Partial Sporting KC 2019 Preseason Schedule Released

Yet again Sporting Kansas City will return to Arizona for the 2019 preseason. The first parts of the schedule came out courtesy of one of the hosting teams, USL League One’s FC Tucson. Tucson are one of 10 teams moving to the newly formed third division in-lieu-of their old home in the USL PDL (now USL League Two).

Formerly known as the Desert Diamond Cup, Sporting KC will compete in the second version of the Mobile Mini Sun Cup, which will be split between games at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.

Eight MLS teams will complete in the Sun Cup. Outside of SKC there will be Minnesota United, Houston Dynamo, Seattle Sounders, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Portland Timbers and FC Dallas. Also involved will be USL Championship Western Conference Champions Phoenix Rising FC and the other hosts, their minor-league owned club, FC Tucson (USL League One)

There are 17 games on the schedule, three of which include SKC (though it’s kind of four because two are against Phoenix Rising with back-to-back 75 minute games on the same date and time). The Blue Testament reached out to Sporting KC and a team official confirmed there will be some preseason scrimmages not listed here. Sam McDowell is saying there will be five. I suspect the two unannounced games will be before these two as the CONCACAF Champions League play against Toluca FC starts on February 21st, basically immediately following preseason and while the remainder of the teams outside of NYRB will remain in AZ.

The second and third games are both at the exact same time on the exact same date. TBT confirmed with a team official the information is correct, so likely the reserves, Swope Park Rangers and/or SKC Academy players will play in the game against FC Tucson. There is currently only one announced game against MLS competition, so maybe the earlier scrimmages will be as well since Sporting are trying to prep for CCL.

Here are the currently known games.

*(two 75-minute matches)

As for what “gated” versus “non-gated” means, it’s not clearly defined. Phoenix Rising has indicated they will begin selling tickets two their “two” games played at their complex in the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex on next Wednesday (January 9th at 10 AM MT). They play SKC and RSL at their stadium. So it would appear you will need to pay to get into those games but in the past, the weekday games in Tucson were open to the public, I believe because the city owns the stadium. Worst case the SKC/FC Tucson game is free and the Dynamo/SKC game is paid.

Also, no info is yet available about streaming. PRFC have a video tower setup in their stadium and FC Tucson typically stream the games in the Kino North Stadium. Here is the complete schedule including all those other MLS clubs involvement.

*(two 75-minute matches)

The Blue Testament will bring you more information on these games and any other preseason announcements as they become available in the coming weeks. Get excited! Preseason is likely no more than 31 days away and most likely less with the two unannounced scrimmages.