The euphoria surrounding Sporting Kansas City grew into epic proportions by the end of last season.

The team rebranded itself, opened one of the most spectacular soccer-specific stadiums in the country, and finished one game away from the club’s first Major League Soccer Cup appearance since 2004. It truly was a soccer revolution in the Kansas City area turning a once niche sport into a hot topic.

Now the 2012 campaign begins for Sporting as it finishes up preseason matchups and training in Arizona before opening the season at D.C. United on March 10.

Sporting returns much of the same nucleus it had last year including forwards Teal Bunbury and reigning MLS rookie of the year, C.J. Sapong. Both players will be looked to step up this season with the departure of Omar Bravo. Although Bravo was a massive factor on the offensive end, I expect Bunbury and Sapong to be comfortable in their roles as premier strikers for the club.

Another returning goal scorer for Sporting will be Kei Kamara, who has been one of the most stable forwards for the team throughout his tenure. In the midfield, there’s more experience with Graham Zusi and Roger Espinoza. These players have not only contributed for Sporting, but also their national squads. Zusi saw some time with the United States National Team in January and Espinoza made several appearances for his native Honduras throughout the year.

The most intriguing offseason acquisition for the midfield was bringing in Olathe native Michael Thomas after he had spent several seasons playing soccer in Sweden.

The defense will not change much for Sporting either. Michael Harrington, Chance Myers, and Matt Besler all return to a backline that played well and aggressively throughout the 2011 campaign. The wildcard for the backline will be 33-year-old Brazilian Julio Cesar who’s definitely on the back end of his career, but can still make an impact.

Finally, in goal, will once again be the blonde topped Dane Jimmy Nielsen who signed a contract extension through the 2013 season in November. Although Nielsen can be inconsistent, when a big save is needed, he usually comes through.

Having so little roster turnover from a top-notched MLS squad is somewhat of surprise. Usually, European clubs will poach a team’s best talent, and management scrambles to find pieces to put together again. Since this wasn’t the case for Sporting, it has to take advantage this season.

The team no longer has to play in Arrowhead Stadium where the crowd looked like a little pepper specks in a tomato soup bowl. Or play at Community America Ballpark where the outline of the field pushed up against the pitchers mound and outfield walls.

Sporting Kansas City now has a venue that even some of the top clubs and national teams are jealous of in Livestrong Sporting Park.

But the thing I admire most about Sporting KC is how this organization is run. It is locally owned and CEO Robb Heineman is heavily involved with the Kansas City community, and what they care about most is the product on the field and not the profit numbers for this quarter.

Look for the momentum and interest Sporting created last season to continue and contribute to another great season at Livestrong Sporting Park.

— Edited by Max Lush