Swope Park Rangers

OK, so if you haven’t gone to a Swope Park Rangers game with your family yet – you need to!  The Swope Park Rangers are the USL (D2) soccer team in KC.  They play all of their home games at Swope Park Soccer Village.  Tickets are relatively inexpensive and the atmosphere is pretty family oriented – as long as you don’t mind a few hecklers!  And if you are going with small children, you might want to stay away from the Zoo.  These supporters are fun and keep the energy going,  but a little rowdy at times!

Here is what you need to know if you are planning to attend a game:

• The schedule
• All home games are at Swope Park Soccer Village
• Parking is free and close to the field.
• The price of tickets range from $7 – $15 per person.
• Their mascot is Hat Trick Harry.  This video explains where he came from!
• The seats are bleacher seats.  You might want to bring a cushion to sit on!
• The bathroom.  Let me tell you about the bathroom.  It’s a porta potty.  BUT it’s not just any porta potty.  It’s a luxury porta potty.  You walk into a trailer and it’s a fully decorated “bathroom”.  (At least for the ladies.   Sorry guys – not sure what your side looks like!)
• Keep your eye out for current SKC players wondering the stadium.  We went to a game last year and Peter Vermes was there with a handful of players.  My son was ultra excited when his favorite, Nuno Coelho, was there and gave him a high five!
• After game autographs!  Enjoy watching the kids line up against the rope as the players walk off the field and sign autographs.  Even after running for the last 90 minutes, they are all very personable and awesome to the kids (and parents too if you want to step in there!)

So there you have it.  Now, go get your tickets!

Father’s Day in KC

Looking for something fun to do with Dad this weekend?  Here are some of my favorite ideas:

1.  Top Golf.  Everyone knows that dads love to golf.  OK, well maybe that’s just me stereotyping!  But Top Golf is a lot of fun.  And not just for dad.  It’s like whole family fun!  Check out http://www.topgolf.com for Father’s Day festivities.
2. Swope Park Rangers game.  Have you heard of them yet?  Well, if you are one of the 30,000 families in the KC area that has a soccer player in your house, you need to know who they are.  They are the USL extension of Sporting KC (they play Division 2 to the MLS).  Their games are fast, energetic, and very family oriented.  You get to be thisclose to all of the soccer action.  Game starts at 4pm!
3. Dads get in free to the KC Zoo.  Introduce Papa Bear to Papa Bear!  And don’t forget the free hotdogs for dads (<— cheap date).
4. And when all else fails, there is always food!  What dad wouldn’t just love to get a hold of some good ol’ BBQ on his special day!  My fave?  Q39.  Visit their website, http://www.q39kc.com – you can just taste it through your computer!

Whatever you do, just know – spending TIME with dad is what is really important!