The track record for soccer specific stadiums in MLS is checkered, at best. For every Home Depot Center, there’s a Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. For every Red Bull Arena, there’s a Pizza Hut Park. In the case of Sporting Kansas City, the early returns at least suggest their new stadium could be a turning point for a franchise that has perpetually been among the worst drawing and lowest profile in the league.
New Stadium A Boon For Sporting Kansas City, Early Returns Suggest
Sporting KC President Rob Heineman said the team is already approaching 9,000 season tickets for the 2011 season and sponsors for the shirt and stadium. Playing in a minor league baseball stadium each of the past two years, SKC has drawn an average of just over 10,000 and has been among the bottom two of attendance for the each of the past six seasons. They’ve also never had a shirt sponsor, nor played in a stadium in which they get a share of the naming rights.
Also part of the team’s relaunch has been the sale of memberships. What that means, exactly, is not entirely clear, but it won’t be limited to season-ticket holders.
Heineman: Anybody can be a member. A member is a season-ticket holder, a fan of our team, a fan of MLS or it could be a non-soccer fan whatsoever depending on the benefits that we put out there for them. For us anyone has a potential to be a member, and that’s going to be how we approach it.
Heineman also revealed that the stadium is being built on 20-hours-a-day shifts in an attempt to meet the promise of a June opening. Rather than play some of their home games at another facility, SKC will open its season with somewhere between eight and 12 road games so that all 17 of their home games can be played in the new stadium.
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