If first impressions mean anything, soccer in Kansas City is going to get a little more popular this summer.

It’ll happen on the back of the new $200 million stadium (see video at the end) being erected near the Village West retail center.
A handful of media members, myself included, were taken on a guided tour of the sports-arena-in-progress on Wednesday and were not disappointed. The stadium, named LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, is gorgeous even though it’s not complete.

The final strips of sod were placed during the week and crews have started installing the seats in preparation for the venue’s scheduled opening on June 9.
The soccer-specific stadium will do a number of things for Sporting KC and area fans. First, it will help attract fans who are currently on the fence, as new stadiums often do.
The stadium will hold 18,467 fans when everything is finished. The majority of that seating, thankfully, is not bleacher style. That should add to the comfort and enjoyment of watching a game.

The stadium will also house a fan bar that will be open for business regardless of if the team is playing. Vice president of development David Ficklin said he believes the bar will become a go-to destination for soccer fans looking to catch televised games. He said he hopes the new stadium will help in cultivating and growing the fan base Sporting KC has already built.

But no matter where they’re playing, Sporting KC needs to perform to keep the venue filled.
Last season the team, which was then the Wizards, finished third in the division. A quick review of the statistics gives some insight into their struggles.
In 2010, KC scored 36 goals in 30 games. It also allowed 35 goals, a sign of defensive issues.

As is true in any sport, a team has to score more than its opponents in order to be successful.
Through the first two games of the 2011 season, that trend has continued. Sporting KC has scored five goals and also conceded five, including one where four defenders were sliced and diced before the ball found the net.
In Sporting’s defense, they are starting the season on a brutal 10-game road trip. They won’t play in Kansas City until June. The team garnered points (won or tied) in just seven of its 15 away games last season. If they want to avoid digging themselves a deep hole this year, they’ll have to find ways to win more on the road.
When they do finally open at home, KC will have to improve on it’s record from last season, which saw it lose a third of the games it played in its own backyard.

Ochocinco

The biggest buzz around this team so far this season hasn’t been about the team at all. It’s been about one person. Not even a rostered player. NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco completed a highly-publicized trial run with the team and was graciously given ‘honorary member’ status.
The ploy by Ochocinco, who said in many interviews it was his dream to play professional soccer, was good for Sporting KC and the growing soccer community in the state. While Ochocinco exhibited very little in the way of actual soccer skill, he provided good exposure for a team and area that will be getting a lot of attention during the next several months. Head coach Peter Vermes never had unrealistic expectations for Ochocinco’s tryout, and Chad himself never said he expected to make the team.

Saturday preview

Sporting Kansas City face the Vancouver Whitecaps for the first time in team history Saturday. That’s because Vancouver is one of two expansion teams this season in MLS.

While the starting lineup tends to change a lot in the early-goings, it shouldn’t play a major role in the outcome of this game. Both teams will be without some firepower at the striker position, with Vancouver’s Eric Hassli and KC’s Omar Bravo unavailable. Both players received red cards in their teams’ Saturday matches. Bravo’s came in the 30th minute for a foul in the box, while Hassli’s was the result of some poor judgment and the awarding of two yellows.

Bravo and Hassli are the Designated Players (players who are exempt from the team’s salary cap) for their respective teams. It will be interesting to see how the game plans are adjusted to fit the new lineups this week.

League leading assist man Kei Kamara of Sporting KC will have to continue to distribute the ball well to help break down a defense that held Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia to a single goal.

As is often the case, teams that score first many times earn the victory. So far in this early season, that is true of both these teams. Sporting identical 1-1-0 records, Vancouver and Kansas City have won the game in which they scored first and lost the contest in which they conceded first.

Vancouver may be without another key player Saturday in team captain and U.S. National Team member Jay DeMerit. He suffered a groin injury in the first half of a 1-0 loss to Paraguay and is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. The central defender’s absence could cause issues at the back for the Whitecaps.

The game should be a battle as both teams look for solid production up top. Whoever plays better defense should have the edge in this match.

Prediction: The most likely outcome for this particular game is a tie, with both teams adjusting to injuries and suspensions. Sporting KC showed great resiliency in scoring two goals a man down last week. Picking a tie is a cop out, so I’m taking KC over Vancouver, 2-1.

http://www2.ljworld.com/videos/2011/apr/01/34366/

Game: Sporting FC at Vancouver

Time: 6 p.m.

Channel: Knology channel 3 (standard def) or 203 (HD)