Kansas City Wizards

Infobox Football club
current = Kansas City Wizards season 2008
clubname = Kansas City Wizards


fullname = Kansas City Wizards
nickname = Wizards, The Wiz, KC
shortname =
founded = 1995
dissolved =
ground = CommunityAmerica Ballpark
Kansas City, KS
capacity = 10,385
chrtitle = Owner
chairman = flagicon|USA OnGoal, LLC.
ceo =
mgrtitle = Coach
manager = flagicon|USA Curt Onalfo
league = Major League Soccer
season = 2007
position = Eastern Conference: 5th
Overall: 8th
Playoffs: Conference Finals
pattern_la1=_shoulder_stripes_white_stripes_alt
pattern_b1=_bluestriped_sides|pattern_ra1=_shoulder_stripes_white_stripes_alt
leftarm1=0066CC |body1=0066CC |rightarm1=0066CC |shorts1=0066CC |socks1=0066CC
pattern_la2=_blackline |pattern_b2=_thinbluesideblueshoulders2 |pattern_ra2=_blackline
leftarm2=FFFFFF |body2=FFFFFF |rightarm2=FFFFFF |shorts2=FFFFFF |socks2=FFFFFF
firstgame = Colorado Rapids 0–3 Kansas City Wiz
"(Arrowhead Stadium; April 13, 1996)"
largestwin = 6–0 vs MetroStars
"(Arrowhead Stadium; June 20, 1999)"
worstdefeat = 0–7 vs Chicago Fire
"(Arrowhead Stadium; July 4, 2001)"
topscorer = flagicon|USA Preki (71)
fansgroup = The CauldronSudakas
honours = Supporters' Shield (1)
MLS Cup (1)
U.S. Open Cup (1)
American = true

The Kansas City Wizards are a professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that participates in Major League Soccer. The Wizards won the MLS Cup in 2000 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004. The name "Wizards" is widely misconstrued as an allusion to "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", as the main character is from Kansas, although the club was actually located in Missouri at the time of its founding. The team colors are blue and white.

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 [Luder, Bob (July 19, 2006). [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/15074997.htm Gansler out as Wizards head coach] . "Kansas City Star"] . 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.Luder, Bob (August 31, 2006). [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/15408603.htm Wizards sold to local group, will remain in area] . "Kansas City Star"]

Recently the Wizards acquired Argentine Claudio Lopez who has participated in 2 world cups for South American powerhouse Argentina. Lopez signed a 1 year deal with the Wizards on terms that are not yet available. The Wizards were in need of a proven goal scorer after the departure of Eddie Johnson who went to Fulham after the 2007 season.Claudio "Piojo" Lopez is an international super star in Argentina. He has racked up 58 caps (international appearances) and 10 goals in his international appearances. He has played for over seven clubs throughout the world. Kansas City fans hope he can lead them to a championship title this season.

Crest

Home stadium

*Arrowhead Stadium (1996-2007)

The Wizards used to play their 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.

New stadium plans

The Wizards have been seeking sites for a soccer-specific stadium, initially targeting possible locations in Johnson County, Kansas. The Wizards' new ownership identified a site at 159th Street and U.S. Route 69 in south Overland Park, Kansas as its preferred location for a stadium, but this plan was met with numerous difficulties, namely the decision of the town's mayor to pull his support for the financing of the stadium after the failure of a vote that would have built youth fields on the site as well. [Bullers, Finn; Cooper, Brad. [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/15991407.htm "OP mayor pulls his support of stadium"] , "The Kansas City Star", November 12, 2006, retrieved December 23, 2006.]

Due to renovations of Arrowhead Stadium, the Wizards were expected to play at a temporary stadium beginning in 2007, while planning and awaiting the construction of a new facility. Yet on January 31, 2007, it was announced the Wizards would continue to play in Arrowhead in the 2007 season. [ [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/16635637.htm Wizards set to face Beckham Sept. 27] "Kansas City Star", 6 February 2007.]

The reasons given for the return to Arrowhead were the difficulties in expanding other facilities in the area (the KC Wizards played an exhibition in the beginning of the 2007 season at the District Activities Center owned and operated by the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kansas) and the delay in the Arrowhead renovation plan.

