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Sporting Kansas City

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Sporting Kansas City
File:Sportingkansascity.png
Full nameSporting Kansas City [1]
Nickname(s)Sporting, Sporting KC, Wizards, The Wiz, KC
Swope Park Rangers (reserves)
Founded1995 (as Kansas City Wiz)
GroundSporting Park
Kansas City, Kansas
Capacity18,500
OwnerUnited States OnGoal, LLC.
Head CoachUnited States Peter Vermes
LeagueMajor League Soccer
2010Eastern Conference: 3rd
Overall: 9th
Playoffs: DNQ
Current season

Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception.

For the majority of its first 15 years of existence the team was known as the Kansas City Wizards. The team formally rebranded itself as Sporting Kansas City in November 2010 to coincide with its move to a new stadium for the 2011 season.[2] The team won the MLS Cup in 2000, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004, and the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2000.

History

The early years: 1996-1999

On April 13, 1996 at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Wiz played the first game in team history by defeating the Colorado Rapids, 3-0. The Wiz players included midfielder Preki, Digital Takawira and were coached by Ron Newman. The first season in Wiz history would be successful, finishing 17-15 and earning a spot in the first MLS Playoffs. In the playoffs, the Wiz would continue to play well, defeating the Dallas Burn in three games, winning the final game in a shootout. In the next round, the Wiz would be defeated by the Los Angeles Galaxy. Following the season, the Wiz changed their name to the "Wizards."

Building on their success from the 1996 season, the Wizards became the success story of 1997, going 21-11 and winning the Western Conference regular season championship. In addition, Preki was named MLS MVP of the year. But in the first round of the playoffs, the Wizards lost to the last seeded Colorado Rapids. After their surprising playoff loss in 1997, the Wizards 1998 season was disapointing going 12-20 and finishing the season in last place in the Western Conference. The Wizards continued their downfall in 1999, firing Ron Newman in the summer and replacing him with Bob Gansler. The Wizards would finish the season with a disastrous record of 8-24, which put them in last place in the Western Conference again.

Championship: 2000

In 2000, their first full season under Bob Gansler, the Wizards return to their form from their first two seasons, playing well and having a solid defense. Goalkeeper Tony Meola would record the longest shutout streak in MLS history at 681 minutes. By the end of the season, the Wizards held a record of 16-7-9, the best in the league. In the playoffs, the Wizards defeated the Colorado Rapids, 7 points to 1 in three games. In the conference final, the Wizards would fall behind 4 points to 1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy and their season seemed to be coming to an end. Miklos Molnar, scored a penalty kick early in game three to send the series into a tiebreaker, where he scored again to send the Wizards to their first MLS Cup. At RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., the Wizards, with the league's best defense, tried to prove that defense wins championships by beating the team with the league's best offense, the Chicago Fire. The Wizards would lead early on an 11th minute goal by Miklos Molnar. The Chicago Fire would put together an onslaught of scoring opportunities, putting 10 shots on goal, including 3 in the final 10 minutes. But Tony Meola stopped every one of them and the defense barely held on to the lead as time ran out on the Chicago Fire. A year after not even making double-digits in wins, the Wizards amazingly turned it around and claimed their first MLS Cup Championship.

Post-Championship struggles: 2001-2002

After the loss of Preki to the Miami Fusion, the team struggled to defend their championship in 2001, making the playoffs as the 8th seed with a record of 11-13-3. In the first round, the Wizards' reign as champion ended with a 6 points to 3 loss to Preki and the Miami Fusion. Despite getting back Preki, the Wizards sat in last place in the Western Conference in 2002. They made the playoffs with a record of 9-10-9. The last two teams in the East, the MetroStars and D.C. United missed the playoffs, which propelled the Wizards into the playoffs. In the first round, the team would fall, 6 points to 3 to eventual champions, Los Angeles Galaxy.

