Month: June 2017

Sporting KC travels to Houston tonight

The top two teams in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference take their rivalry into the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday when Sporting Kansas City visits the Houston Dynamo for a Round of 16 clash at BBVA Compass Stadium. The match will stream live on SportingKC.com with kickoff slated for 5:30 p.m.

Now in its 104th edition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest national soccer competition in the United States and remains one of the sport’s most prestigious championships.

Sporting Kansas City is one of 13 MLS clubs remaining in the 2017 tournament and will hope to replicate triumphs of 2004, 2012 and 2015 when the team was crowned Open Cup champion. The reward would be substantial, as the 2017 winner will receive $250,000 in prize money and a berth in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.

Sporting Kansas City is coming off a resolute 2-1 road win over LA Galaxy on Saturday that vaulted Manager Peter Vermes’ men five points clear atop the Western Conference table. Roger Espinoza fired the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute before Ike Opara’s magisterial bicycle-kick – which came in at No. 1 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays the next morning – doubled the lead 10 minutes before halftime. The result snapped LA’s eight-game unbeaten run in MLS play and gave Sporting Kansas City their first away win against the Galaxy since 2010.

With Matt Besler, Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi joining the U.S. Men’s National Team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Vermes has called upon three members of Sporting Kansas City’s USL affiliate to join the squad for Wednesday’s match. Forward Kharlton Belmar, midfielder Felipe Hernandez and defender Parker Maher join the ranks from the Swope Park Rangers on short-term loans, linking up with a mostly healthy first-team roster. Midfielder Benny Feilhaber is the lone injured absentee, having suffered a lower leg injury in the second half of Saturday’s victory.

The Houston Dynamo have enjoyed a strong start to the 2017 campaign as one of Major League Soccer’s most improved teams. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera’s men have been particularly devastating in the friendly confines of BBVA Compass Stadium, where they boast a 7-0-2 record in MLS with 25 goals scored and eight conceded.

Friday’s 1-1 draw in the Texas Derby against FC Dallas saw Dynamo forward Erick “Cubo” Torres score his 11th goal of the campaign, good for second on the MLS charts.

As excellent as Torres has been, the striker may carry an even heavier burden on Wednesday. Houston will be without two of its most dynamic players as attacking duo Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto have joined Honduras ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Elis has six goals and three assists, while Quioto has four goals and two assists.

Sporting Kansas City and Houston progressed to the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 in dissimilar fashion. The Dynamo edged NASL side North Carolina FC in a 3-2 extra-time thriller as Homegrown midfielder Memo Rodriguez bagged the game-winner in the 109th minute on June 14. That same evening at Children’s Mercy Park, Sporting KC routed Minnesota United FC 4-0 behind goals from Opara, Gerso, Dwyer and Daniel Salloi.

Wednesday will mark the third straight year these teams have met in the U.S. Open Cup. Sporting Kansas City earned a 3-1 quarterfinal victory en route to winning the 2015 championship – coming from behind with three goals in the final 20 minutes at a raucous Children’s Mercy Park – before Houston posted a 3-1 win of their own in last summer’s Round of 16 at BBVA Compass Stadium. The sides also met in 2011 Open Cup qualifying when Sporting KC emerged 1-0 winners at Aggie Soccer Stadium in College Station, Texas.

Sporting KC has notably faced Houston 23 times in all competitions (8-7-8 record) since 2011, more than any other opponent. That total includes five meetings in the MLS Cup Playoffs, where the clubs dueled every year from 2011-2013.

Wednesday’s victor will progress to the quarterfinals, playing host to the winner of tonight’s battle between FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The quarterfinal match will be played some time between July 7-16.
– Story from Sporting KC

Prison re-entry facility, T-Bones bailout agreement on UG Commission agenda Thursday night

A federal prison residential re-entry facility in the Fairfax industrial area and a T-Bones agreement with the Unified Government are on Thursday night’s UG Commission agenda.

Also on the agenda are the de-annexation of a small area near Lake Quivira, the UG-Hollywood Casino-SVV charitable grants, and several other items.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, in the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The federal prison re-entry facility is recommended for approval, and the Fairfax Industrial Association is on record as opposing it because of safety reasons.

The Fairfax group, which has a petition against it, stated at an earlier zoning meeting that police patrols have been reduced in the Fairfax area during the past year.

The project, which would house about 85 male inmates on work-release programs, is a private facility, according to the company that is developing it. To see an earlier story, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/federal-prison-re-entry-facility-in-fairfax-moves-forward-with-planning-commission-approval/.

The T-Bones management agreement, termination of lease, and amendment also is on the agenda. A copy of the proposed agreement is included in the agenda. The T-Bones’ bailout could be an issue in the mayoral campaign this year.

According to UG agenda information, the T-Bones generate $4.2 million a year directly and indirectly for the Wyandotte County economy. The UG took over ownership of the stadium where the T-Bones play in 2014. The new contract being proposed through 2022 changes the arrangement from the team leasing the stadium to the team being the manager of the stadium.

It restructures payments from the T-Bones to the UG. According to the UG agenda, the UG may save about $240,000 a year in property taxes which the state of Kansas requires to be paid on the stadium.

