Former U.S. star Tim Howard is excited to meet KC fans this weekend at NBC event
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Tim Howard will attend NBC Sports’ Premier League Fan Fest in Kansas City.
- Howard praised Kansas City’s soccer culture, sports scene and barbecue heritage.
- Weekend broadcasts begin at 6 a.m. on USA Network and Peacock from KC event.
Former United States national team goalie Tim Howard is ready to sell his soccer allegiance this weekend in Kansas City.
Howard will be at the Power & Light District for NBC Sports’ “Premier League Mornings Live” show and Fan Fest, and he said he has a soft spot for KC.
“Some good games there, I enjoy the soccer culture, the town, the barbecue, everything about the sports landscape,” Howard said of Kansas City. “So, yeah, it’s great.”
Kansas City is known for its barbecue, and there are multiple famous spots for the cuisine around the city. Does Howard have a favorite restaurant?
“I don’t, not in KC, anyway, so I can be bought,” Howard said with a chuckle.
If you want to get on Howard’s good side, bring some burnt ends and ribs to the Power & Light District.
Howard will be joined at the festivities this Saturday and Sunday by fellow broadcasters Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe. The broadcast on Saturday will begin at 6 a.m. on USA Network and Sunday at 6 a.m. on USA Network and Peacock.
Special guests will join NBC Sports’ coverage throughout the festival, including Premier League all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer, and former Tottenham Hotspur captain Jermain Defoe.
The Fan Fest is a collaboration between NBC Sports and the Premier League, and spectators will have a chance to get their picture with the league trophy. It was lifted by Liverpool last season. Other fan activities will be available, too, throughout the weekend. The event is free.
There are likely to be Liverpool fans at the Power & Light, along with supporters of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and other clubs.
This is what Howard, who played for Manchester United and Everton, loves most about the event.
“More than anything is being around other people who enjoy the football culture,” Howard said. “That’s what football is, particularly on the fan side of things, it’s creating that community. And it’s pretty special when you’re able to get 10,000 people together who are all either light-heartedly have a rivalry, or love the same team, or just to be amongst people who love the Premier League. It’s special, and people tell us that that’s the reason they come out is just to experience it, to be a part of the fandom, which we see every time we have a Fan Fest.”
The Fan Fest will be in Kansas City for the first time, but it’s made stops in New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, among other cities.
Howard, who was the starting goalie for the U.S. national team at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, is always excited for this event.
“I think the best part of Fan Fest is getting out of the studio,” he said. “And, I mean, we have so many passionate fans. And I think what you see is it becomes like a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but because you see so many people who watch every single weekend, and it’s like they couldn’t be more excited to actually be there and be amongst other fans.”
And Howard will be glad to get a taste of that KC barbecue, too.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM.
