Sporting Kansas City

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Sporting Kansas City
150px
Full name Sporting Kansas City[1][2]
Nickname(s)
  • Sporting KC
  • Wizards
  • SKC
Founded 1995 as Kansas City Wiz
Stadium Children's Mercy Park
Kansas City, Kansas
Ground Capacity 18,467[3]
Owner Sporting Club
Manager Peter Vermes
League Major League Soccer
2015 Western Conference: 6th
Overall: 10th
Playoffs: Conf. Knockout round
Website Club home page
Current season

Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Missouri, playing its home games in Kansas City, Kansas.[4] The club competes in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). They are one of the ten charter teams having competed in the league since 1996. The team was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1995. Since moving across the state line, they have been the only major professional sports league franchise to play their home games in Kansas.

For the majority of their existence, the franchise were known as the Kansas City Wizards. The team rebranded in November 2010, coinciding with its move to their home stadium, now known as Children's Mercy Park.[2][5] The franchise has won the MLS Cup twice (2000, 2013), the Supporters' Shield in 2000, and the U.S. Open Cup in 2004, 2012 and 2015.

The club also has a reserve team, Swope Park Rangers, that plays in the third-tier United Soccer League.

History

The early years: 1996–1999

The Kansas City MLS franchise was founded by Lamar Hunt, who was also the founder of the American Football League, the Kansas City Chiefs, the United Soccer Association, and Major League Soccer. The Kansas City Wiz played their first game on April 13, 1996, defeating the Colorado Rapids at Arrowhead Stadium, 3-0.[6][7] The Wiz players included Preki, Mo Johnston and Digital Takawira, and were coached by Ron Newman. The team finished 5th in the 1996 regular season with a 17–15 record, qualifying for the first ever MLS Playoffs. In the 1996 conference semi-finals, the Wiz beat the Dallas Burn in three games, winning the final game in a shootout, before losing the conference final to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Following the 1996 season, the Wiz changed names, becoming the "Wizards". For the 1997 MLS season, their record was 21–11; they won the Western Conference regular season championship. Preki was named 1997 MLS MVP.[8] In the first round of the playoffs, the Wizards lost to the last-seeded Colorado Rapids. The Wizards had losing records for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, finishing last in the Western Conference both years. The Wizards fired Ron Newman early during the 1999 season,[9] and replaced him with Bob Gansler. The Wizards finished the 1999 season with a record of 8–24, which put them in last place in the Western Conference once again.

Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup: 2000

In 2000, their first full season under Bob Gansler, the Wizards opened the season on a 12-game unbeaten streak. Goalkeeper Tony Meola recorded an MLS record shutout streak at 681 minutes and 16 shutouts, and won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and MLS MVP.[10] Peter Vermes was named 2000 MLS Defender of the Year. The Wizards finished the 2000 regular season 16–7–9, the best record in the league, winning the MLS Supporters' Shield.

In the 2000 playoffs, fell behind 4 points to 1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy, but Miklos Molnar scored a penalty kick 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, faced the team with the league's best offense, the Chicago Fire. The Wizards took the lead on an 11th-minute goal by Miklos Molnar. The Chicago Fire put 10 shots on goal, but Tony Meola and the defense held, and the Wizards claimed their first MLS Cup Championship. Tony Meola was named 2000 MLS Cup MVP.[10]

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

The Wizards returned to the top half of the West in 2003 with a record of 11–10–9. In the first round of the playoffs, the Wizards defeated 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 took the lead, but 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.

The Wizards started out 2004 mediocre, before turning around in the summer. The Wizards finished the season on a six-game unbeaten streak to finish 14–9–9 for the Western Conference regular season championship. Goalkeeper Tony Meola went down with injury and backup Bo Oshoniyi filled as a replacement.[11]

Jimmy Conrad played with Kansas City from 2003 to 2010

In the first round of the 2004 playoffs, the Wizards lost the first game to San Jose Earthquakes, 2–0. In the second game, however, the Wizards scored 2 goals before Jack Jewsbury scored in stoppage time to move KC onto the conference final. In the conference final, the Wizards held off the Los Angeles Galaxy to reach their second MLS Cup. In the 2004 MLS Cup final, the Wizards went up against D.C. United at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The Wizards Jose Burciaga scored in the 6th minute, but D.C. United replied with three goals in the first half. KC was given a lifeline in the 58th minute as Josh Wolff scored the first penalty kick in MLS Cup history,[12] but KC lost the 2004 MLS Cup final 3–2.

