Sporting KC will open 2018 season at home

Sporting Kansas City will begin the 2018 season inside its home venue.

In the earliest home opener in club history, Sporting KC will play host to New York City FC on March 4 at Children’s Mercy Park. The Sunday match will kick off at 6:30 p.m.

Six days later, Sporting KC will travel to face Chicago, another 2017 Eastern Conference playoff team, on March 10. That kickoff time has not yet been determined.

MLS announced the home openers for all 23 teams Tuesday. The full season schedule will be announced in January.

It’s a daunting start to the schedule for Sporting KC. New York City finished second in the race for the Supporters’ Shield in 2017, and Chicago finished third in the Eastern Conference.

Sporting KC is 13-2-7 in home openers. It has never lost a home opener at Children’s Mercy Park.

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Sporting KC will open 2018 season at home."