Sporting Kansas City facts for kids
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| Full name | Sporting Kansas City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Wizards | |||
| Short name | SKC | |||
| Founded | June 6, 1995 (as Kansas City Wiz) | |||
| Stadium | Children's Mercy Park | |||
| Stadium capacity |
18,491 | |||
| Owner | Sporting Club | |||
| Head coach | Peter Vermes | |||
| League | Major League Soccer | |||
| 2024 | Western Conference: 13th Overall: 27th Playoffs: Did not qualify |
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Sporting Kansas City is a professional soccer team in the Kansas City metropolitan area. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. The team's main offices are in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Their practice fields are in Kansas City, Kansas. Sporting Kansas City has played its home games at Children's Mercy Park since 2011.
The team started playing in 1996 as one of the first teams in the league. Back then, they were called the Kansas City Wiz. Lamar Hunt founded the team in 1995. Since moving to Kansas, they are the only major professional sports team to play their home games there.
In 1997, the team changed its name to Kansas City Wizards. They changed their name again in November 2010 to Sporting Kansas City. This happened when they moved to their new stadium, Children's Mercy Park. The team has won the MLS Cup twice, in 2000 and 2013. They also won the Supporters' Shield in 2000. They have won the U.S. Open Cup four times: in 2004, 2012, 2015, and 2017.
Sporting Kansas City also has a reserve team called Sporting Kansas City II. This team started playing in 2016 in the USL Championship. In 2022, they moved to MLS Next Pro.
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Team History: How Sporting KC Started
The Early Years (1996–1999)
The Kansas City MLS team was started by Lamar Hunt. He also founded other sports leagues and teams, like the Kansas City Chiefs. The Kansas City Wiz played their first game on April 13, 1996. They won 3–0 against the Colorado Rapids at Arrowhead Stadium. Famous players like Preki and Mo Johnston were on the team.
In their first year, the Wiz finished third in their conference. They made it to the first-ever MLS Playoffs. They won their first playoff series but lost in the conference final.
After 1996, the team changed its name to the "Wizards." This was because of a legal issue with an electronics store called The Wiz. In 1997, the Wizards had a great season, winning their conference. Preki was even named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP). However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Wizards had tough seasons in 1998 and 1999, finishing last in their conference both years.
Winning the MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield (2000)
The year 2000 was amazing for the Wizards. They started the season with a 12-game unbeaten streak. Their goalkeeper, Tony Meola, set an MLS record with 16 shutouts. He won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and MLS MVP. Peter Vermes was named MLS Defender of the Year. The Wizards finished with the best record in the league, winning the MLS Supporters' Shield.
In the 2000 playoffs, they made it to their first MLS Cup final. They played against the Chicago Fire. The Wizards won the game 1–0 with a goal from Miklos Molnar. This made them MLS Cup Champions! Tony Meola was named the MLS Cup MVP.
Ups and Downs (2001–2004)
After winning the championship, the team had some struggles in 2001 and 2002. They still made the playoffs but lost in the first round both times.
In 2003, the Wizards played better. They won their first playoff series against the Colorado Rapids. But they lost a close game to the San Jose Earthquakes in the conference final.
The Wizards had another strong season in 2004. They finished first in their conference. In the playoffs, they beat the San Jose Earthquakes in a thrilling series. They then defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy to reach their second MLS Cup final. In the final, they lost 3–2 to D.C. United.
Moving East and New Ownership (2005–2010)
In 2005, the Wizards moved to the Eastern Conference. They missed the playoffs that year. After the season, their star player, Preki, retired.
In 2006, the team just missed the playoffs. In August 2006, Lamar Hunt sold the club to a new group of owners called OnGoal, LLC. This group wanted to keep the team in Kansas City.
The 2007 season was dedicated to Lamar Hunt, who had passed away. The team started well and made the playoffs. They won their first playoff series but lost to the Houston Dynamo in the conference final.
In 2008, the Wizards started playing their home games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round. In 2009, the team had trouble scoring goals. The general manager, Peter Vermes, became the head coach.
In 2010, the Wizards played a friendly game against the famous English team Manchester United F.C.. They won 2–1 in front of a huge crowd of over 52,000 fans. This was a record for a soccer game in Kansas City. The Wizards finished third in their conference but just missed the playoffs.
The Sporting Rebrand and New Stadium (2011–2012)
In 2011, the team changed its name from the Wizards to Sporting Kansas City. This new name was inspired by European sports clubs. Along with the name change, they opened their new stadium, Children's Mercy Park, in Kansas City, Kansas. This made them the first major league team to play in stadiums on both sides of the state line in Kansas City.
Because their new stadium wasn't ready at the start of the 2011 season, Sporting Kansas City played their first ten games away from home. They only won one of those games. But once they started playing at Children's Mercy Park, they did much better. They finished the season with the most points in the Eastern Conference. They reached the Eastern Conference finals but lost to the Houston Dynamo.
