Tour of Livestrong Sporting Park

The Livestrong Sporting Park at The Legends in Kansas City, KS is only 5 weeks from completion, but when they open their doors for the first Sporting KC Soccer Club match in July, the facility will create new ground internationally for fan appreciation and accommodation. 

When touring the Livestrong Sporting Park, it is immediately apparent this place has been built from the ground up for the fan experience. It will be the first stadium of its kind to have wifi available anywhere in the facility, even on the field, should a player feel the need to log in to his email during a match. 

In addition to being the first stadium of its kind to feature complete wifi throughout, they have put in enough bandwidth so that a majority of the fans can be streaming video simultaneously, providing a starting point for future direct to mobile video feeds aimed at enhancing the fan experience. With Google Fiber outfitting the entire area in the coming years with next generation internet connectivity, the ability to connect in this stadium will only get better.

The grandstands are divided into half a dozen unique fan experiences, depending on your level of interest, and involvement. The “Cauldron Club” is Sporting KC’s most dedicated fans, with their own field level box seats, and attached bar and restaurant will be Kansas City’s first dedicated soccer bar, providing a place that soccer fans can be guaranteed that if there is a big international match going on, it will be the place to see it.) 

Additionally the “All-Access Club” is a bar and restaurant situated between the press room and the players bench. This exclusive restaurant will allow select fans to see the pre-game procession, as well as the post-game press conference, with a fan viewing area adjacent to the press room. Fans in the all-access club will also have seats directly between the home and away team benches, putting them in the middle of the action at game time.

There are two levels of suites, each focused on separate demographics. The first level, the CEO level, is focused on business leaders, giving the ultimate luxury suite experience, with their own dedicated food service, restrooms, and wait staff. The second suite level is focused on business professionals who strive for networking opportunities. Each suite is separated, but they all share a communal food and bar area, allowing people to connect with each other like never before. All suites will have an Apple iPad, that allows  suite holders the ability to control lighting, tv viewing angles, as well as ordering food and drinks.

The iPad isn’t just utilized for the fans. The team locker room is an epicenter of technology, with each player getting their own “command-center” chair. From this chair, utilizing built in Ethernet and power, players can review plays, game footage, and specific coaches’ tactics can be broadcast from a large interactive screen that makes up the focal point of the locker room. Sporting KC hopes that world class facilities can help woo some top ranked players to the team.

The entire facility was designed with a multipurpose use. One section of seats can be removed to reveal a fully functional stage for hosting concerts. The management team encourages Kansas City to stay tuned for the announcement of some soon to be revealed big name acts. The park will also be home to weddings, parties, and charity events. Maybe the best part about the park is that it only seats 6000 fans, making it one of the most intimate pro-soccer venues in the world.

Additionally, this park has been designed from the ground up to be environmentally friendly. With 6000 seated outside, the use of a roof over the fan sections was necessary. However, the developers wanted to make sure that the roof itself wouldn’t block out so much sun that they could not make the field out of natural grass. Whereas other stadiums used huge racks of plant lights that consume enormous amounts of energy, the Livestrong Park roof was designed to be partially translucent in certain areas, allowing light to flow through and keep the grass alive naturally.

21^st century technology aside, perhaps the most progressive part of the park is the name itself. A premier soccer venue can command millions of dollars from a sponsor for naming rights. Instead, Sporting KC contacted the Lance Armstrong Foundation and offered to donate the name of the park to raise cancer awareness. The Foundation, having raised over 60 million dollars in its partnership with Nike selling those little rubber bands, was grateful and amazed by this.

We appreciate Livestrong Sporting Park allowing us to tour the grounds and we can’t wait to see this first class sports venue when it opens, offering a fan experience like never before in Kansas City.

Additional photos can be viewed on our Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.215982371760579.70630.160473577311459

Fuel Saving Tips

The news is everywhere: gas prices are on the rise and don’t show any signs of slowing. What are some things that the average person can do to improve their MPGs? Here is a handy guide to some options for the average consumer:

1.       Speed Limit: Follow it, that 5-7 mph rule that some people add to the posted speed limit may be costing you some serious change. Plus, it may save you from a costly ticket.

2.       Just Relax: Aggressive acceleration forces your engine to work harder, burning more fuel. Keeping a gradual acceleration can improve your consumption, and may help you relax as well.

3.       Check your tires! Tires with less air in them increase the amount of rolling resistance (the amount of effort it takes to move). So by maintaining the correct PSI in each tire, your car doesn’t need to work as hard!

