Sporting Kansas City Social Media Guide
With more than 50 digital properties, Sporting Kansas City prides itself on being among the most active MLS clubs online. Through our social media outlets, you’ll be able to voice your opinion. And you know what? We’ll listen. Our number one priority is to keep our fans engaged, informed, and connected. Whether it’s match day or the off-season, you’ll always be in contact with your favorite MLS team. Through this Social Media guide, you’ll get an in-depth view of our various social media channels, and how you can use them to stay connected. Posts, photos, tweets, blogs, you name it – we have it. Striving to always deliver new content, we hope that you’ll find our online outlets as a resource to keep you constantly updated on everything Sporting Kansas City. Follow us. Like us. Mention us. It’s time to connect to Sporting Kansas City on the digital pitch.
Ways you can connect to Sporting Kansas City: Sporting Kansas City - www.facebook.com/SportingKC Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members www.facebook.com/SKCSeasonTicketMembers Soy Sporting (Spanish) - http://www.facebook.com/SoySporting
@SportingKC – The official account of Sporting Kansas City @SoySporting – The official Spanish-language account of Sporting Kansas City @SportingPark – The official account of Sporting Park @SKCGameday – For live updates throughout every Sporting Kansas City match @SKCAcademy – For all updates on Sporting Kansas City Academy teams @SportingClub – The official account of Sporting Club. Register to gain access & exclusive content @SportingStyle – Receive information on the latest merchandise available from Sporting Club @SportingCares – Check here for info regarding Sporting KC player appearances & community involvement @SportingInnov – The official account of Sporting Innovations @SportingKC_SCN – Account for the Sporting Club Network
@mbesler – Matt Besler
@JimmyMedranda – Jimmy Medranda
@TacaBielerSKC-‐ Claudio Bieler
@kymiller89 – Kyle Miller
@TealBunB – Teal Bunbury
@CR_Myers – Chance Myers
@ampC2 – Aurelien Collin
@paulinhonag – Paulo Nagamura
@cmduke20 – Christian Duke
@PumaNielsen1 – Jimmy Nielsen
@ddwyer14 – Dom Dwyer
@OmoshLaw13 – Lawrence Olum
@kev_ellis4 – Kevin Ellis
@IkeOpara-‐ Ike Opara
@B_Feilhaber22-‐ Benny Feilhaber
@ErikBrown14 – Erik Palmer-‐Brown
@Gardner31-‐ Josh Gardner
@jacob_peterson – Jacob Peterson
@MechackJerome – Mechack Jerome
@urirosell – Oriol Rosell
@HaitianXavi – Peterson Joseph
@BrendanRuiz33 – Brendan Ruiz
@KeiKamara – Kei Kamara
@SoonySaad – Soony Saad
@JonKempin21 – Jon Kempin
@BigAfrika88 – C.J. Sapong
@EKronberg – Eric Kronberg
@ssinovic – Seth Sinovic
@mlopez5_12-‐ Mikey Lopez
@gzusi -‐ Graham Zusi
@RobbHeineman – Robb Heineman, Sporting Club CEO @JakeReid33 – Jake Reid, Chief Revenue Officer @GregCotton – Greg Cotton, Chief of Staff and General Counsel @DavidFicklin – David Ficklin, VP Development @ctwyche10 – Chris Wyche, Executive VP of Operations @247robo – Rob Thomson, Executive VP of Communications @AndyTretiak – Andy Tretiak, Chief Marketing Officer @Asim_PashaSKC – Asim Pasha, Sporting Innovations CIO & Chief Architect @ChetNorthSKC – Chet North, Head Athletic Trainer @SashaVictorine – Sasha Victorine, Sporting Innovations Director, Business Development @KitManSKC – Michael Flaherty, Head Equipment Manager @KAustin01 – Kurt Austin, Digital / Communications Manager @HappyKappy7 – Jonathan Kaplan, Digital / Communications Manager
Like us. In 2010, our Facebook page had 2,500 likes. Today, we have more than 80,000. On August 9, the day after the U.S. Open Cup Final, our Facebook page gained more than 1,000 likes in a mere 24 hours. Facebook is the most popular social media source online, and we treat it that way. As one of the most active MLS clubs on Facebook, we make sure that our users receive the most up-to-date and pertinent content. It could be a funny photo that we’d like you to see or an important breaking news story. Either way, we want you to know the club on and off the field. You’re an important part of what makes this team so great. If you have a suggestion, comment on our Facebook page. Like what you see? Give us a thumbs up, and we’ll give you more of what you want. Suggest us to your friends. We all know SKC Nation is the best in MLS, so why not be the biggest too? Check out our other Sporting KC affiliated Facebook pages: -‐ -‐
Soy Sporting: The official Spanish-language Facebook page for Sporting KC Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members: Receive information about renewals, perks, and upcoming events for Season Ticket Holders.
