The Kansas City Wizards are an American, professional soccer club based in the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area that participates in Major League Soccer. In 2007 the team moved from Kansas City, Missouri to Kansas City, Kansas with plans to built a new stadium and move back to Missouri in the next few years. The Wizards won the MLS Cup in 2000, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004, and the MLS Supporters Shield in 2000. The team colors have been cobalt blue, dark indigo, yellow and white since 2008. [1]

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History

The Wizards were known as the Kansas City Wiz during the 1996 season but changed names due to a copyright dispute. From 1995 until 2006, they were owned by Lamar Hunt, who also owned the Kansas City Chiefs, FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew.

In the 2000 season, the Wizards captured both the MLS Supporters' Shield and the MLS Cup. In the previous two seasons, they had failed to make the playoffs.

On July 19, 2006, head coach Bob Gansler resigned and general manager Curt Johnson selected assistant coach Brian Bliss as the new interim head coach ^[2]. Curt Onalfo was announced the new permanent head coach after the end of the 2006 season.

On December 9, 2004, Lamar Hunt announced that he was looking to sell the team after the 2005 MLS season. On August 31, 2006, the Wizards held a press conference to announce the sale of the team to a local ownership group consisting of Cerner co-founders Neal Patterson and Cliff Illig, Rock Island Capital’s Robb Heineman, Greg Maday and David French, and Pat Curran, founder of C3 Holdings. ^[3]

Crest

Home stadiums

• Arrowhead Stadium (1996-2007)

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. In 2008, the Wizards moved their home game against the Los Angeles Galaxy to Arrowhead Stadium to accommodate the larger crowd that was expected to be in attendance for David Beckham's Kansas City debut.

• CommunityAmerica Ballpark (2008-2009)

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 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 will make 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 also use a baseball stadium, as they have used Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, home of the Oakland A's for certain games during the 2008 season.

• Trails Stadium (2011-)

On July 27, 2007, the Kansas City Star reported that Lane4 Property Group, a developer hired by the Wizards, was moving closer to making plans final for a massive redevelopment of now-vacant Bannister Mall that will include a new stadium for the Wizards and 12 to 18 tournament soccer fields. Under Lane4’s plan, the Bannister Mall and Benjamin Plaza shopping centers and the adjoining Benjamin Ranch property would be demolished and replaced with a mixed-use project with retail, office and residential components in addition to a possible Wizards stadium.na na According to MLS.net on December 14, 2007, the Wizards plans for a new stadium were approved by the Kansas City council. The current target date for completion of construction for the stadium is 2011. Team owners are currently collaborating with architecture firm 360 Architecture on the design of the new stadium, with the final design likely to be unveiled during the 2009 season. ^[4] Final government hurdles for the new stadium were cleared on November 20, 2008, when the state legislature of Missouri approved a $30-million tax credit package to help build the complex. ^[5] The Stadium is currently referred to as "Hillcrest Road" being the name of the street on which the project will be built, the area has also rebranded itself as it is now known as The Trails in reference to the Santa Fe Trail, California Trail, and Oregon Trail that all run through the area.

Supporters

The largest fan group that supports the Wizards is known as "The Cauldron". The group's derives its name from the large metal pots used in witchcraft.

Television and Radio

Wizards matches are broadcast on Metro Sports (except for nationally broadcast matches), with Sean Wheelock doing play-by-play.

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

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 luke warm response the song has not drawn much identity to the club although it continues to be played at the stadium before matches.

Honors

Domestic

• MLS Cup:
• * Winners (1): 2000
• * Runners-up (1): 2004
• MLS Supporters' Shield:
• * Winners (1): 2000
• * Runners-up (2): 1997, 2004
• US Open Cup:
• * Winners (1): 2004

Minor Trophies

• MLS Reserve Division:
• * Runners-up (2): 2006, 2008

Players

Current roster

As of June 13, 2009. ^[6]

No. Position Player

No. Position Player

For recent transfers, see List of MLS transfers for the 2009 season.