4.       Coast. Although people always love the joy of accelerating downhill, letting off the gas on downward slopes will let gravity power your vehicle, and not gas.

5.       Cruise Control: By leveling out any unnoticed acceleration or over throttling, turning on cruise control can help you take the inconsistency out of your driving style. (We recommend against using cruise control in town.)

6.       Nitrogen. Because the normal air your tires are filled with is the same air you breathe, it contains oxygen, nitrogen, and a variety of other gases. While these may support life, they are not as good at supporting consistent tire pressure. By switching to pure nitrogen, less gases can escape through the natural pores in your tire rubber, causing them to stay at optimum PSI for 4-5 times longer, giving you greater fuel economy as well as saving time constantly checking your tire pressure. (We sell nitrogen conversions for $69.99 per car.

7.       Maintenance. The longer you go without changing your oil and air filter, the less and less efficient your vehicle becomes, increasing how much fuel you will use and decreasing the amount of power your car will make. After all, who wants a car with no power and poor fuel economy?  Adhering to your manufacturer prescribed maintenance schedule will be sure to save you at the pump.

We hope these tips help you in surviving the summer fuel prices. If you try all these tips and are still having difficulty budgeting for fuel, we would be happy to show you our full range of economical new and pre-owned alternatives, including hybrid, diesel, flex-fuel, and high efficiency vehicles.

For more information, you can email Kris.Nielsen@AristocratMotors.com. Visit us on the web at www.AristocratMotors.com ! Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AristocratMotors or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aristocratkc 

Vehicle Review: smart fortwo coupe

As the national average for a gallon of gas approaches $4.00, with some markets already seeing it hit the $5.00 mark, the American consumer is trying to figure out ways to minimize the impact on their budgets. Some companies are looking at a 4-day work week in an effort to lower commuting costs. Others are driving less aggressively, which makes a commute safer and more efficient for everyone.

We submit the following idea: the smart fortwo, a vehicle that combines efficiency, practicality, and safety, without sacrificing the sporty nature that our customers demand.

Let’s start off with performance. The smart fortwo utilizes a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder engine. This gasoline fueled vehicle develops 70 horsepower, which powers the coupe to 60 mph in just 12.8 seconds, a very competitive number for the subcompact fuel-sipping class. Additionally the vehicle has a top speed of 90 mph, which means you can reach the speed limit in every state, including Texas, where 85mph is the nation’s fastest.

Safety is built in and exceptional. Utilizing a Trition Safety Cell, the smart fortwo is designed in a way that all of the forces in an accident are diverted around the occupants. With safety technology designed by Mercedes-Benz, a leader in the field, all smart coupes come standard with advanced air bags, ABS brakes, and electronic stability control, giving this car an impressive 4/5 stars in NHTSA impact testing.

Creature comforts and driving dynamics really hit home for this vehicle. From the outside, the fortwo looks small, giving the impression that the vehicle will have a cramped interior. Upon entering the coupe, one is amazed at the amount of headroom and legroom presented in the car. Being 6’0” tall, I was astounded at the feeling of being dwarfed by the cabin. The dimension of the seats and layout of the interior gives both passengers an abundance of space.  The car is also quite the sporty little coupe. With its dimensions, the vehicle can navigate the tightest of turns, giving the driver quite the go-anywhere, park-anywhere, do-anything attitude. 

Saving the best for last, the smart fortwo coupe gets an astounding 41mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg in the city, with a EPA estimated 36 mpg estimate overall. Driving style can yield significantly better or worse results, yet many of our customers have reported fuel economy in the 45-50 range on long trips.

After having been amazed by the EPA mileage estimates, I was even more surprised by the fact that the smart fortwo pure coupe starts at an unbelievable $12,490.00.  That’s half as much as some of the other vehicles in its class.

In conclusion, the smart fortwo provides one of the most relevant solutions available to combat high fuel prices, with efficiency, safety, and versatility all rolled into one affordable package. The smart fortwo can be viewed at smart center Merriam, or smart center Kansas City. Please contact Melinda Melton at 913.677.3300 for more information.

Shanghai Auto Show Debut: The A-Class Concept

Last Night at the Shanghi International auto show top management from Mercedes-Benz were joined by international celebrities to showcase the world premier of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class concept vehicle and the all new 2012 SLK roadster.

