Sporting Kansas City fell victim to postseason heartbreak on Thursday night at BBVA Compass Stadium, suffering a 1-0 extra-time defeat to the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Knockout Round of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Houston forward Alberth Elis struck the decisive goal in the 94th minute as Sporting KC’s season ended away from home in the single-elimination Knockout Round for the fourth consecutive year.
Thursday’s contest marked Sporting KC’s seventh straight playoff appearance as well as the seventh postseason meeting all-time between the Western Conference rivals.
And while manager Peter Vermes’ men ousted Houston four months ago at BBVA Compass Stadium en route to lifting the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, Sporting KC was unable to replicate such success in the third battle between the clubs in 16 days.
Vermes made two changes to the Sporting KC lineup from Sunday’s regular-season finale at Real Salt Lake, with Benny Feilhaber joining Ilie and Roger Espinoza in midfield and Gerso thrust into attack alongside playoff debutants Latif Blessing and Diego Rubio.
Jimmy Medranda replaced the injured Seth Sinovic at left back, forming part of a backline that included Matt Besler, Graham Zusi and Ike Opara, who earned his 100th appearance for the club in all competitions.
Goalkeeper Tim Melia missed his fourth straight game with a hamstring ailment, paving the way for Andrew Dykstra’s maiden postseason start.
A cagey first half produced a scarcity of scoring chances on both ends. The visitors threatened twice in quick succession shortly before the 20-minute mark, as Opara’s header off a looping Besler throw-in and long-range bullet from Gerso both skipped narrowly wide of frame.
Houston’s best foray saw Zusi repel Albert Elis’ teasing cross to the top of the penalty area, where Tomas Martinez’s rebound effort was blocked by Besler.
Gerso almost fired Sporting KC ahead in the 39th minute, racing onto a delightful diagonal pass from Espinoza and pulling the trigger from the left side of the box, prompting Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric to produce a save as Philippe Senderos headed safely behind for a corner kick.
The hosts spurned an opportunity on the hour mark when Alex’s delivery from the left wing found an unmarked Erick “Cubo” Torres near the penalty spot, but the Torres’s header was straight at Dykstra.
Opara thought he had nodded Sporting KC in front shortly thereafter, but the center back was offside by the slimmest of margins prior to cushioning Zusi’s free kick low into the corner past Deric.
Drama amplified as regulation ended scoreless, though it didn’t take long for the Dynamo to break through in the extra session.
Three minutes after spurning a clear chance off an Alex through ball, Elis found the back of the net to ignite celebrations inside the stadium.
Substitute Vicente Sanchez did well down the right endline and cut the ball back for the 21-year-old Honduran, who tucked home for his 11th goal of the year in all competitions.
Sporting KC committed numbers forward in search of an equalizer, and Salloi was first to test Deric in the 97th minute only to see his right-footed attempt saved.
Ten minutes later, Zusi’s 25-yard drive was pushed aside by Deric before Cristian Lobato’s curler lacked the placement and pace to beat the Dynamo gloveman.
Referee Mark Geiger awarded Houston a penalty in the 123rd minute when Dykstra clipped Sanchez on the breakaway, but the Sporting KC goalkeeper atoned by saving Sanchez’s ensuing spot kick to keep the deficit at 1-0.
The site plan for the American Royal project, as shown in Unified Government agenda documents. The UG Commission approved a development agreement and STAR bond district on Thursday night. Parallel Parkway is at the north of this map, State Avenue is to the south, and 118th Street is on the west, separating two areas of the project.
The Unified Government Commission unanimously approved the American Royal development agreement and a STAR bond district at the Oct. 26 meeting at City Hall.
The $165.4 million project is in a STAR bond district of 550 acres near 110th and Parallel Parkway. The site plan is on about 112 acres in the STAR bond district. The American Royal has been in Kansas City, Mo., for more than 100 years, and is well known for its annual rodeo and livestock show, as well as a barbecue competition.
Jon Stephens, the UG’s director of economic development, said $80 million would come from the net STAR (sales tax revenue) bond proceeds, $80 million from private contributions from the American Royal, and $5.3 million from other sources.
Stephens said there was an 18-month period to secure financing and complete the development plan, then construction of the American Royal would start within 6 months of the bond closing, and the American Royal core elements must be substantially completed within two years of the bond closing.
Korb Maxwell, an attorney representing the American Royal, said this is not just about moving the American Royal from Kansas City, Mo., to Kansas City, Kansas.
“This is about creating a bright new future for the American Royal, and hanging a sign in Wyandotte County and hanging a sign in the state of Kansas that Kansas is open to agriculture and we’re open for business,” Maxwell said.
This can be the “tent pole” for agriculture, he said, echoing Cliff Illig’s phrase, and “it can have an incredible future here in western Wyandotte County where we have built such wonderful destinations.”
The American Royal has about 275,000 event days in its current facilities and is looking to increase it to almost a million event days in the future, he said.
The development, according to UG officials, will include, at minimum:
• A 164,000-square-foot livestock expo arena with about 5,000 permanent seats and an additional 3,200 temporary seats for a variety of events.
• A 250,000-square-foot livestock exhibition hall, including pens for 2,000 animals, for events including a 10-day livestock show each October, and for other events.
