The team was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1995.
The club competes as a member of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS), having returned in 2015 after spending ten seasons in the Eastern Conference. Sporting KC began play in 1996 as a charter team in the league, then known as the Kansas City Wiz.
The team finished third in the Western Conference (fifth overall) in 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 LA Galaxy. Following the 1996 season, the Wiz changed names, becoming the "Wizards", following legal action from electronics retailer The Wiz.
Open Cup From 1996 through 2007, the Wizards played home games in Arrowhead Stadium, the American football stadium mainly used by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Open Cup, 2005 MLS Defender of the Year. Lamar Hunt (2014) – A founder of Major League Soccer, owned the Kansas City Wizards 1996–2006. Chris Klein (2015) – 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield, 2004 U.S.
For the 1997 MLS season, their record was 21–11, sufficient for the Western Conference regular season championship.
Preki was named 1997 MLS MVP.
The Wizards had losing records for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, finishing last in the Western Conference both years.
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, 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.
The franchise has won the MLS Cup twice (2000, 2013), the Supporters' Shield in 2000, and the U.S.
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.
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 to 1 to the LA 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.
Tony Meola was named 2000 MLS Cup MVP. ===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.
Open Cup, 2005 MLS Defender of the Year. Lamar Hunt (2014) – A founder of Major League Soccer, owned the Kansas City Wizards 1996–2006. Chris Klein (2015) – 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield, 2004 U.S.
Tony Meola was named 2000 MLS Cup MVP. ===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.
Despite getting back Preki, the Wizards sat in last place in the Western Conference in 2002.
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.
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 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.
Goalkeeper Tony Meola went down with injury and backup Bo Oshoniyi filled as a replacement. In the first round of the 2004 playoffs, the Wizards lost the first game to San Jose Earthquakes, 2–0.
In the 2004 MLS Cup final, the Wizards went up against D.C.
KC was given a lifeline in the 58th minute as Josh Wolff scored the first penalty kick in MLS Cup history, 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.
Open Cups, 2013 MLS Cup. Jimmy Conrad [tel:(2014) – 2004–06 (2014) – 2004–06], 2008 MLS Best XI, 2004 U.S.
Open Cup, 2005 MLS Defender of the Year. Lamar Hunt (2014) – A founder of Major League Soccer, owned the Kansas City Wizards 1996–2006. Chris Klein (2015) – 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield, 2004 U.S.
KC was given a lifeline in the 58th minute as Josh Wolff scored the first penalty kick in MLS Cup history, 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.
Open Cup, 2005 MLS Defender of the Year. Lamar Hunt (2014) – A founder of Major League Soccer, owned the Kansas City Wizards 1996–2006. Chris Klein (2015) – 2000 MLS Cup, 2000 MLS Supporters Shield, 2004 U.S.
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.
In 2006, fans could sit all the way around the field, but, in 2007, seating was [again] only available along the sidelines.
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.
Open Cup From 1996 through 2007, the Wizards played home games in Arrowhead Stadium, the American football stadium mainly used by the Kansas City Chiefs.
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 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.
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 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.
Open Cups, 2013 MLS Cup. Jimmy Conrad [tel:(2014) – 2004–06 (2014) – 2004–06], 2008 MLS Best XI, 2004 U.S.
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.
In August 2009, with the team holding a 5–7–6 record, KC fired Head Coach Curt Onalfo, and named general manager Peter Vermes the head coach.
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 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 rebranded in November 2010, coinciding with its move to their home stadium, now known as Children's Mercy Park.
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. === A new home and a rebrand (2011–2012) === With the rebranding (of Wizards to Sporting) the team followed a recent trend in MLS of adopting European-style names, such as Toronto FC, D.C.
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.
On January 19, 2010, Wyandotte County approved the bonds to help finance the stadium, and on January 20 the groundbreaking ceremony was made, with Wizards CEO Robb Heineman using heavy machinery to move dirt on the construction site. When the Kansas City Wizards first rebranded as Sporting Kansas City, they built Livestrong Sporting Park.
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. Current groups in the north stands along with The Cauldron include: La Barra KC, Mass Street Mob, King City Yardbirds, Trenches, Omaha Boys, Northland Noise, Ladies of SKC, Fountain City Ultras, and K.C.
metropolitan area other than 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.
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.
KC was led by Graham Zusi, who delivered a league-leading 15 assists and was named finalist for 2012 MLS MVP, 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 won the 2012 U.S.
The franchise has won the MLS Cup twice (2000, 2013), the Supporters' Shield in 2000, and the U.S.
Open Cup, defeating Seattle Sounders FC 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.
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.
Color commentary was covered by Jake Yadrich through the 2013 season, after which he transitioned to be the lead analyst on the sidelines during games.
Open Cups, 2013 MLS Cup. Jimmy Conrad [tel:(2014) – 2004–06 (2014) – 2004–06], 2008 MLS Best XI, 2004 U.S.
It was the coldest MLS Cup game on record. === Return to the West (2014–present) === In the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, Sporting were eliminated in the East Knockout Round by the New York Red Bulls. 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.
Former Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum provided color commentary following his retirement after the 2014 season.
The club competes as a member of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS), having returned in 2015 after spending ten seasons in the Eastern Conference. Sporting KC began play in 1996 as a charter team in the league, then known as the Kansas City Wiz.
It was the coldest MLS Cup game on record. === Return to the West (2014–present) === In the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, Sporting were eliminated in the East Knockout Round by the New York Red Bulls. 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.
On November 19, 2015, the stadium was renamed to Children's Mercy Park in a ten-year deal with Children's Mercy Hospital. ==Club culture== ===Supporters=== Sporting regularly sells out its matches, with over 100 straight sellouts as of August 2017.
The play-by-play announcer was WHB 810AM 'Border Patrol' host Nate Bukaty, who began broadcasting for the team in the 2015 season.
They were eliminated in the Western Knockout Round by the Portland Timbers, 6–7 in a Penalty Shootout. Sporting's co-owner Neal Patterson died due to soft tissue cancer in July 2017.
Later that month, the club traded Dom Dwyer to Orlando City in exchange for $1.6 million (in general and targeted allocation money with additional incentives), setting the record for the most expensive internal trade in league history. The team won the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S.
On November 19, 2015, the stadium was renamed to Children's Mercy Park in a ten-year deal with Children's Mercy Hospital. ==Club culture== ===Supporters=== Sporting regularly sells out its matches, with over 100 straight sellouts as of August 2017.
They also have a newer rivalry with Minnesota United FC known as the "Nicest Rivalry In Sports" due to "their general regional proximity in a location known for niceness." ==Broadcasting== Prior to 2017 matches were broadcast in high definition on KMCI-TV (except for nationally broadcast matches).
In 2017, Fox Sports Midwest only carried select matches, while in 2018, the club announced the St.
In 2017, Fox Sports Midwest only carried select matches, while in 2018, the club announced the St.
Spanish broadcasting was previously found on KDTD 1340AM, but is on KCZZ (ESPN Deportes Kansas City 1480AM) for the 2018 season.
Nate Bukaty continues to provide the play-by-play commentary, while Jacob Peterson joined as the color commentator ahead of the 2020 season with Carter Augustine returning as the sideline reporter. Regular local radio coverage in English is provided through an official partnership with Sports Radio 810 WHB and its affiliate ESPN Kansas City 99.3FM.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05