Move to the East: 2005–2010

Following MLS expansion, the Wizards moved to the Eastern Conference in 2005. By the end of the 2005 season, despite the solid play of 2005 MLS Defender of the Year Jimmy Conrad, the Wizards found themselves outside the playoffs with a record of 11–9–12. After the season, the team's veteran leader, Preki announced his retirement.

In the 2006 season, the Wizards just missed out on a playoff berth with a loss to the New York Red Bulls on the final day of the regular season, finishing with a 10–14–8 record. Lamar Hunt sold the club in August 2006 to OnGoal, LLC, a six-man ownership group led by Cerner Corporation co-founders Neal Patterson and Cliff Illig, a local group committed to keeping the Wizards in Kansas City.

The club dedicated its 2007 season to Lamar Hunt, who had died in December 2006. A good start earned them four wins in the first seven weeks of the season. The club picked up goalkeeper Kevin Hartman from Los Angeles Galaxy to help with that position. Despite winning just four games after the All-Star break, Kansas City managed to finish fifth in the East at 11–12–7 and qualify for the playoffs. 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, the defense and Kevin Hartman did the rest and kept Chivas USA off the scoreboard. In the conference final, the Wizards came up short to the Houston Dynamo, 2–0.

In 2008, the Wizards played their home games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas, and ended a four-year playoff drought by posting an 11–10–9 record, good enough for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Facing the Columbus Crew, the Wizards earned a 1–1 tie in Game 1 of the first round series, but with a 2–0 loss in Game 2 the Wizards lost the aggregate series 3–1.

In the 2009 season, the Wizards remained at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, but struggled to score. They went 426 minutes without scoring a goal,[13] the longest streak of the season. In August 2009, with the team holding a 5–7–6 record, KC fired Head Coach Curt Onalfo,[14] and named General Manager Peter Vermes the Head Coach. The Wizards finished with the worst home record in the league,[15] and at 8–13–9 were third to last in the league standings. Top players were Claudio López (8 goals & 7 assists) and Josh Wolff (11 goals) who sparked the Wizards offense.

In 2010, the Wizards finished third in the Eastern Conference and narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs.

Sporting rebrand: 2011–12

With the rebranding (of Wizards to Sporting) 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 title "Sporting" has its origins in Iberia where it is used only by multi sports clubs with a history of having multiple departments fielding teams across different sports.[citation needed] Kansas City's use of the term has been criticized for being inaccurate as well as for being cultural appropriation.[16] At the rebrand announcement, the Kansas City's president announced plans to add a rugby club and lacrosse club.[17] Since then a partnership with the Kansas City Blues Rugby Club has been announced,[18] but the two sides are not part of one "Sporting Club" and no lacrosse team has been established. The re-branding was met with a mixture of both excitement and disdain by fans when originally announced.[citation needed] With the opening of the new Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, Sporting Kansas City became the first major-league team to have played in stadiums on both sides of the state line in Kansas City while Kansas City became the only U.S. metropolitan area besides New York City to have major professional sports teams playing in different states.

Because Children's Mercy Park was not ready for the beginning of the 2011 season, Sporting Kansas City played its first ten games on the road, only winning one game. Once the road trip was over, the team found more success and ended the regular season with the most points of any Eastern Conference team. After defeating the Colorado Rapids on a 4–0 aggregate in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Sporting lost to the Houston Dynamo 2–0 in the Eastern Conference finals.

KC began the 2012 season with seven consecutive wins, in the process setting an MLS record for 335 minutes without allowing a shot on goal.[19] The team finished the regular season first in the East with an 18–7–9 record. KC was led by Graham Zusi, who delivered a league leading 15 assists and was named finalist for 2012 MLS MVP,[20] Jimmy Nielsen, who notched a league leading 15 shutouts and was named 2012 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, and Matt Besler, who was named MLS Defender of the Year. KC lost to the Houston Dynamo in the conference semifinals. KC won the 2012 U.S. Open Cup, defeating the Seattle Sounders in the finals, to qualify for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League.

