Sporting KC renews partnership with affiliate OKC Energy FC
Sporting Kansas City has renewed its partnership with OKC Energy FC to have the Oklahoma City-based club serve as its USL Pro affiliate, the two teams announced Friday.
It will be a multiyear extension of an agreement that began last season, which was OKC’s inaugural campaign.
OKC Energy FC is coached by former Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.
“The first year of our partnership was beneficial to both organizations in many ways,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said in a release. “The professionalism within the club, from the quality of coaching to the investment by their ownership in new facilities, makes OKC Energy FC a perfect partner for us and an ideal destination for our players to continue their development.”
Sporting KC sent five players to Oklahoma City on loan last season — Jon Kempin, Jimmy Medranda, Mikey Lopez, Christian Duke and Kevin Ellis.
OKC Energy FC is moving into a new training facility next season, and its home venue, Taft Stadium, is undergoing a $12-million upgrade.
OKC was named the league’s rookie franchise of the year in 2014. USL Pro is set to add 12 expansion clubs in 2015, bringing the league total to 24.
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This story was originally published January 9, 2015 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Sporting KC renews partnership with affiliate OKC Energy FC."