The partnership between MLS and USL continues to grow, as Sporting Kansas City announced the creation of new reserve team.
Sporting KC announced the formation of Swope Park Rangers, which will be the 11th team owned and operated by an MLS club. The Rangers will kick off with 27 other teams across the U.S. and Canada in 2016, the sixth season of the USL.
“This is a great opportunity to fill in an important piece between the Sporting KC Academy and our senior team as part of the long-term vision for our organization,” Sporting KC head coach and technical director Peter Vermes said. “We were fortunate to have a mutually beneficial affiliation with OKC Energy FC the past two years. Moving forward, the USL will offer a great level of play and we’re looking forward to building the Swope Park Rangers roster.”
Rangers home games will be played on Championship Field at Swope Soccer Village, which is a nine-field soccer complex and is also the training ground site for the MLS side.
“We are excited to welcome Sporting Kansas City and the Swope Park Rangers KC to the USL for the 2016 season,” USL President Jake Edwards said. “Sporting Kansas City is consistently one of the top organizations in MLS and has a fantastic locally-based ownership group that is committed to building the soccer culture throughout the Kansas City region. We expect that commitment to result in a highly successful club, playing in historic Swope Park, which will be embraced by local fans. We are also excited about the rivalry that we expect to develop between the Swope Park Rangers KC and Saint Louis FC, as we continue to grow the USL’s presence in the central U.S.”
Sporting KC currently has five players who have played in the USL during recent seasons, and the franchise has had different affiliations in that span, including one with Orlando City before it moved to MLS and most recently with Oklahoma City Energy.
What do you think of Sporting KC’s new USL club? Like the name of Swope Park Rangers? How do you think the team will fare in its first season?
Share your thoughts below.