MLS Cup champions: 2013

In 2013, Kansas City took advantage of MLS's newly created retention funds to renew contracts with U.S. national team players Graham Zusi and Matt Besler.[21] Sporting had finished second in the Eastern Conference and overall with 17 wins, 10 losses, and tied 7 times in the regular season. In the 2013 MLS Playoffs, Sporting KC defeated NE Revolution in the conference semifinals and Houston Dynamo in the conference finals, advancing to MLS Cup 2013. SKC defeated Real Salt Lake after penalties (7-6) after the match was tied 1-1 in regulation and overtime. It was the coldest MLS Cup game on record.[22]

Return to the West: 2015–present

In the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, Sporting were eliminated in the East Knockout Round by the New York Red Bulls.[23]

On October 27, 2014, the league announced that Sporting, along with the Houston Dynamo, would move from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference when two teams from East Coast states, New York City FC and Orlando City SC, joined the league in 2015. Sporting finished sixth in the Western Conference that year, again qualifying for postseason play due to the expanded twelve-club field in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.[24] They were eliminated in the Western Knockout Round by the Portland Timbers.

Colors and badge

Aurélien Collin wearing Sporting's primary kit (2011–2012).
Teal Bunbury wearing Sporting's secondary kit (2011–2012).

Sporting Kansas City's official colors are "sporting blue" and "dark indigo" with "lead" as a tertiary color.[citation needed] The primary logo is composed of a teardrop-shaped shield containing a stylized representation of the Kansas-Missouri state line with "sporting blue" stripes on the "Kansas" side and an interlocking "SC" on the "Missouri" side. The shield's contour alludes to the team's former logo while under the "Kansas City Wizards" appellation. The stateline represents Sporting's fanbase in both of the Kansas and Missouri portions of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The eleven alternating horizontal stripes of "sporting blue" and "dark indigo" forming the state line are a nod to the number of players a team fields. The "SC" (for Sporting 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.[25] Beginning in 2013, Ivy Funds became the club's first kit sponsor,[26] and a new home and away jersey design was unveiled, as well as an alternate argyle design.

Stadiums

Children's Mercy Park, 2011.

Home venue(s):

Other stadiums used:

Arrowhead Stadium, is the Home Stadium of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs; was the then Kansas City Wizards' (Sporting KC) home for over a decade.

From 1996 through 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 [again] 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.

Children's Mercy Park

The team sought a new site for its stadium, quickly settling on a development in Kansas City, Kansas, known as Village West, near CommunityAmerica Ballpark and the Kansas Speedway. In September 2009, the developer asked Wyandotte County (in Kansas) 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.[27] On December 17, Wizards president Robb Heineman provided an update on the stadium situation, identifying the Kansas City, Kansas, location as near final, pending the signature of the final agreements.[28][29] On January 19, 2010, Wyandotte County approved the bonds to help finance the stadium,[30][31] and on January 20 the groundbreaking ceremony was made, with Wizards CEO Robb Heineman using heavy machinery to move dirt on the construction site.[32]

When the Kansas City Wizards first rebranded as Sporting Kansas City, they built Livestrong Sporting Park. Spending $200 million on the complex,[33] it was the first "European style" soccer complex in the United States.[citation needed] Name rights were held by the Livestrong Foundation until the downfall of Lance Armstrong from his doping scandal; Sporting Kansas City subsequently changed the name of their stadium to Sporting Park.[34][35][36] On November 19, 2015, the stadium was renamed to Children's Mercy Park in a ten-year deal with Children's Mercy Hospital.[37]

Club culture

Sporting Kansas City's main supporter's section, "The Cauldron", is the centerpiece of Children's Mercy Park.

Supporters

Sporting regularly sells out its matches, with over 50 straight sellouts as of March 2015.[38] Sporting has 14,000 season-ticket holders, with a wait list for season tickets of 3,000 people.[39] Sporting KC has a relatively young fan base, with season-ticket holders having an average age of 29.7 years.[40] Sporting KC works with Sporting Innovations, a consulting firm spun off from the team that focuses on fan engagement.[40] Administrators from several college football teams, such as the Florida Gators, have visited Sporting KC to learn from the team's success at fan engagement.[40]

The main supporters group of Sporting Kansas City cheers in the Members' Stand on the North side of Children's Mercy Park and is known as "The Cauldron".[41] The name is derived from the large metal pots used for boiling potions, due to the team's former name Wizards. Since the rebranding in 2010, Sporting have seen dramatic growth in their fan section, with several fan groups adding their voice to The Cauldron culture and atmosphere.[41]

Current groups in the north stands along with The Cauldron include, La Barra KC, Brookside Elite, Mass Street Mob, King City Yardbirds, Omaha Boys, Northland Noise, Ladies of SKC and K.C. Futbol Misfits.