• About 5,000 square feet of office space, including a headquarters for the corporate offices of the American Royal.
• A 6,500-square-foot Agricultural Education Center featuring exhibits, an interactive museum-based learning environment, and meeting and a professional training space.
• Additional land for potential future construction of an agricultural headquarters facility and expansion, with retail and restaurant use possible.
According to the development agreement, the annual American Royal barbecue may or may not be held inside the boundaries of the STAR bond district, but it would be held in Wyandotte County.
Maxwell said the arena also could be used for sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer, besides rodeos and horse shows.
The agreement includes local benefit provisions for the Wyandotte County Fair, Wyandotte County school systems and Unified Government. There also are provisions for the American Royal to maintain its headquarters in Wyandotte County and participate in civic, charitable, educational and economic development in Wyandotte County.
Four UG commissioners, including Hal Walker, Jane Philbrook, Melissa Bynum and Mike Kane, were concerned about the local provisions for the Wyandotte County Fair. Stephens said the fair board and the American Royal must discuss and work toward a mutually beneficial proposal for the fair, but they are not required to participate in it. However, there must be opportunities for the fair to use American Royal facilities at operational costs without additional markups, he said.
Walker didn’t want to leave the language about this vague, and said he would have preferred more specific language about the costs. For example, he didn’t want to hear in the future that it would cost the fair $200,000.
“Make sure this issue doesn’t get screwed up,” Walker said.
“We haven’t done the fair justice, so they have some justice coming,” Kane said.
Philbrook agreed and said the whole thing needs to be put together, not split out apart. “This is the chance for the American Royal to step up and be the leaders of this, along with the Ag Hall of Fame,” she said.
Bynum said the development agreement, as she read it, stated that there would be no rent charges to the fair.
Maxwell said the message about the fair has been heard, and that the American Royal will need to sit down with the fair and work out an agreement, and they hope to do that before bonds are issued.
Commissioner Gayle Townsend asked about the American Royal parade. Maxwell said they want to reinstitute the parade, with the new facilities and the city as partner.
Steve Allison, with the Perry family, that owns property where the American Royal will be built, said the property was originally acquired by J.W. Perry, his great-grandfather, more than 80 years ago. In 1935, Perry acquired a 700-acre farm, and with his friend, the late Sen. Harry Darby, they acquired a neighboring property of 47 acres, which is on the west side of 118th Street.
“They believe the properties were located in an area that would be very important to the future of the city, and history has certainly proved that they were right,” he said. Part of the former Perry farm is part of the Kansas Speedway property and neighboring Village West developments.
“My great-grandfather cared deeply about the future and well-being of the city,” he said. Perry and Darby had ties to the American Royal, he added.
He also said last month, an agribusiness organization leader told him he planned to locate his headquarters next to the American Royal. He added there is another association that has expressed serious interest in locating its headquarters next to the American Royal. He anticipated other organizations would follow.
“My family has waited a long time for the opportunity to help facilitate on our property a destination for companies that will bring good-paying jobs to the city,” he said. “The American Royal project is key to making this happen in the near future, from our perspective.”
“This is not just about bringing the American Royal to Wyandotte County,” John Mitchell, chairman of the board of the American Royal, said.
He said they have a big vision about how this can be a home for the future of the agriculture conversation, for a world-class agricultural education center, and for programming 365 days of the year.
Doug Bach, UG administrator, said the UG had been working since last June to put together the development agreement. He added that if a convention center is done within the STAR bond district, the retail sales tax generated by the American Royal doesn’t go toward a convention center project.
During a public comment session, Michael Quinn, wearing a “Fire” T-shirt, said it was an amazing idea, but he wanted to make sure the American Royal hired union labor to construct the buildings, not like the Amazon project. On Thursday, firefighters protested outside City Hall (https://wyandotteonline.com/firefighters-protest-in-front-of-city-hall/). Commissioner Kane said he echoed Quinn’s remarks about good-paying jobs and about hiring local workers. The development agreement contains minority, women and local goals for construction and professional services.
“Congratulations, Kansas City, Kansas – the American Royal is coming,” Holland said after the vote.
Tonight, temperatures will drop to a low of 30, producing the first freeze of the season, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service said any sensitive vegetation should be protected or it could be damaged or killed.
Some areas will not get a hard freeze tonight, according to the weather service, but an area-wide hard freeze is forecast Saturday night, with temperatures dropping to 31 in Wyandotte County.
The freeze warning will be in effect from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the weather service.
Today, there will be a high of 45, with a northwest wind of 14 to 16 mph, gusting to 26 mph, the weather service said.
Tonight, there will be widespread frost after 4 a.m., with a low of 30 and a northwest wind of 10 mph, according to the weather service.
Saturday, expect widespread frost before 9 a.m., with a high near 49 and a northwest wind of 8 mph, the weather service said.
Saturday night, the low will be around 31 with a light south wind, according to the weather service.
Sunday, skies will be sunny with a high near 60 and a southwest wind of 3 to 8 mph, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 41, according to the weather service.
Monday, the high will be near 51 with partly sunny skies, the weather service said.
Monday night, the low will be around 32 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, the high will be near 47 with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said.
Tuesday night, expect a low of 35 with mostly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, the high will be near 56 with partly sunny skies, the weather service said.