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 20,000- to 22,000-seat 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. According to MLS.net on December 14, 2007, the Wizards plans for a new stadium were approved by the Kansas City council. Currently, a $30 million state tax credit, crucial to moving the project forward, is tied up in the Missouri legislature. The current target date for completion of construction for the new facility is the middle of the 2010 MLS season. 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 sometime this fall. [ [http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=B2057B56-53D1-4311-A7F5-E5C7AC440E68&gsa=true "Bannister Mall Developement Plans Are Slowed"] "NBC Action News", 20 August 2008.]

Television and Radio

Wizards matches are broadcast on Metro Sports (except for nationally broadcast matches), with Sean Wheelock doing play-by-play and former national team coach Bruce Arena as the color commentator.

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.

Honors

*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
*MLS Reserve Division:
** Runners-up (1): 2006

Players

Current Roster

"As of August 8, 2008." [http://web.mlsnet.com/players/roster.jsp?club=t105&sort=un&order=asc] Fs player | no=12 | nat=USA | pos=DF | name= Jimmy Conrad (Captain)

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."

*flagicon|USA Jose Burciaga Jr (2001-2007)
*flagicon|USA Mark Chung (1996–1998)
*flagicon|USA Nick Garcia (2000-2007)
*flagicon|SCO Richard Gough (1997)
*flagicon|USA Diego Gutierrez (1996-1997, 2002-2005)
*flagicon|USA Chris Henderson (1998–2000)
*flagicon|USA Eddie Johnson (2006—2007)
*flagicon|SCO Mo Johnston (1996–2001)
*flagicon|USA Chris Klein (1998–2005)
*flagicon|USA Frank Klopas (1996–1997)
*flagicon|USA Alexi Lalas (1999)
*flagicon|USA Tony Meola (1999–2004)
*flagicon|DEN Miklos Molnar (2000)
*flagicon|NGR Uche Okafor (1996-2000)
*flagicon|USA Preki (1996–2000, 2002–2005)
*flagicon|ENG Paul Rideout (1998)
*flagicon|Serbia Vuk Rašović (2004)
*flagicon|Montenegro Refik Šabanadžović (1997-1999)
*flagicon|RUS Igor Simutenkov (2002-2004)
*flagicon|TRI Scott Sealy (2005-2008)
*flagicon|USA Mike Sorber (1996)
*flagicon|ZIM Vitalis Takawira (1996-1999)
*flagicon|JAM Shavar Thomas (2004-2006)
*flagicon|USA Peter Vermes (2000–2002)
*flagicon|USA Sasha Victorine (2005–2008)

Head coaches

*flagicon|England Ron Newman (1996–1999)
*flagicon|England Ken Fogarty (1999; interim)
*flagicon|United States Bob Gansler (1999–2006)
*flagicon|United States Brian Bliss (2006; interim)
*flagicon|United States Curt Onalfo (2006-)

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) [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/15792227.htm]

Team records

*Games: flagicon|USA Kerry Zavagnin, 225
*Goals: flagicon|USA Preki, 71
*Assists: flagicon|USA Preki, 98
*Shutouts: flagicon|USA Tony Meola, 37"MLS regular season only"

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

Year-by-year

"* 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. flagicon|TTO W Connection – 1:0, 2:0 (Wizards win 3:0 on aggregate)
** Quarterfinals v. flagicon|MEX Santos Laguna – 1:2, 2:0 (Wizards win 3:2 on aggregate)
** Semifinals v. flagicon|MEX Monarcas Morelia – 1:6, 1:1 (Morelia advances 7:2 on aggregate)
* 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup
** First Round v. flagicon|CRC Deportivo Saprissa – 0:0, 2:1 (Saprissa advances 2:1 on aggregate after added extra time)

Average attendance

"regular 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/missed playoffs
* 2006: 11,083/missed playoffs
* 2007: 11,586/12,442
* 2008: 9,596/TBD ("as of July 29, 2008")

Notes

External links

* [http://www.kcwizards.com/ Official Homepage]
* [http://www.hillcrestroad.blogspot.com/ Official Team Blog]
* [http://www.kccauldron.com/ Official Website of Supporters Section: The Cauldron]
* Official MySpace Page of Supporters Section: [http://www.myspace.com/kc_cauldron The Cauldron]
* [http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=22 Official Wizards board, courtesy of BigSoccer]