The South Stand SC cheers from the south end of Children's Mercy Park and is the umbrella group for The Wedge and Ad Astra SKC, while American Outlaws – Kansas City Chapter are also present in the stands.[41]

Mascot

SKC's "Blue the Dog" is the franchise's official mascot.[42]

Broadcasting

Matches are broadcast in high definition on KMCI-TV (except for nationally broadcast matches). The play-by-play announcer is former BBC Radio commentator Callum Williams, who began broadcasting with the 2011 season. Former Wizard/Sporting Kansas City player Sasha Victorine provided color commentary in the beginning of 2011 but stepped down to spend more time with family. Color commentary was covered by Jake Yadrich through the 2013 season. Former captain Diego Gutiérrez began serving as color commentator for the 2014 season[43]

In addition, the club has a network that provides coverage across markets in nine states:

There is currently no regular local radio coverage in English except for occasional broadcasts on WHB 810AM when television broadcasts of MLS games are available on national TV. Spanish broadcasting can be found on KDTD 1340AM.

Players and staff

For details on former players, see All-time Sporting Kansas City roster.

Current roster

Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of January 11, 2016.[44]

No. Position Player Nation
2 Defender Erik Palmer-Brown (HGP)     United States
3 Defender Ike Opara      United States
4 Defender Kevin Ellis (HGP)     United States
5 Defender Matt Besler (Captain; DP)     United States
6 Midfielder Paulo Nagamura      Brazil
7 Defender Chance Myers      United States
8 Midfielder Graham Zusi (DP)     United States
9 Forward Krisztián Németh      Hungary
10 Midfielder Benny Feilhaber      United States
11 Midfielder Bernardo Añor      Venezuela
13 Defender Amadou Dia      United States
14 Forward Dom Dwyer      England
15 Defender Seth Sinovic      United States
17 Defender Saad Abdul-Salaam      United States
20 Defender Amobi Okugo      United States
21 Goalkeeper Jon Kempin (HGP)     United States
22 Midfielder Connor Hallisey      United States
27 Midfielder Roger Espinoza      Honduras
29 Goalkeeper Tim Melia      United States
37 Forward Jacob Peterson      United States
71 Defender Marcel de Jong      Canada
93 Midfielder Soni Mustivar      Haiti
94 Midfielder Jimmy Medranda      Colombia
96 Midfielder Jordi Quintillà      Spain
— Goalkeeper Alec Kann      United States
— Midfielder Brad Davis      United States
— Midfielder Justin Mapp      United States
— Midfielder Lawrence Olum      Kenya
— Forward Dániel Sallói (HGP)     Hungary

Head coaches / managers

Peter Vermes was the first person to win the MLS Cup with the same club as player (2000) and manager (2013).
Name Nat Tenure
Ron Newman  England (1996–99)
Ken Fogarty (interim)  England (1999)
Bob Gansler  United States (April 1, 1999 – July 19, 2006)
Brian Bliss (interim)  United States (June 19, 2006 – December 31, 2006)
Curt Onalfo  United States (November 27, 2006 – August 3, 2009)
Peter Vermes (interim)  United States (August 4, 2009 – November 10, 2009)
Peter Vermes  United States (November 10, 2009–present)

General managers

Name From To
Tim Latta 1996 1996
Doug Newman 1997 1999
Curt Johnson 1999 2006
Peter Vermes *Technical Director and Head Coach 2006 present
Greg Cotton *Director of Business Operations 2006 present