Subscribe. Sporting Kansas City's YouTube page Sporting Videoboard Want to catch the latest episode of Collin’s Corner? Miss a great halftime video at the game? Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch the latest videos. Sporting KC has all their bases covered- from silly videos with players to press conferences to game highlights. Last December, we announced the signing of our Designated Player, Claudio Bieler, by a live stream on our YouTube channel. We regularly post videos to give you a comprehensive, 360-degreee view of the team. We encourage interaction too. We recently posted a video of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup goofing around with our players and asked our fans to submit love letters to the Open Cup. The top 10 applicants were awarded with a date night with the Open Cup. There are tons of ways to utilize YouTube- and we are just tapping into it. Our YouTube presence is strong, and has gotten us recognition on many levels. C.J. Sapong’s ode to Hope Solo topped half a million views. Aurelien Collin’s love advice prompted the creation of t-shirts and a catchphrase. Jump on the bandwagon and subscribe! We promise the laughs and in-depth look at the team will improve daily.
Media Guide: Sporting Kansas City’s annual Media Guide dives headfirst into everything available on SportingKC.com. Acting as a web-based platform to provide a fact book on Sporting Kansas City, you’ll be able to find every statistic, every box score, every player who has ever worn a KC jersey. Find information in the search bar, share a single page or entire section with different links, print or save on desktop for offline access, our annual media guide will give you access to everything Sporting Kansas City. Sporting Kansas City Media Guide
Google+ Hang out in our circle. An easy way to share photos, interact with other fans, and learn more about the organization, Google+ is another way that you can connect with Sporting Kansas City. A unique feature of Google+ is the real-time video chat and hangout sessions. We were a part of Major League Soccer’s first Google+ hangout in 2012. After his No. 2 ranking on MLS’ list for 24 Under 24, Sporting Kansas City forward C.J. Sapong participated in the hangout, answering fan questions submitted earlier in the day. Fans were able to hangout with C.J. Sapong live and get to know the 2011 Rookie of the Year better. We followed that up with impromptu hangouts with Teal Bunbury and Aurelien Collin. Stay on the lookout for more opportunities to engage with your favorite players!
Follow us: In 140 characters or less, you can instantly connect to Sporting Kansas City and your favorite players. Retweet us, mention us, start a conversation. From Sporting Kansas City Academy information to tips on how to be style with Sporting KC gear, we have 10 affiliated Twitter accounts to always keep you in the know. Growing from 1,300 to 59,000+ followers in just 2 years and as the MLS club with the most followers per capita, we know how important Twitter is as a social media platform. Breaking news, funny photos, match updates, merchandise specials you’ll find an account for that. Not to mention, many of our contests are run solely through Twitter. By simply following, you could have the chance to win autographed merchandise, tickets, even a lunch with your favorite player. Want up-to-date information on Sporting Kansas City? Follow @SportingKC. What about notices on player appearances and Sporting KC in the community? Check out @SportingCares. If you want details on our Academy Teams, follow @SKCAcademy. Have a question about Sporting Kansas City? For our Hispanic users, follow our Twitter account @SoySporting.
More accounts: @SportingPark – The official account of Sporting Park @SKCGameday – For live updates throughout every Sporting Kansas City match @SportingClub – The official account of Sporting Club. Register to gain access & exclusive content @SportingStyle – Receive information on the latest merchandise available from Sporting Club @SportingInnov – The official account of Sporting Innovations @SportingKC_SCN – The official account of the Sporting Club Network
Pin It. Pinterest is the fastest growing social media channel to date. From Sporting kids to Sporting-themed food to Sporting Swag, our virtual pinboard allows you to see everything Sporting Kansas City in a single screen. You think you’re a Sporting Kansas City fanatic? Wait until you see a Sporting inspired barrette or Sporting signs with spunk, you’ll get inspired in just a click. Pin it, and welcome to the addictive world of Sporting Kansas City Pinterest.
Sporting Kansas City held a Pin In to Win It contest for our Pinterest users in June. Each contestant was asked to “Pin” an images of themselves, their kids, or their pets supporting the club on our Sporting Kansas City pinboard. The contest was a huge success. Our Pinterest following doubled in size, plus we received so many great photos of fans showing their Sporting Kansas City pride.
Check-in. https://foursquare.com/sportingkc Follow the club on Sporting Kansas City’s official Foursquare page. Check-in at matches, watch parties, and other official Sporting Kansas City events to unlock a special SKC badge and receive tips on ways to improve your experience at Sporting Park. Who knows – if you check-in at the right time you could receive a special offer from the club! Places: Sporting Park Sporting Club Training Center Sporting Kansas City Offices
Make a connection on LinkedIn. Whether you’re seeking a job in sports, or you’re a fan looking to make a contact at Sporting Kansas City, LinkedIn is the place for you. Connect with Sporting Kansas City, and you will see who is behind the scenes in the front office. Speak to someone on the phone? Make a personal contact by finding them on Sporting Kansas City’s LinkedIn page. Want to see if there are any job opportunities available at Sporting KC? Our LinkedIn page provides career opportunities and descriptions on new hires.