More success: 2003-2004

Jimmy Conrad was an integral part of Kansas City's team from 2003 to 2010

The Wizards would return to the top half of the West in 2003 with a record of 11-10-9. In the first round, the Wizards would defeat the Colorado Rapids in the aggregate goal series, 3-1. That set up a one-game showdown with the San Jose Earthquakes the winner would advance to the 2003 MLS Cup. The Wizards would twice take the lead, but twice, the Earthquakes battled back and forced golden goal in overtime by Landon Donovan in the 117th minute, which sent his team to the 2003 MLS Cup and the Wizards home.

Looking to build on their momentum from the previous year, the Wizards would start out 2004 mediocre before turning around in the summer and contending for the conference championship. The Wizards lost only 2 games in September and finished the season on a 6 game unbeaten streak to finish 14-9-9, for the Western Conference regular season championship. The season was not without controversy, though, as goalkeeper Tony Meola, an American soccer goalkeeping legend that had been on the USA national team roster for three World Cups, went down with injury and backup Bo Oshoniyi would fill as a replacement. Once the playoffs started, Meola had healed, but Oshoniyi was still in goal. In the first round of the playoffs, the Wizards would lose the first game to defending champions San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0, putting in a seemingly impossible situation to score 3 goals and concede none in game 2 of aggregate goal series. However, amazingly, the Wizards did just that by scoring 2 goals in the first half, while little known Jack Jewsbury scored the deciding goal in second half stoppage time to move KC onto the conference final for the second year in a row. In that game, the Wizards would easily hold off the Los Angeles Galaxy on two Davy Arnaud goals to send the Wizards to their second MLS Cup. The Wizards provided the stadium area championship feeling as they went up against D.C. United at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California as Bo Oshoniyi got the starting in goal. The Wizards would get off to a great start as Jose Burciaga caught United unprepared as he scored a long range goal in the 6th minute. However, DC United's Alecko Eskandarian scored 2 goals for his squad in the 19th and 23rd minutes respectively. Things would go from bad to worse in the 26th minute for the Wizards as Alex Zotinca committed an own goal. KC was given a lifeline in the 58th minute as DC's Dema Kovalenko was expelled from the match for a handball in the penalty area and Josh Wolff scored the first penalty kick conversion in MLS Cup history. The Wizards hoped that that would propel them to more goals as they put 10 shots on goal. However it would not be enough as their season ended with a disappointing 3-2 loss at the hands of DC United.

Move to the East: 2005-2010

With expansion, the Wizards would make the move to the Eastern Conference in 2005. The team won just two of its first seven games. After going through a summer filled with mostly ties and losses, a four game winning streak at the end of August helped get them back in the playoff race. In the end, it wasn't enough as the Wizards didn't win another game to find themselves on the outside of the playoffs looking in with a record of 11-9-12. After the season, the team's veteran leader, Preki announced his retirement. Following a 2006 season in which they missed the playoffs, changes were in the air for the Wizards off the field. Lamar Hunt sold the club to OnGoal, LLC a local group committed to keeping the Wizards in Kansas City and promising to build a new soccer specific stadium. Despite the good news off the field, and winning four out of five games to start the season, the Wizards just missed out on a playoff berth with a loss to the New York Red Bulls on the final day, finishing with a 10-14-8 record.

The club dedicated the 2007 season to the late Lamar Hunt. A good start earned them four wins in the first seven weeks of the season. The club also picked up goalkeeper Kevin Hartman from Los Angeles Galaxy as a move to help the club with that position. But after a good start to the season, the Wizards tapered off near the end of the season, winning just four games after the All-Star break and finished fifth in the East at 11-12-7. The club shifted over to the West as a result of a playoff format change, the Wizards played against Chivas USA. With the Wizards Davy Arnaud's goal in the first game to win the series as the defense and Kevin Hartman did the rest and kept Chivas USA off the scoreboard. In the conference final the Wizards would come up short to the Houston Dynamo, 2-0.