Presidents

Name Tenure
Robb Heineman 2006—present

Honors

Domestic

Minor trophies

Team record

Year-by-year

Season MLS Reg. Season MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF
Champions' Cup /
Champions League
1996 3rd, West (12–15) Won Conference Semifinals (Dallas Burn 2–1)
Lost Conference Final (Los Angeles Galaxy 0–2)		 Quarterfinals Did not qualify
1997 1st, West (14–11) Lost Conference Semifinals (Colorado Rapids 0–2) Round of 16 Did not qualify
1998 6th, West (12–20) Did not qualify Round of 16 Did not qualify
1999 6th, West (8–24) Did not qualify Did not qualify Did not qualify
2000 1st, West* (16–7–9) Won Quarterfinals (Colorado Rapids 2–1)
Won Semifinals (Los Angeles Galaxy 2–1)
Won MLS Cup (Chicago Fire 1–0)		 Round of 32 Did not qualify
2001 3rd, West (11–13–3) Lost Quarterfinals (Miami Fusion 1–2) Round of 16 Not held
2002 5th, West (9–10–9) Lost Quarterfinals (Los Angeles Galaxy 1–2) Semifinals Semifinals
2003 2nd, West (11–10–9) Won Conference Semifinals (Colorado Rapids 3–1)
Lost Conference Final (San Jose Earthquakes 3–2)		 Round of 16 Did not qualify
2004 1st, West (14–9–7) Won Conference Semifinals (San Jose 3–2)
Won Conference Final (Los Angeles Galaxy 2–0)
Lost MLS Cup (D.C. United 2–3)		 Champions Did not qualify
2005 5th, East (11–9–12) Did not qualify Quarterfinals Quarterfinals
2006 5th, East (10–14–8) Did not qualify Round of 16 Did not qualify
2007 5th, East (11–12–7) Won Conference Semifinals (Chivas USA 1–0)
Lost Conference Final (Houston Dynamo 0–2)		 Did not qualify Did not qualify
2008 4th, East (11–10–9) Lost Conference Semifinals (Columbus Crew 1–2) Quarterfinals Did not qualify
2009 6th, East (8–13–9) Did not qualify Quarterfinals Did not qualify
2010 3rd, East (11–13–6) Did not qualify Did not qualify Did not qualify
2011 1st, East (13–9–12) Won Conference Semifinals (Colorado Rapids 4–0)
Lost Conference Final (Houston Dynamo 0–2)		 Quarterfinals Did not qualify
2012 1st, East (18–7–9) Lost Conference Semifinals (Houston Dynamo 1–2) Champions Did not qualify
2013 2nd, East (17–10–7) Won Quarterfinals (New England Revolution 4-3)
Won Semifinals (Houston Dynamo 2–1)
Won MLS Cup (Real Salt Lake 1–1, 7-6 PK)		 Round of 16 Quarterfinals
2014 5th, East (14–13–7) Lost Knockout Round (New York Red Bulls 1-2) Fifth Round Group Stage
2015 6th, West (14–11–9) Lost Knockout Round (Portland Timbers 2-2, 6-7 PK) Champions Did not qualify
  • All-Time regular season record: 235-221-120 (Through November 2, 2014)[45]

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)
Quarterfinal 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
Group Stage v. Nicaragua Real Estelí – 2:0, 1:1
Group Stage v. Honduras Olimpia – 2:0, 0:0
Quarterfinals v. Mexico Cruz Azul - 1:0, 1:5 (Cruz Azul advances 5:2 on aggregate)
Group Stage v. Nicaragua Real Estelí - 1:1, 3:0
Group Stage v. Costa Rica Deportivo Saprissa - 3:1, 0:2

Player records

The following records are for MLS regular season only:

Updated: July 3, 2014[46]

Sporting Legends

Sporting Legends is an initiative launched in 2013 that pays tribute to the individuals who played an instrumental role for Sporting Kansas City and in the growth of soccer in the region.[47]

The individuals named as Sporting Legends, their year of induction, and a brief description are listed below:

  1. Preki (2013) — 2005 MLS All-Time Best XI, 1997 and 2003 MLS League MVP, Club's all-time leader in goals and assists.
  2. Tony Meola (2013) — 2005 MLS All-Time Best XI, 2000 MLS MVP, 2000 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, 2000 MLS Cup MVP.
  3. Bob Gansler (2013) — 2000 MLS Coach of the Year, 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield.
  4. Peter Vermes (2014) — as player: 2000 MLS Defender of the Year, 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield; as manager: 2012 and 2015 U.S. Open Cups, 2013 MLS Cup.
  5. Jimmy Conrad (2014) — 2004-06, 2008 MLS Best XI, 2004 U.S. Open Cup, 2005 MLS Defender of the Year.
  6. Lamar Hunt (2014) — A founder of Major League Soccer, owned the Kansas City Wizards 1996-2006.
  7. Chris Klein (2015) — 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield, 2004 U.S. Open Cup, 2002-2005 MLS All-Star.

