Fans brave bitter cold, wind to join festivities

More than 19,500 Sporting Kansas City fans braved the bitter cold and wind for UMKC Night and were rewarded with seeing Sporting KC return to the Western Conference summit with a 1-0 victory over D.C. United. Sporting Kansas City scored the first and winning goal three minutes into the game for their first shutout of 2018.

UMKC was the title night sponsor of Saturday’s match, which included fun with Kasey the Kangaroo and games on the Toyota Plaza at Children’s Mercy Park. Jonathan Ray, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, sang the National Anthem and members of the Pony Express Senior Army ROTC program at UMKC presented the Colors. Kasey joined Blue, the Sporting KC mascot, for a field goal kicking contest during halftime.

The first 10,000 fans who entered the stadium also received Ike Opara bobbleheads, sponsored by UMKC. Opara and Sporting KC midfielder Ilie Sanchez were named to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for their instrumental roles in Saturday’s win.

UMKC’s next activity with Sporting Kansas City is College Night on April 20. Sporting Kansas City is offering an exclusive package that includes one ticket and one customized UMKC/SKC soccer scarf for College Night. Use the special promotion code, CN18UMKC, to get the custom UMKC/SKC scarf. The match will be against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 8 p.m. Friday, April 20 at Children’s Mercy Park.