar reaction. “That’s not what I was expecting.” As several have noted, “I’ve never seen anything like that.” Simply put, right now, Sporting games are the best fan experience in Kansas City. And it’s a very good team to add to that experience. Which, in all, is a long way of saying I was wrong to doubt the instincts of the Sporting team when they were putting their plan in motion. I mean, I still don’t understand why if the team was still called Wizards this wouldn’t work just as well, but right now there can be no doubting Robb Heineman et al got it right, and in a big way. And, in return, Kansas Citians got one of the best sport stadiums in the United States, which is to say one of the best in the world (this isn’t simple jingoism, the US has a lot of very, very nice stadiums. Other places do as well, of course, but Livestrong Sporting Park stacks up well against anyplace.)
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