The Next Play: Big week ahead for Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC, KC NWSL + high schools

With our Midwest summer still going strong, it’s perhaps fitting that the sports scene around Kansas City remains hot, too.

Starting with the installment you’re currently reading, we’re kicking off a new weekly feature in The Kansas City Star called “The Next Play.” A companion piece to the simultaneously launched “Replay,” in which we recount highlights of the week that was, we’ll be helping you look ahead each week to five can’t-miss events that are close at hand.

This time of year, you know we’ve gotta start with football.

Paring down, prepping up

The Chiefs have one preseason game left before the real NFL season begins on Sept. 12 at Arrowhead Stadium against the Cleveland Browns.

The significance of this week’s final tuneup against the Minnesota Vikings is twofold: One, it’ll be the first time we’ll see the Chiefs in their home stadium since the AFC Championship Game victory over Buffalo that sent them to Super Bowl LV. And, especially for players on the NFL bubble for making the final roster, it’s a last chance to impress Andy Reid and his staff of assistant coaches.

For guys not destined to make the final cut here in Kansas City, its also an opportunity to audition for other teams that might be looking for help at their respective positions. Two big dates to keep in mind: Tuesday, Aug. 24 is the deadline for teams like the Chiefs to get under the NFL maximum of 80 players; then, by 3 p.m. Central Time on Aug. 31, all 32 franchises’ rosters have to be at 53.

Hot summer (game) nights

The Royals have long bowed out of the division race and will probably lose at least 90 games for the third consecutive 162-game season.

But that doesn’t mean they have nothing to play for. With a month and change remaining this season, club officials will be eager to see what some of their younger prospects can do in the majors.

There are worse ways to spend an August or September evening than settling into a seat at Kauffman Stadium, right? There’s fireworks every Friday, and some of those new guys might just help the Royals hoist their next trophy one day.

Your night out at The K will have to wait a bit, however. The Royals are in the midst of a 10-game road trip that includes dates at the Chicago Cubs (through Sunday, Aug. 22), Houston Astros (Monday-Wednesday) and Seattle Mariners (Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 29). KC returns Aug. 31 to host the Cleveland Indians.

More than a Sporting chance

The resident Major League Soccer club has hovered around the top of the Western Conference table all season. And all signs point to Sporting playing competitive soccer well into the playoffs this fall.

Front and center for the reconstituted Sporting KC attack is Hungarian winger Daniel Salloi. He keeps putting the ball into the net, with double-digit goals already this season, and is a real threat to claim the MLS Golden Boot as the league’s regular-season scoring champion.

After a frenzied schedule all summer thanks to a tight league schedule and international competition, Sporting sees a much friendlier pace this week, with just one game between now and next Sunday: Saturday at the Colorado Rapids.

New focus on the pitch

The Kansas City NWSL women’s soccer squad plays twice this week: Wednesday at home against Racing Louisville and Saturday at the Chicago Red Stars.

It’s been a tough inaugural season for KC, but say this about the leadership over at the city’s newest pro-sports franchise: They’re not afraid of big trades.

Earlier this summer, veteran Amy Rodriguez was shipped to the NC Courage. And just last week, KC added a new face in net: former two-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in Adrianna Franch of the Portland Thorns.

Franch and her new teammates have two shots this week at winning the organization’s second game.

Friday night lights are back

Sports are back for Missouri and Kansas schools. And the season’s first high school football games are scheduled for Friday night in the Show Me State.

The first games on the Kansas side of the state line aren’t far off, either. High schools in Kansas can play their first games a week from Friday, so Sept. 3.

COVID-19 protocols remain in place to some degree for most (if not all) area athletic competitions, so know the rules before heading out to a game. They vary a bit between districts.

If you’re like us, you’re ready to see, feel and hear the excitement of game night.