Sporting KC started the 2012 season with seven wins in a row. They set an MLS record for not allowing a shot on goal for 335 minutes! They finished first in the East. Key players like Graham Zusi, Jimmy Nielsen, and Matt Besler helped them succeed. Sporting KC won the 2012 U.S. Open Cup by beating Seattle Sounders FC. This win helped them qualify for a big international tournament called the CONCACAF Champions League.
MLS Cup Champions Again (2013)
In 2013, Sporting Kansas City kept their star players like Graham Zusi and Matt Besler. They finished second in the Eastern Conference. In the 2013 MLS Playoffs, they beat the NE Revolution and the Houston Dynamo. This sent them to MLS Cup 2013.
Sporting KC played against Real Salt Lake in the final. The game was tied 1–1 after regular time and overtime. Sporting KC won the championship in a penalty shootout (7–6). It was the coldest MLS Cup game ever recorded!
Moving Back West (2014–Present)
In 2014, Sporting KC was knocked out of the playoffs early.
On October 27, 2014, the league announced that Sporting Kansas City would move from the Eastern Conference back to the Western Conference. This happened because two new teams joined the league in 2015. In 2015, Sporting finished sixth in the Western Conference and made the playoffs. They lost in a penalty shootout to the Portland Timbers.
Neal Patterson, one of the team's owners, passed away in July 2017. The team honored him on their jerseys and at Children's Mercy Park. Later that month, they traded player Dom Dwyer for a record amount of money.
The team won the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by beating the New York Red Bulls 2–1. This was their fourth Open Cup title and their third in six years. Head coach Peter Vermes has a perfect record of 4–0 in cup finals with the club.
Another club owner, Pat Curran, passed away in October 2024.
Team Colors and Badge
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Sporting Kansas City's main colors are "sporting blue" and "dark indigo." "Lead" is a third color. The team's main logo is shaped like a teardrop. It shows a special design of the Kansas–Missouri state line. The Kansas side has blue stripes, and the Missouri side has an interlocking "SC."
The shape of the logo reminds people of the team's old "Kansas City Wizards" logo. The state line shows that fans come from both Kansas and Missouri. The eleven stripes in the logo represent the eleven players on a soccer team. The "SC" stands for Sporting Club. It is inspired by symbols of health, strength, and movement.
Sponsorship
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Sleeve sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–2012 | Adidas | — | |
| 2013–2019 | Ivy Investments | — | |
| 2020 | Compass Minerals | ||
| 2021 | Victory Project | Compass Minerals Children's Mercy |
|
| 2022–present | Compass Minerals | — | |
Uniform Evolution
Home Uniforms: 1996–2010
          1996–1997
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  1998–1999
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    2000–2002
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   2003–2004
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     2005
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   2006–2007
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    2008–2009
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    2010
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Home Uniforms: 2011–Present
     2011–2012
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   2013–2014
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     2015–2016
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     2017–2018
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     2019–2020
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   2021–2022
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    2023–
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Third Uniforms
     2013–2014
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     2015–2016
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     2024
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Where Sporting KC Plays: Stadiums
Arrowhead Stadium
From 1996 to 2007, the Wizards played their home games at Arrowhead Stadium. This stadium is mostly used for American football by the Kansas City Chiefs. For many years, parts of the stadium were covered to limit seating. Later, fans could sit all around the field.
Even after moving, the Wizards used Arrowhead for special big games. For example, in 2008, they played a game there against the Los Angeles Galaxy when David Beckham was playing. In 2010, they played a friendly game against Manchester United and won. Recently, they used it again for a game against Inter Miami to fit a large crowd for Lionel Messi.
CommunityAmerica Ballpark
The Wizards played at CommunityAmerica Ballpark from 2008 to 2010. This stadium is in Kansas City, Kansas, and is also used by a baseball team. The Wizards helped pay for new bleachers to make the stadium bigger. Its capacity became 10,385 seats.
The team had planned to build a new stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. But a financial crisis stopped those plans.
Children's Mercy Park
The team then looked for a new stadium location. They found a spot in Kansas City, Kansas, near CommunityAmerica Ballpark. In 2010, they started building the new stadium.
When it first opened, the stadium was called Livestrong Sporting Park. It cost $200 million to build. It was the first "European style" soccer stadium in the United States. Later, the name changed to Sporting Park.