Hat tricks

Player Date Opponent
Zimbabwe Vitalis Digital Takawira May 16, 1998 New England Revolution
United States Preki September 5, 1998 San Jose Earthquakes
United States Davy Arnaud August 3, 2004 Dallas Burn
United States Eddie Johnson May 26, 2007 New England Revolution
June 2, 2007 New York Red Bulls
Senegal Birahim Diop October 23, 2010 San Jose Earthquakes
England Dom Dwyer+ July 1, 2015 FC Dallas

^ + Dom Dwyer scored 4 goals in this game[48]

[49]

Attendance

Season Reg. Season Playoffs[50]
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 14,816 11,077
2005 9,691 DNQ
2006 11,083 DNQ
2007 11,586 12,442
2008 10,686 10,385
2009 10,053 DNQ
2010 10,287 DNQ
2011 17,810 19,702
2012 19,364 20,894
2013 19,709 20,777
2014 20,003 DNQ
2015 20,048 DNQ

Notes:

  • The 73% jump in attendance between 2010 and 2011 coincides with the team's move from CommunityAmerica Ballpark (capacity 10,400) to their new soccer-specific stadium Livestrong Sporting Park (capacity 18,500).

Notable friendlies

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Soccer America, MLS: Preki Named 2003 MVP, November 21, 2003, http://www.socceramerica.com/article/5284/mls-preki-named-2003-mvp.html
  9. ↑ U.S. National Soccer Players, So You Wanna Be An MLS Coach, September 17, 2010, http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/2010/09/so-you-wanna-be-an-mls-coach.html
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sporting Kansas City, Sporting Legends unveiled to honor club icons, August 2, 2013, http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2013/08/sporting-legends-unveiled-honor-club-icons
  11. ↑ ESPN FC, Oshoniyi back from the brink, March 13, 2005, http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=327641&root=mls&cc=5901
  12. ↑ MLSsoccer.com, MLS Cup 2004, November 14, 2004, http://m.mlssoccer.com/history/mlscup/2004
  13. ↑ Soccer America, Kansas City finds the goal!, September 6, 2009, http://www.socceramerica.com/article/34028/kansas-city-finds-the-goal.html
  14. ↑ Soccer By Ives, ONALFO OUT AS KANSAS CITY HEAD COACH, August 3, 2009, http://www.soccerbyives.net/2009/08/onalfo-out-as-kansas-city-head-coach.html
  15. ↑ ESPN Soccer, The Sporting life in Kansas City, April 20, 2012, http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/blog/_/name/young_mark/id/7836431/the-sporting-life-kansas-city-mark-young
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Central Iowa Lacrosse & Sports Ramblings, Pro Lax in Kansas City?!, November 22, 2010, http://centraliowalax.blogspot.com/2010/11/pro-lax-in-kansas-city.html
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ MLS Soccer, Preview: Sporting search for seventh-heaven at Vancouver, April 18, 2012, http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-04-18-van-v-kc/preview
  20. ↑ New York Times, Kansas City Fans Witness Just How Far Midfielder Has Come, October 27, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/sports/graham-zusi-emerges-as-rising-us-soccer-star.html?_r=0
  21. ↑ NCS Sports, ProSoccerTalk, About those MLS retention funds: They have already been put to significant use, August 2, 2013, http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/02/about-those-mls-retention-funds-they-have-already-been-put-to-significant-use/
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Kansas adjusts offer aimed at spurring Cerner, Wizards development near speedway, The Kansas City Star, December 8, 2009.
  28. ↑ Heineman provides stadium update, KC Wizards Official Website.
  29. ↑ Hillcrest Road – RH Stadium Update, OnGoal CEO/Wizards President Robb Heineman gives an update on the progress of the stadium project.
  30. ↑ Stadium Approval News, KC Wizards Official Website.
  31. ↑ Work starts on Kansas City Wizards stadium, Kansas City Business Journal – by Rob Roberts.
  32. ↑ Stadium Ground Breaking, Wizards Official Blog.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Fast Facts: Sporting KC 1-1 New York Red Bulls - March 8, 2015.
  39. ↑ 2014 MLS Ambition Rankings: Toronto FC rises to No. 1, Sports Illustrated, March 14, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 "Why College Football Is Studying Major League Soccer", Wall Street Journal, July 17, 2014.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ "Sporting Legends", Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

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