In May, the Board of Public Utilities board refused to waive the T-Bones’ utility payments at the request of the UG, and would not forgive $172,700 on the T-Bones’ bill from the past few years. David Alvey, a BPU member running for mayor, spoke out against the bailout.

The T-Bones owed the BPU $314,000, according to BPU officials. The BPU board also refused to let the T-Bones have a lower rate for electricity and water. (Earlier story at https://wyandotteonline.com/bpu-says-it-wont-waive-t-bones-utility-payments/)

Under this proposed UG agreement, the utility bill will be in the name of the stadium owner, which is the UG, and the T-Bones would have to pay a portion of the utility bills to the UG, according to the UG agenda. The T-Bones would have to pay the UG a flat rate of 6.5 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity, and $1.77 per CCF for water, under the proposed agreement. The 6.5 cents per kilowatt rate is the lower amount that the BPU would not approve.

Also on the agenda June 29 is a de-annexation petition for property currently in Kansas City, Kansas, which may be joining Lake Quivira city in the future.

These properties include 3025 S. 78th St., 7910 Holliday Drive and 7909 Holliday Drive.

Another item on the Thursday agenda are recommendations of grants to groups from the UG – Hollywood Casino- SVV grant fund.

Other items on the agenda include:

• 10128 Nelson Lane, change of zone from single-family to agriculture.
• 2000 N. 67th St., change of zone from single-family to planned garden apartment district for four multi-family units in one building.
• 733-735 Minnesota Avenue, renewal of special use permit for an event hall, specialty dress shop and office space.
• 419 S. 81st St., special use permit for an urban farm.
• 21 S. 18th St., renewal of a special use permit for a parking lot in conjhunction with Advance Auto Parts store.
• 2932 S. 8th Terrance, special use permit for the temporary use of land to park a food truck.
• 4300 Brenner Drive, special use permit for the temporary use of land for a storage trailer.
• 4620 Mission Road, renewal of a special use permit revising a previously approved application to lease parking to a neighboring business.
• 17 N. James St., vacation of an alley.
• 1101 S. 9th St., vacation of a street and alley.
• 2000 N. 67th St., master plan amendment from low density residential to medium density residential.
• 925 S. 89th St., master plan amendment from rural residential to low desnity residential.
• 925 S. 89th St., change of zone from agriculture to single-family for one agricultural lot and three residential lots.
• Nomination of Racheal Jefferson to the Kansas City Housing authority, submitted by Commissioner Gayle Townsend.
• An ordinance amending the buildings and building regulations, intended to improve the appearance and safety of vacant properties.
• An ordinance amending the fine for violations of the seat belt ordinance, which would bring it into compliance with state law. The fine will go from $10 to $30.
• A resolution for an agreement between the UG and the city of Mission for the enforcement of zoning regulations and building codes for 3140 S. 28th St.

For more information, visit the UG agenda at www.wycokck.org.

T-Bones falter late in walk-off loss

The Kansas City T-Bones were three outs away from taking game one of a crucial three-game series with the Lincoln SaltDogs Tuesday night at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Neb.

The T-Bones got out number 25, but the last two outs eluded Kansas City as Lincoln rallied, scoring two runs with the ball never leaving the infield.

Grant Sides was brought into the game in the bottom of the ninth with Kansas City holding on to a 5-4 lead. Brandon Jacobs reached base on an infield single, but Sides was able to strike out Curt Smith for the first out. Tommy Mendonca reached base after being hit by a Sides pitch to put runners at first and second.

Cesar Valera tapped a two hopper toward the third base side of the mound that Sides tried to field but let roll through his legs for an error to load the bases.

The next batter, Randolph Oduber, hit a slow roller toward the right side of the plate that Sides fielded as Jacobs raced home to tie the game. Sides then elected to throw the ball to catcher Tony Caldwell instead of to first. The ball went over Caldwell’s head, scoring the winning run, and Ivan Marin and the SaltDogs won it 6-5.

Early in the night the T-Bones looked like they would be set to take the opener, building a 5-0 lead in the first two innings. Kyle Petty hit a grand slam home run off Lincoln starter Derek Gordon in the first to take a 4-0 lead.

The T-Bones looked to have Gordon on the ropes in the second, when Omar Garcia drove in the fifth run. Two more runners were on base, with only one out. But Gordon settled down and wound up tossing a complete game, getting the win in the end.

Lincoln scored four in the third off T-Bones starter Matt Sergey with Trever Adams hitting a solo home run and Curt Smith hitting a two-run homer to make it 5-3. Lincoln went back-to-back with a Tommy Mendonca home run, and it made the score 5-4.

The teams remained quiet offensively until the home half of the ninth when Lincoln pulled off the comeback. Sides was charged with the loss (1-1) while Gordon (2-2) was the winner. Matt Sergey struck out six in 5 2/3 innings for Kansas City.

The two teams will play game two of the three-game series Wednesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Lincoln ace RHP Carlos Pimentel (5-0, 2.60) will get the nod for the SaltDogs, while the T-Bones will turn to RHP Calvin Drummond (2-1, 4.17).

The T-Bones return home Monday, July 3, to face Sioux Falls in the first game of a three-game series and a seven-game homestand.

Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.

– Story from T-Bones