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Sporting KC grounds crew clears field of snow

Posted at 5:58 PM, Nov 28, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-28 23:29:41-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Days after a blizzard hit the metro, the Sporting KC grounds crew continued to work hard on Wednesday to clear the pitch at Children’s Mercy Park in anticipation for the team’s Western Conference Final game.

A winter storm on Sunday dumped several inches of snow across the region and left icy conditions all over roads and sidewalks.

At Children’s Mercy Park, crews got to work the day after the blizzard to prepare the field for Thursday night’s playoff game.

“We had some guys stay the night Sunday night at the hotel across the street to get a head start,” said Sporting KC groundskeeper Casey Montgomery. “We started out here late Monday morning and have been at it ever since.”

What followed were long days and many hours of snow and ice removal.

For a pitch that covers two total acres, Montgomery estimated that the snow removed from the field could fill a cube 37 feet high.

The process of clearing the field involved shovels, special vehicles, and all sorts of other equipment.

Up in the stands, crews also worked to clear stadium stairs and seating rows of all ice.

“Bucket by bucket, we took the snow out and dumped it out there on the street,” Montgomery said. “Pushing the snow is the easy part. It’s everything that comes with pushing the snow that is the challenge.”

In total, Montgomery said a team of around 50 crew members helped prepare the Children’s Mercy Park pitch for Thursday’s playoff game.

With Sporting KC now just one game away from playing in the MLS Cup, Montgomery hoped his crew’s efforts would help lead the club to a title.

“If this happened every day, I’d hate it. It’s kind of fun right now though,” he said. “Everybody is going to be proud that they had a little piece in this and hopefully we come away with a result tomorrow.” 

Sporting KC will play the Portland Timbers the MLS Western Conference Final on Thursday night at Children’s Mercy Park.

The game kicks off at 8:30 p.m.