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.

José Burciaga, Jr. (2001-2007) Mark Chung (1996–1998) Nick Garcia (2000-2007) Richard Gough (1997) Diego Gutiérrez (1996-1997, 2002-2005) Chris Henderson (1998–2000) Eddie Johnson (2006—2007) Mo Johnston (1996–2001) Chris Klein (1998–2005) Frank Klopas (1996–1997) Alexi Lalas (1999) Tony Meola (1999–2004) Miklos Molnar (2000)

Uche Okafor (1996-2000) Preki (1996–2000, 2002–2005) Paul Rideout (1998) Vuk Rašovic (2004) Refik Šabanadžovic (1997-1999) Igor Simutenkov (2002-2004) Scott Sealy (2005-2008) Mike Sorber (1996) Vitalis Takawira (1996-1999) Shavar Thomas (2004-2006) Peter Vermes (2000–2002) Sasha Victorine (2005–2008) Kerry Zavagnin (2000–2008)

• See also All-time Kansas City Wizards roster

Head coaches

• Ron Newman (1996–1999)
• Ken Fogarty (1999; interim)
• Bob Gansler (1999–2006)
• Brian Bliss (2006; interim)
• Curt Onalfo (2006-2009)
• Peter Vermes (2009; interim)

General managers

• Tim Latta
• Doug Newman (1997–1999)
• Curt Johnson (1999–2006)
• Peter Vermes (2006–Present) -- Technical Director
• Greg Cotton (2006–Present) -- Director of Business Operations

Presidents

• Robb Heineman (2006 - Present)

Team records

• Games: Kerry Zavagnin, 225
• Goals: Preki, 71
• Assists: Preki, 98
• Shutouts: Tony Meola, 37

MLS regular season only

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

Year-by-year

Kansas City Wizards Seasons

Year	MLS Reg. Season	MLS Cup Playoffs	Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup	CONCACAF Champions' Cup/Champions League	SuperLiga
1996	3rd, West	Semifinals	Quarterfinals	Did not qualify	Started in 2007
1997	1st, West	Quarterfinals	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	Quarterfinals	Round of 16	Not held
2002	5th, West	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Semifinals
2003	2nd, West	Semifinals	Round of 16	Did not qualify
2004	1st, West	Runners-Up	Champions	Did not qualify
2005	5th, East	Did not qualify	Quarterfinals	Quarterfinals
2006	5th, East	Did not qualify	Round of 16	Did not qualify
2007	5th, East	Semifinals**	Did not qualify	Did not qualify	Did not participate
2008	4th, East	Quarterfinals	Quarterfinals	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2009	†	†	Quarterfinals	Did not qualify	Group Stage

† In Progress
* Won MLS Supporters' Shield
** Qualified in the Western Conference Playoff Bracket

International competition

• '''2001 Copa Merconorte
• * 3rd place in Group C
• 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup
• * First Round v. W Connection – 1:0, 2:0 (Wizards win 3:0 on aggregate)
• * Quarterfinals v. Santos Laguna – 1:2, 2:0 (Wizards win 3:2 on aggregate)
• * Semifinals v. Monarcas Morelia – 1:6, 1:1 (Morelia advances 7:2 on aggregate)
• 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup
• * First Round v. Deportivo Saprissa – 0:0, 2:1 (Saprissa advances 2:1 on aggregate after added extra time)
• 2009 SuperLiga
• *4th place in Group B

Average attendance

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

References

1. "Wizards unveil new look for '08 season," Kansas City Wizards Media Relations, January 20, 2008.
2. Luder, Bob (July 19, 2006). Gansler out as Wizards head coach. ''Kansas City Star''
3. Luder, Bob (August 31, 2006). Wizards sold to local group, will remain in area. ''Kansas City Star''
4. "Bannister Mall Developement Plans Are Slowed" ''NBC Action News'', 20 August 2008.
5. http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/900599.html
6. http://web.mlsnet.com/players/index.jsp?club=t105