The Wizards played their home games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas in 2008, and ended a four year playoff drought by posting an 11-10-9 record, which was good enough for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Facing the Columbus Crew who captured the MLS Supporter's Shield for the best record in the MLS, the Wizards had a strong showing, earning a 1-1 tie in Game 1 of the first round series. However, with a 2-0 loss in Game 2 the Wizards lost the aggregate series 3-1. In the 2009 season Wizards had no offense. They went 427 minutes without scoring a goal (the longest streak of offensive impotence of the season). The most telling stat of all though for the Wizards is their record at home, it was the worst in the league. Plus, they were 0-13–3 when giving up the first goal. By the end of season, they were third to last in the league standings. Top players were Claudio Lopez (8 goals & 7 assists) and Josh Wolff (11 goals) who sparked the Wizards offense.

Rebranding: 2011-present

With the rebranding, the team follows a recent tradition in MLS of adopting 'European'-style names. Other teams with such names include Toronto FC, D.C. United and Real Salt Lake. The "Sporting" implies that the soccer club will be part of a larger sports umbrella. At the rebrand announcement, the team's president announced plans to add a rugby club and lacrosse club.[citation needed] The Kansas City Wizards had a record of (11-13-6) at the end of the season, head coach Peter Vermes failed to do what former coach Curt Onalfo did when he was head coach in Kansas City which is to make the playoffs.

Colors and badge

Sporting Kansas City's official colors are dark indigo and "Sporting" blue. The primary logo is composed of a teardrop-shaped shield featuring the Kansas-Missouri stateline and an interlocking "SC." The shield's contour alludes to the team's former logo while under the "Kansas City Wizards" appellation. The stateline respresents Sporting's fanbase in both of the Kansas and Missouri metropolitan areas called "Kansas City." The eleven individual lines comprising the stateline are a nod to the number of players a team places on the field during a soccer match. The "SC" (for Sport Club) is inspired by Asclepius' rod representing health and fitness, a Greek statue called the Winged Victory of Samothrace - alluding to strength and movement, and to the Spanish architecture of Kansas City's Country Club Plaza.[3]

Stadiums

Arrowhead Stadium, the Wizards' home for over a decade.

Stadiums used for the U.S. Open Cup or NOrth American SuperLiga


From 1996 to 2007, the Wizards played home games in Arrowhead Stadium, the American football stadium mainly used by the Kansas City Chiefs. Wizards management kept the west end of Arrowhead tarped off for the first 10 years of play, limiting seating near the field. In 2006, fans could sit all the way around the field, but in 2007 seating was only available along the sidelines. After the 2007 final season at Arrowhead, the Wizards continued to use the stadium for select large events. In 2008, the club played a regular season home game against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the stadium to accommodate the large crowd expected for David Beckham's Galaxy debut. Again in 2010, the Wizards played a friendly here against English club Manchester United, winning 2-1.

The Wizards entered an agreement with the Kansas City T-Bones to use their home stadium, CommunityAmerica Ballpark, during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The deal was later extended to include 2010. The stadium, located across the state line in Kansas City, Kansas, built a new bleacher section financed by the Wizards to increase its capacity to 10,385. This move made the Wizards the third MLS team to share their home ground with a baseball team. D.C. United had been sharing RFK Stadium with Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals in Washington, D.C., before the latter's move into Nationals Park. The San Jose Earthquakes used Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, home of the Oakland A's (and Oakland Raiders), for certain games during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

The Wizards originally planned to return to Kansas City, Missouri, and build a new stadium there – tentatively called Trails Stadium – as part of a major mixed-use development. The team had received all required approvals and was awaiting site demolition; however, the 2008–09 financial crisis ultimately led to the scrapping of the Trails Stadium project. The developer then sought a new site, quickly settling on a similar development in Kansas City, Kansas, known as Village West, near CommunityAmerica Ballpark and Kansas Speedway.

