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Livestrong Sporting Park to host 2013 MLS All-Star game

By DARRELL LOVELL

Major League Soccer is taking the 2013 All-Star game to Kansas City as the league announced Thursday that Livestrong Sporting Park will host the summer showcase July 30.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN, Univision, TSN and RDS at 8:30 p.m. ET but an opponent has yet to be announced as the league is slated to take on an international opponent for the 10th time in its history.

Leading the MLS contingent will be hometown manager Peter Vermes. The Sporting Kansas City boss has turned the club into a perennial power in MLS, taking the Midwest outfit deep in the Eastern Conference playoffs two years in a row while bagging the second US Open Cup in team history last season.

The MLS contingent will be looking to make it two in a row after D.C. United’s Ben Olsen led a 3-2 win over UEFA Champion’s League winner Chelsea last summer at PPL Park in Philadelphia. The win improved MLS’ mark against their Atlantic counterparts to 6-2-1.

The decision to take the game to LSP heightens the venue’s status of one of the premier stadiums in American soccer. SKC’s home is a strong possibility to host a US World Cup qualifier and has become a hub for soccer activity.

Making plans to hit KC in the summer? Think LSP is becoming the new home for US soccer’s biggest games? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. They need to get the Livestrong off the park. Basically the same thing as the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Yet another cautionary tale on the naming rights issue, even if you think they’re squeaky clean.

    At least in this case they can default back to Sporting Park. But I see a further problem in the absence of a non-corporate name in many of the new stadia. You have to know independently it’s the one in the Meadowlands to know what MetLife Stadium means. And poor FCD is stuck with a park without an identity after Pizza Hut. Out of nothing less than self-defense and local pride the stadia should have a stadium name besides the temporary sponsor.

    Beyond that, seems like a nice place and a good soccer atmosphere, although I’ll be interested how hot KC is in July even if it’s an evening game.

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  2. I want the US Soccer Hall of Fame there. The stadium was phase one of the project, there is also going to be a team store and another building there.

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    • Roma! I know they’re not a huge name in the US yet, but not only do they have American ownership and Michael Bradley but they are the most exciting team in Italy under Zeman. Plus their defensive weaknesses can be exploited, which could make for a high scoring game.

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      • Awful suggestion.

        Roma just played at Orlando City. That would really make MLS look like a garbage league if a second-tier US club can bring in AS Roma.

        I honestly think the only way you can go this year is up, Barca? Real? Bayern? PSG? Kansas City is indeed the “Paris of the Plains.”

        Let the speculation begin.

      • What you just wrote makes no sense. Of course if you can get Barca or Real you bring them. But to say that the fact that Roma played an exhibition at Orlando City rules them out for ASG consideration is a bit much. They played in Orlando because they recently signed a deal to hold their winter break mini-camp at the Disney sports complex. That game was a glorified practice, nothing more. Roma may not be the biggest name, but Bobb is right – a team with Bradley, Totti, DeRossi and some other young talent would be a great match-up for the MLS all-stars, and win or lose, Zeman’s team always puts on a show.

      • As much as I would love to see them play Barca or Real, I don’t think that is a great idea. To much risk of a blow out. Both Barca and Real can absolutely bury a great team if they find a groove. If that were to happen it would be a step back for MLS.

  3. There will be alot of soccer this year in KC. This is another opportunity for KC that they are legit. Spending the extra dollars does seem worth it. This just seems like a wave of momentum that started in 2010 with the game, and win, against Manu, re-brand, stadium construction, playoffs, open cup win, supporters shield run, 2 US games plus a gold cup and olympic qualify. Only thing missing is a MLS Cup.

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  4. ” taking the Midwest outfit deep in the Eastern Conference playoffs two years in a row ” -they got eliminated in the 1st round last year…… it is a nice facility though.

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  5. Best SSS in our country.

    -Rabid Support
    -Central location of country/ideal demographic and crowd for Nats matches
    -Best surface
    -Gates BBQ!

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  6. When i saw lsp to host.. My first thoughts were the costa rica game! But it should a perfect spot for the ASG. one of the pnw stadiums next year

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    • It’s funny reading this comment NOW after the SnowClassico. I bet we would’ve beaten CRC here in normal weather, too. They just wouldn’t be quite as grumpy.

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