Game #103- Sporting KC

Sporting KC vs Atlanta United FC

Children's Mercy Park

May 5, 2019

I headed out to Nashville celebrate a bachelor party with Brad DeVore, a good friend from my college and fraternity days at UCSB.  After two long days in the party town I planned a quick trip to Kansas City to knock out another game from my list.  Lining up the trip a few months ahead of time I was able to connect with one of my oldest friends from age group swimming days (back at Glendale YMCA) and convinced Rebecca Robinson (I nicknamed her Becky Lou for some reason when I was 10)  to go with me to the Sporting KC soccer game vs. Atlanta United FC.  

I landed in KC around 10 in the morning and considering I got about 5 total hours of sleep in the past two days (a combo of partying too late and getting no rest on a crappy, loud air mattress), I was hoping and praying I could get an early check in at the downtown Marriott.  Luckily I was able to squeeze myself into the room where I took a well needed and deserved 4 hour “nap”.  I don’t know if I would have been able to keep my eyes open at the game if I didn’t get some sleep.  So around 6pm Becky picked me up with her two boys and we headed to the Yardhouse for some food and a drink before walking over to the stadium.  I don’t know if we necessarily were allowed to park in the lot for the game but we did and it was free…not something you can do at most games.  

Sporting KC has an awesome new stadium kind of in the middle of nowhere.  It’s located approximately 30 minutes from downtown, the Kansas Speedway is out there, and it is surrounded by a big mall…but other than that I don’t recall there being any real communities.  I think the thought was, if you build it they will come.  And they certainly do come in KC.  The stadium seats just under 19,000 but they regularly have over 20k fans with the standing room only tickets.  Also with it being a soccer specific arena the building really accentuates the crowd cheers and chants.  I personally liked how every seat in the stadium was close to the action.  The majority of the arena was all lower bowl except for the suites so each fan feels close to the action. 

Although the stadium was great, our seats were fantastic (only about 10 rows from the field), the home team was stifled by the current MLS champions.  The majority of the play was in the SKC zone where AFCU outshot the home team 19 to 10, but the real telltale sign of the game was shots on target which favored Atlanta 8 to 3.   Atlanta’s Ezequiel Barco was a tiny dynamo out there where his speed and accurate passing was completely unmatched.  The guy stands at around 5’5” but in this sport that only matters in the air.  When the ball was on the ground no one could match his speed.  Not only did he get a goal at the 47^th minute but add in two by Josef Martinez at the 39th and 76^th minutes, the game wasn’t even close.  A 0-3 loss was tough on the home team who fell to the second worst in the western conference.  I guess my highlight of the game was being able to see three national team members on the field at the same time.  Graham Zusi of KC, and Atlanta’s Brad Guzan in goal with Brek Shea coming in late as a sub.  I just hope the mens team kicks it up a notch soon because their play has been almost

as bad as KC’s loss today.

The disappointing part of the brand new stadium experience is the ticket situation.  There were absolutely no hard ticket stubs.  I asked all around, even talked to the ticket attendant in our area, and she stated they don’t print them anymore.  I guess it’s the wave of the future but that sucks for fans.  I know I am not the only one who likes to collect these things for memories sake.  I can’t imagine not having some of my stubs from Kings games as a kid.  Oh well…