In September 2009, the developer asked Wyandotte County and Kansas state officials for permission to use revenues from existing tax increment financing in the Village West area to help finance the soccer complex.[4] On December 17, Wizards president Robb Heineman provided an update on the stadium situation published on team official website and blog,[5][6] basically identifying the Kansas City, Kansas, location as final, pending the signature of the final agreements. On December 21, construction machinery was already on the Legends site waiting to break ground.[7][8] On January 19, 2010, Wyandotte County approved the bonds to help finance the stadium,[9] and on January 20 the groundbreaking ceremony was made, with Wizards CEO Robb Heineman using heavy machinery to move dirt on the construction site.[10]

Club culture

Supporters

The main supporters group of Sporting Kansas City stand in a section known as "The Cauldron".[citation needed] The name is derived from the large metal pots used in witchcraft, due to the teams former name Wizards. Over the past few years, Sporting have seen dramatic growth in their fan section, with several fan groups adding their voice to The Cauldron culture and atmosphere.[citation needed]

The largest supporters group is known as "Hillcrest Syndicate".[citation needed] The group derives its name from Hillcrest Road which is the road on which the Trails Stadium would have been built if the project had not fallen through and then shifted to Kansas. Other groups - such as Southern Voodoo, the Yardbirds, and the BSE - are also currently a part of The Cauldron. After a strong presence in 2007 and 2008, the Sudakas have largely faded from the section, although several of their chants remain a part of the regular repertoire.[citation needed]

Official anthem

In 2007, Kansas City based rock band Blackpool Lights song “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Stop Us Now” was chosen as the official team anthem. Received by fans in a lukewarm response, the song has not drawn much identity to the club, although it continues to be played at the stadium before matches.

Broadcasting

Wizards matches are broadcast on KSMO-TV (except for nationally broadcast matches), with Dave Borchardt on play-by-play and former Wizard Sasha Victorine providing color commentary.

Local Radio coverage is broadcasted live in English using the television feed on KCZZ 1480AM. Spanish broadcasting can be found on KDTD 1340AM.

Players and staff

Current roster

As of January 18, 2011.[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Denmark DEN Jimmy Nielsen
2 DF United States USA Michael Harrington
3 DF England ENG Korede Aiyegbusi
4 MF Grenada GRN Craig Rocastle
5 DF United States USA Matt Besler
6 DF Jamaica JAM Shavar Thomas
7 MF United States USA Chance Myers
8 MF United States USA Graham Zusi
9 FW United States USA Teal Bunbury
11 MF England ENG Ryan Smith
12 MF Poland POL Konrad Warzycha
14 DF United States USA Kevin Ellis
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF Honduras HON Roger Espinoza
16 DF United States USA Mike Jones
17 FW United States USA C. J. Sapong
18 GK United States USA Eric Kronberg
20 FW Senegal SEN Birahim Diop
21 GK United States USA Jon Kempin
22 MF United States USA Davy Arnaud (captain)
23 FW Sierra Leone SLE Kei Kamara
24 DF United States USA Scott Lorenz
27 MF Guadeloupe GLP Stéphane Auvray
32 MF United States USA Luke Sassano
99 FW Mexico MEX Omar Bravo

In camp

As of February 12, 2011.[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW United States USA Travis Bowen
— DF Brazil BRA Júlio César
— MF The Gambia GAM Omar Colley
— DF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Daneil Cyrus
— FW Algeria ALG Adda Djeziri
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW United States USA Jesus Flores
— DF United States USA Ronnie Ibara
— MF Slovakia SVK Michal Mravec
— MF Montenegro MNE Miloš Stojčev

Notable former players

This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.

