Sporting KC co-Owner NEAL PATTERSON passed away yesterday morning of "unexpected complications from a soft-tissue cancer" at the age of 67, according to Sam McDowell of the K.C. STAR. Patterson, a co-Founder of K.C.-based health tech firm Cerner, was a regular attendee at Sporting KC matches "until he was diagnosed with cancer last year." The MLS club "plans to honor Patterson" during its match tomorrow against FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup, "as well as the remainder of the season." The "details of those commemorations will be announced" today or tomorrow. Patterson and CLIFF ILLIG headlined the ownership group that bought the then-Wizards from LAMAR HUNT in '06, and the team "soared after the ownership makeover, most notably after it rebranded" to Sporting KC in late '10. Sporting KC coach PETER VERMES said, "We not only lost a great man, we lost the spearhead of our organization .When you look at the things that are left behind in this organization -- purchasing the team and saving it for Kansas City, the rebrand, the facilities that have been built, the stadium, the success the team has had on the field -- he was extremely invested in all aspects of this organization" (KANSASCITY.com, 7/9).