The 2012 SLK Roadster was piloted on stage by Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg. Rosberg, who had just competed in the Gran Prix of China, had been driving the car on a daily basis on the roads around his home in Monaco, laid claim the SLK is the new premier roadster in its class. 

The biggest splash though was left for the new A-Class concept vehicle.  Dr. Dieter Zietsche, Daimler-Benz Chairman of the Board, profiled the new A-Class as being the lead vehicle in a series of vehicles to reach a new, younger and larger segment of buyers.  This new outreach will be done with the same quality, innovation and refined sportiness the world has come to expect from the worlds oldest automotive manufacturer.

To underscore the history and this new youthful commitment demonstrated in the A-Class the rollout was highlighted by an opening act that featured a remix of the Janis Joplin original, “Mercedes-Benz” performed by pop artist Estelle and Hip-hop artist David Banner.  

www.AristocratMotors.com

125th Anniversary Mercedes-Benz Dealer Meeting, Live from Stuttgart!

Mercedes-Benz Turns 125 Years Old

We are here in Stuttgart attending the 125^th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz, the oldest car manufacturer in the world today. Seeing as 125 is a big number, Mercedes-Benz has matched it with an International Dealer-only meeting that fits the occasion.   

As part of the meetings first session, Mercedes-Benz introduced their plans through the next 5 years, which seems in “Mercedes-Benz time” like a very short period of time.  Unfortunately,  all cameras and phones were prohibited and yes, we were checked by guards at the door.  So this will be a written update on what are some exciting and ground breaking products from the world’s leading automobile manufacturer.

First up is the upcoming 2012 SLK, which we should see in June 2011. Let me tell you, on YouTube that panorama glass roof might be cool, but in person it is absolute breathtaking on a design that gives the SLK a closer alignment with the incredible SL Class.

Next up is the 2012 CLS, which will debut at the same time as the SLK. Expect some firsthand accounts of this car, since Mercedes-Benz  is providing us a fleet of them to “drive/flog/race” around The Hockenheim (race track) here shortly.

The C-Class Coupe, the two-door the world has waited for since the CLK bowed out, will be here sometime in September.  This is Mercedes-Benz’s answer to the 3-Series coupe and in our “unbiased” opinion,  this car is a knock out.

Acting as the next to last act in this cavalcade of new products, the 2012 ML utility vehicle will be here in September as well!  Equipped with a completely new styling, and enhanced interior space, options and value, the new ML will again allow Mercedes-Benz to set the standard in the Sport Utility market. 

The final act for 2011 introductions of 2012 models will be the incredible, beautiful and awe-inspiring SLS AMG Roadster.  There is nothing traditional about this roadster, except the call it makes to the memory of the classic SL300 Roadster of the mid 1950’s.  The SLS’s roadster styling definitely sits well with us, giving a complete different view from the gull-wing model.

The summer of 2012 will see the new 2013 SL, with a new AMG version with 612+ horsepower, as well as a refresh to the GL, giving it a family resemblance the upcoming ML styling.

Fall 2012 will bring a facelift to the GLK, with the E-Class to see a facelift in early 2013, complete with two new engines including a diesel motor.

2013 provides us even bigger news.  Yes the flagship of the line, the S-Class will be redesigned to look more Maybach-like, but the biggest news, the game changing news is two just announced new models:  the GLC, which will be a sub-GLK sized SUV, as well as the CLC, a smaller version of the CLS 4-door coupe. These two products will be stunning additions to our vehicle lineup and both the GLC and CLC will be offered in front wheel drive or 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

Finally, the A and B Class compact vehicles should be here in 2015.

Look forward to more updates from us as the meeting progresses!

Social Media Training for Employees

Aristocrat Motors is committed to providing the highest level of experience to our customers, whether it be through their vehicle purchase, service experience, or the content we provide via our email newsletters and social media. That being said, we are also committed to taking care of our employees by making sure that they are on the curve as we expand into new avenues of the luxury buying experience.

Since we began our Facebook page just over 2 months ago, we recognized a need for employee training on the social media side. This week we rolled out that program, offering on-site, complimentary Facebook 101 classes that covered the basics of setting up an account, interacting with friends, and becoming part of the conversation. In addition to highlighting some of the unique things you can do on this platform, we emphasized responsible use of the site, with a focus on privacy and how to protect yourself on the web.

Finally, we keyed them into what Aristocrat Motors is up to on Facebook, providing relevant content to our fans, without constantly barking specials at them.