SKC Nation,

The wait is just about over.

Wednesday night is our biggest match of the season thus far. This is when we have another opportunity to paint the wall. This is when you will remind the country where the best fans in Major League Soccer reside.

As our supporters, you are the lifeblood of this club. You are the energy and the passion that help us find an extra gear when we need it most. On championship nights like these, your screaming and chanting and unwavering belief makes all the difference.

We saw this in the 2012 Open Cup Final, and again in the 2013 MLS Cup, two of the most unforgettable nights of my life.

We also saw this in 2015 when we fought for the Open Cup title away from home. Whether you were watching from your living room, with your friends at a bar, or were fortunate enough to be in Philadelphia on that special night, we felt you.

Wednesday will be no different. We will need you again. You might be at the stadium, at No Other Pub, watching from home or following our social media on the opposite side of the planet, but we will need you locked in for at least 90 minutes — and maybe more. The New York Red Bulls are a great team, and nothing about the match will be easy.

But we’re used to that, aren’t we?

Like each of you, I was a spectator when the team battled down a man for more than 80 minutes against FC Dallas in the quarterfinals — just a few days after our co-owner Neal Patterson passed away. I still get chills thinking about that game — the way the team rallied against the odds and performed so tirelessly, so bravely. But it was only possible because you, the fans, propelled our guys across the finish line.

Somehow, the semifinals against San Jose were just as magical. Together we grinded through adverse periods, survived a few scares and created more than a few chances ourselves. Then came penalty kicks. And we all know what happens in penalty kicks at Children's Mercy Park.

It should be considered an honor to host a Final. Some fan bases never get the chance. But you deserve this honor. You've played such an important role in getting us here. Your pride, loyalty and support make us lucky to be a part of this club. As a proud Kansas Citian, I am humbled to represent my hometown every time I step on the pitch.

Tomorrow night we hope to see you decked in Sporting blue at the Open Cup pep rally in the Power & Light District.

And come Wednesday, let’s do this together, just like we’ve done in the past. Wear your Sporting swag to school or work. Follow your superstitions if you’re superstitious. Rest up throughout the day; it might be a late evening. And by 8 p.m., be ready to chant and cheer and cry and push us to even greater heights.

Together, let's paint the wall.



For the glory of the city,

Matt Besler