Head coaches

General managers

Presidents

  • Robb Heineman (2006—present) [1]

Achievements

Record

Year-by-year

Year MLS Reg. Season MLS Cup Playoffs Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF
Champions' Cup/Champions League 		SuperLiga
1996 3rd, West Semi-Finals Quarter-Finals Did not qualify Started in 2007
1997 1st, West Quarter-Finals Round of 16 Did not qualify
1998 6th, West Did not qualify Round of 16 Did not qualify
1999 6th, West Did not qualify Did not qualify Did not qualify
2000 1st, West* Champions Round of 32 Did not qualify
2001 3rd, West Quarter-Finals Round of 16 Not held
2002 5th, West Quarter-Finals Semi-Finals Semi-Finals
2003 2nd, West Semi-Finals Round of 16 Did not qualify
2004 1st, West Runners-up Champions Did not qualify
2005 5th, East Did not qualify Quarter-Finals Quarter-Finals
2006 5th, East Did not qualify Round of 16 Did not qualify
2007 5th, East Semi-Finals** Did not qualify Did not qualify Did not participate
2008 4th, East Quarter-Finals Quarter-Finals Did not qualify Did not qualify
2009 6th, East Did not qualify Quarter-Finals Did not qualify Group Stage
2010 3rd, East Did not qualify Did not qualify Did not qualify Did not qualify

International tournaments

Group Stage v. Peru Sporting Cristal -- 1:2
Group Stage v. Mexico Santos Laguna -- 2:4
Group Stage v. Ecuador Barcelona -- 3:2
Group Stage v. Peru Sporting Cristal -- 1:2
Group Stage v. Ecuador Barcelona -- 1:1
Group Stage v. Mexico Santos Laguna -- 0:1
First Round v. Trinidad and Tobago W Connection – 1:0, 2:0 (Wizards win 3:0 on aggregate)
Quarter-Finals v. Mexico Santos Laguna – 1:2, 2:0 (Wizards win 3:2 on aggregate)
Semi-Finals v. Mexico Monarcas Morelia – 1:6, 1:1 (Morelia advances 7:2 on aggregate)
First Round v. Costa Rica Deportivo Saprissa – 0:0, 1:2 (Saprissa advances 2:1 on aggregate after added extra time)
Group Stage v. Mexico Atlas -- 0:0
Group Stage v. United States New England Revolution -- 1:1
Group Stage v. Mexico Santos Laguna -- 1:3

Team records

Kerry Zavagnin, seen here training with the US national team, has played more games for Sporting KC than any other player.

MLS regular season only

  • All-Time regular season record: 154-155-65 (Through April 20, 2008)

Average attendance

Year Reg. Season Playoffs
1996 12,878 7,754
1997 9,058 10,174
1998 8,073 DNQ
1999 8,183 DNQ
2000 9,112 8,243
2001 10,954 5,803
2002 12,255 9,484
2003 15,573 10,712
2004 14,819 10,977
2005 9,691 DNQ
2006 11,083 DNQ
2007 11,586 12,442
2008 10,686 10,385
2009 10,053 DNQ

References

  1. ^ Explore The New Brand at Sporting Kansas City Website
  2. ^ Kansas City Wizards Change Name To Sporting Kansas City
  3. ^ Sporting Kansas City: Explore Our Brand
  4. ^ Kansas adjusts offer aimed at spurring Cerner, Wizards development near speedway, The Kansas City Star, December 08, 2009.
  5. ^ Heineman provides stadium update, KC Wizards Official Website.
  6. ^ Hillcrest Road - RH Stadium Update, OnGoal CEO/Wizards President Robb Heineman gives an update on the progress of the stadium project.
  7. ^ Hillcrest Road - Yellow Machines on Site, Equipment from Clarkson Construction showed up at the future site of the stadium in KCK.
  8. ^ Work starts on Kansas City Wizards stadium, Kansas City Business Journal - by Rob Roberts.
  9. ^ Stadium Approval News, KC Wizards Official Website.
  10. ^ Stadium Ground Breaking, Wizards Official Blog.
  11. ^ http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/kansas-city-wizards
  12. ^ http://www.thesportingway.com/2011/02/intra-squad-scrimmage.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sporting Kansas City.
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