Innovative, one of a kind. That’s what Sporting Club is to MLS. And you have a chance to be a part of it. Visit www.sportingclubstore.com for all of your SportingStyle needs. Login with your Sporting Club account information and immediately have access to exclusive Sporting Club gear.
Another bonus to joining Sporting Club? Sporting Club Uphoria. Enhance your Sporting KC matchday experience with Sporting Club Uphoria, a free mobile application for iPhone and Android phone users. Connect to the wireless network in Sporting Park and you will be granted access to replays of key moments in a game only minutes after they occur. iPhone: http://bit.ly/SportingApple Android: http://bit.ly/SportingAndroid
One of the best ways to get to know Sporting Kansas City is through photos. With our Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and Google+ accounts, photos are an important part of how you can connect and relive moments from the club. From a Kei Kamara goal celebration to Graham Zusi in a nerd outfit, our photos don’t only cover gamedays. We post photos from training, fan tailgates, special player appearances- you name it. Through all of these accounts, every aspect of Sporting Kansas City is covered and ready for your viewing. Share our photos with your friends, and don’t forget to share your photos with us. Sporting Kansas City on Instagram: Solely on your smartphone device, you can follow Sporting KC through photos. Download the Instagram application, follow sportingkc & elsportingkc, and get live photo updates from training, road trips, Sporting Park. In real-time, you’ll be the first to know what’s happening at Sporting Kansas City.
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sportingkc Facebook: SportingKC Tumblr: http://sportingkansascity.tumblr.com Google+: https://plus.google.com/+SportingKansasCity
Launched this year and named by our fans, the official blog of Sporting Kansas City, Out of the Blue, is an informal way to learn news around the club. Our tabs By the Numbers, Out & About, Academy Way, #Social, and most recently, Anything But – provide different stories about the latest news in Sporting Kansas City. Want a cool statistic about our record-breaking team? Check out By the Numbers. Take a look at Academy Way if you want to see what’s going on with our Academy players. Out and About makes sure that you can read up on most recent player appearances and Sporting Kansas City in the community. #Social is specifically designed for fan participation and interaction on social media. In any given week, you can win tickets, a date with the player, even a date with the U.S. Open Cup trophy. For more information, see below. Anything But- it’s all in the name. Talking about anything but soccer, we’ll interview and give details about your favorite Sporting Kansas City players. Did you know Jimmy Nielsen is every mom’s crush? Or that he loves Taylor Swift? Sometimes you need to get away from the stats, and enjoy a little chit chat with Sporting Kansas City. Who knows maybe you can be the one asking the questions… Stay tuned.
Left: Photo from Win A Date with the U.S. Open Cup. Fan’s watched our video and submitted their best love letter to the trophy. Ten lucky winners won a day with the U.S. Open Cup trophy.
#Social Our newest addition to Out of the Blue, #Social is the place to find fan contests, fan interaction, cool things we see on Social Media, and more. Read up on all thing cool things happening in the Twitter-verse and ways to win big with Sporting Kansas City. Recently, we launched a new series #TGIF. Every Friday, we’ll give you a GIF of the week. Cause TGIF, right? Our first TGIF: Jimmy Nielsen’s tongue
Check back every week for your GIF(t) of the week. We’re feeling generous in 2013. More of what you’ll find on #Socialà One fan’s look back at 2012:
Sporting KC’s Media Recap The media recap is a compilation of independent Sporting Kansas City coverage available to our fans online. Our media recap should be used as an everyday tool, a place to go if you want up-to-date news stories on Sporting Kansas City.
Match Day Storify Our Storify account provides an overview of Sporting Kansas City coverage, specific to social media. By this ongoing sampling of fan tweets, you’ll be able to relive all Sporting Kansas City matches through the eyes of our fans on social media.
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It’s gameday. How will you connect to Sporting Kansas City? Whether Sporting Kansas City is home or away, you can connect with Sporting KC and receive all the information and facts you need pre and postgame. Check out these tools to make sure that your gameday experience is a great one:
Before the match… First, check Sporting KC’s MatchDay Central, available at www.sportingkc.com/matchday: - Find details on Sporting Park parking, pregame giveaways, match sponsors, and postgame events. Get up-to-speed on Sporting KC’s opponent and impress your friends with fast facts before the match, go to our Issuu page at www.issuu.com/sportingkc: -
Game Notes: All details on past matches between the opponent & Sporting KC, player statistics, match preview, MLS standings, and more.
Listen to the daily Sporting Kansas City podcast, Snippets of Sporting, will all of the information that will keep you in the know: -
Download the podcast: http://www.sportingkc.com/podcast
During the match… Follow on Twitter throughout the day leading up to & during the match: @SportingKC: for updates throughout the game day, photos, and more. @SKCGameday: for play-by-play coverage @SportingPark: For important messages including heat advisory, parking, or details specific to Sporting Park.
Follow on Storify: http://storify.com/sportingkc
After the match… Check our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sportingkc for photos and highlights. www.sportingkc.com: For recap, facts, and quotes from players and coaches.