Sporting Kansas City will return to MLS competition on Aug. 21 with six matches, including a home match on Aug. 25.
In, all, three home matches are planned at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a Sporting KC announcement. The home matches are Aug. 21 with Houston, Sept. 2 with Dallas and Sept. 13 with Minnesota. There also will be three away matches.
In conjunction with today’s schedule release, Sporting Kansas City has also announced the club’s plan for reduced-capacity, socially distanced seating for the home matches at Children’s Mercy Park during the first phase.
Following detailed safety protocols developed in conjunction with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, Sporting’s next three home matches at Children’s Mercy Park will be held at a reduced capacity of approximately 14 percent, according to the announcement.
The stadium seating plan will adhere to proper social distancing guidelines and face coverings will be mandatory for fans, along with a number of other new safety measures including a tailored ingress timing plan that promotes physical distancing upon entry.
The reduced-capacity plan at Children’s Mercy Park was developed through significant collaboration between Sporting Kansas City and the Unified Government before receiving local and state approval, according to the announcement.
“The safety and well-being of fans, players and staff at Children’s Mercy Park remains our top priority,” said Dr. Neal Erickson, primary care physician at Sporting Kansas City. “After consulting extensively with local officials, government authorities and public health experts, we feel confident about the detailed safety protocols and procedures in place at Sporting KC home matches. We will continue to monitor the evolving public health landscape and adapt accordingly.”
Tickets for the next three home matches will be available only to Sporting Kansas City season ticket members via lotteries and no single-game tickets will be sold by the club on SeatGeek.com or at the stadium box office. For more information, season ticket members can contact their membership service executives.
COVID-19 testing protocols will continue to play an important role in the league’s competition framework, according to the announcement. MLS continues to work closely with the league’s infectious disease advisers as well as advisers for the MLSPA on the plan for testing.
All clubs are forming testing partnerships with a local certified lab, and all players, technical staff and essential club staff will be tested every other day, including the day before each match day, according to the announcement. Teams will also take chartered flights, and for the majority of road trips will arrive in the host market on match day and depart after the match later that evening.
All MLS clubs will play 18 additional league matches in a phased approach, concluding with “Decision Day” on Nov. 8 to complete the 23 –game regular season. The MLS Cup Playoffs will begin Nov. 20 with 18 teams and will culminuate with the 25th MLS Cup on Dec. 12.
Major League Soccer’s return to play in the home markets of all 26 clubs will feature comprehensive health and safety protocols, including regular testing of players, coaches and essential staff for COVID-19, according to the announcement.
MLS plans to announce the balance of the regular season schedule by early September as the league continues to work with infectious disease experts, league and club medical personnel, and government officials in all markets in charting a course for the completion of the 2020 season.
Each of Sporting’s next six matches will air live on FOX Sports Kansas City or FOX Sports Kansas City Plus in Kansas, Nebraska and western Missouri. Additionally, all six games will air locally in English on Sports Radio 810 WHB or one of its sister stations, and in Spanish on La Grande 1340 AM.
Sporting KC schedule: First phase of continued 2020 regular season
Date Opponent Time (CT) TV & Streaming
Friday, Aug. 21 at Minnesota United FC 6:30 p.m. FOX Sports Kansas City Plus;
FOX Sports GO
Tuesday, Aug. 25 HOUSTON DYNAMO 7:30 p.m. FOX Sports Kansas City Plus;
FOX Sports GO
Saturday, Aug. 29 at Colorado Rapids 8 p.m. FOX Sports Kansas City;
FOX Sports GO
Wednesday, Sept. 2 FC DALLAS 7:30 p.m. FOX Sports Kansas City Plus;
FOX Sports GO
Saturday, Sept. 5 at Houston Dynamo 7 p.m. FOX Sports Kansas City Plus;
FOX Sports GO
Sunday, Sept. 13 MINNESOTA UNITED FC 7:30 p.m. FOX Sports Kansas City;
FOX Sports GO
- Story from Sporting KC