KCSN Weekly: Training Camp Is Upon Us, Royals Turn It Around, and Spain Wins the World Cup
A weekly look at everything happening across Kansas City sports.
This is the last KCSN Weekly before the Chiefs return to the practice field, which means there will be Kansas City football news from here until hopefully mid-February.
The one Chiefs item worth noting this week is that the franchise released the first renderings of their new $3 billion domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, set to open in 2031.
The fully enclosed facility will feature translucent ETFE roof panels, seat approximately 70,000 fans, and include more than 20,000 parking spots. Kansas City-based firms MANICA and HNTB have been selected as the lead design architect and architect of record, respectively.
Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in the team's release that the new building "will hold 70,000 fans, it will still be the best place in the world to tailgate, and the whole building will be built for noise."
The full story is available now on Chiefs OnSI.
Training camp opens Tuesday in St. Joseph. It is officially football season.
Royals Report: A Winning Week, but Witt Lands on the IL
After a rough stretch that left them with the worst record in the American League, the Royals responded with their best week in some time, going 5-2 against the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants to open the second half.
They took two of three from the Padres and swept the Giants before dropping the opener of a four-game set against the Detroit Tigers last night. Kansas City now sits at 43-61, no longer holding the AL’s worst record, which has been claimed by the Los Angeles Angels. They are still 10.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with the trade deadline looming, so the path to October is a long one, but a winning week is a winning week.
The offensive highlight of the week belonged to Salvador Perez, who carried the brunt of the load despite hitting just .190. He blasted three home runs and drove in six runs, continuing what has been a memorable season for the future Hall of Famer.
On the mound, Randy Dobnak, Luinder Avila, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha were outstanding across five combined starts, pitching 28.2 innings, allowing just seven earned runs, and striking out 23.
The significant off-field news was not as positive. Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day IL with lower back tightness, a development worth monitoring closely for a team that cannot afford to be without its best player for an extended stretch.
The Royals are on the road this week for three against the Tigers before heading to Minnesota to face the Twins.
Spain Wins the World Cup
The FIFA World Cup came to a conclusion Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and it was Spain claiming their second title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in extra time.
Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the story through 90 minutes, making a World Cup final record 11 saves to keep his side alive despite being thoroughly outplayed. Spain recorded 20 shot attempts to Argentina’s two, but could not find a way through until substitute Ferran Torres buried a first-time shot in the 106th minute off a Nico Williams header from a Pedro Porro cross.
The match was further complicated in the 93rd minute when Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was sent off with a red card, leaving the defending champions to play all of extra time a man down. A desperate late rally led by Lionel Messi nearly produced an equalizer in the final seconds, but Giuliano Simeone’s volley off a corner kick flew over the crossbar.
Kansas City’s run as a World Cup host city was a memorable one, highlighted by Messi’s hat trick against Algeria in group play and Argentina’s thrilling quarterfinal victory over Switzerland at Arrowhead that sent the defending champions on their way to the final.
Sporting Scoops: A Rare Win at Children’s Mercy Park
Sporting Kansas City picked up a much-needed home victory this week, defeating Minnesota United FC 2-1. Dejan Joveljic opened the scoring in the 28th minute before Manu Garcia doubled the lead in the 54th with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Minnesota pulled one back late, but goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland made several key saves. Sporting improves to 4-10-2 and heads back on the road tomorrow to face LAFC at 9:30 p.m.
What to Watch This Week
Chiefs
Training camp opens Tuesday, July 29 at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO
Royals (43-61)
At Detroit Tigers (49-54) for three games
At Minnesota Twins (51-53) for three games
Sporting KC (4-10-2)
At LAFC (9-3-5): Tomorrow, 9:30 p.m. CT