On November 19, 2015, the stadium was renamed Children's Mercy Park. This was part of a ten-year deal with Children's Mercy Hospital.
| Name | Location | Years in use |
|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, Missouri | 1996–2007 |
| CommunityAmerica Ballpark | Kansas City, Kansas | 2008–2010 |
| Children's Mercy Park | 2011–present |
Other Stadiums Used for Special Games:
- Blue Valley Sports Complex; Overland Park, Kansas (2001, 2004, 2006, 2011); used for 6 games in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
- Julian Field; Parkville, Missouri (2005); used for 2 games in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
- Hermann Stadium; St. Louis, Missouri (2009); used for 1 game in the North American SuperLiga
- Durwood Soccer Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri (2010); used for 1 game in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Sporting KC Fan Culture
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Supporters
Sporting Kansas City often sells out its games. As of August 2017, they had over 100 straight sellouts! The team has 14,000 season-ticket holders, and 3,000 people are on a waiting list. Sporting KC has many young fans, with season-ticket holders averaging 29.7 years old.
The main group of fans is called "The Cauldron." They cheer from the North side of Children's Mercy Park. The name "Cauldron" comes from the team's old name, "Wizards." Since 2010, many new fan groups have joined The Cauldron.
Some of these groups include:
- The Emeritus
- Drainage Pond SC
- Monster Squad
- La Barra KC
- Mass Street Mob
- King City Yardbirds
- Fountain City Ultras
- Trenches
- Ladies of SKC
The South Stand SC cheers from the South end of the stadium. This group includes The Wedge and Ad Astra SKC. The American Outlaws – Kansas City Chapter also supports the team from the stands.
Mascot
"Blue the Dog" is the official mascot for Sporting Kansas City.
Rivalries
Sporting KC vs. Houston Dynamo
Sporting KC and the Houston Dynamo have played each other many times. They used to be in the same conference. They often faced each other in the playoffs, which started their rivalry. As of 2022, Sporting KC has a close record against the Dynamo.
Sporting KC vs. Real Salt Lake
Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake have also had many close games. They played against each other in the MLS Cup final in 2013. That game was the coldest MLS Cup final ever!
Sporting KC vs. Portland Timbers
Both Portland and Kansas City have become big soccer cities. Their women's soccer teams, the Portland Thorns and the Kansas City Current, are also big rivals.
Sporting KC vs. St. Louis City SC
Sporting KC started a new rivalry with St. Louis City SC when they joined the league in 2023. Before their first game, there was some tension between the fan groups. St. Louis City won the first game in May 2023. But Sporting KC won the second game in September. In the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs, Sporting Kansas City, who were the lower-ranked team, beat the top-ranked St. Louis team in their first playoff matchup.
How to Watch Sporting KC Games: Broadcasting
Since 2023, you can watch every Sporting Kansas City game on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app.
Before 2023, games were shown on local TV channels like KMCI-TV. Nate Bukaty was the play-by-play announcer, and former player Andy Gruenebaum gave commentary. Sporting Kansas City also had its own TV network that showed games in six states.
Local radio coverage in English is on Sports Radio 810 WHB. Spanish broadcasts are on KCZZ (ESPN Deportes Kansas City 1480AM).
Sporting KC Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Head Coaches
| Name | Nation | Time as Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Newman |  |
October 11, 1995 – April 14, 1999 |
| Ken Fogarty (interim) |  |
April 14, 1999 – April 28, 1999 |
| Bob Gansler |  |
April 28, 1999 – July 19, 2006 |
| Brian Bliss (interim) | |
July 19, 2006 – December 31, 2006 |
| Curt Onalfo | |
November 27, 2006 – August 3, 2009 |
| Peter Vermes | |
August 4, 2009 – November 10, 2009 (interim) November 10, 2009 – Present |
General Managers and Presidents
| Name | Time in Role |
|---|---|
| Tim Latta | 1996 |
| Doug Newman | 1997–1999 |
| Curt Johnson | 1999–2006 |
| Robb Heineman | 2006–2016 |
| Jake Reid | 2016–Present |
Sporting KC Achievements
| National Titles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Wins | Years Won | |
| MLS Cup | 2 | 2000, 2013 | |
| Supporters' Shield | 1 | 2000 | |
| U.S. Open Cup | 4 | 2004, 2012, 2015, 2017 | |
Individual Club Awards
- MLS Fair Play Award (4): 1998, 2002, 2005, 2006
- CONCACAF Champions League Fair Play Award: 2019
Team Records
Recent Seasons
Here's a look at Sporting KC's recent seasons. For all seasons, see List of Sporting Kansas City seasons.
| Season | League | Position | Playoffs | USOC | Continental / Other | Average attendance |
Top Goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div | League | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Conf. | Overall | Name(s) | Goals | ||||||
| 2017 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 40 | 29 | +11 | 49 | 1.44 | 5th | 11th | R1 | W | Did not qualify | 19,565 |  Gerso Fernandes |
8 | |
| 2018 | MLS | 34 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 65 | 40 | +25 | 62 | 1.82 | 1st | 3rd | SF | QF | 19,774 |  Dániel Sallói |
14 | |||
| 2019 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 49 | 67 | –18 | 38 | 1.12 | 11th | 21st | Did not qualify | R4 | CONCACAF Champions League | SF | 18,601 |  Felipe Gutiérrez |
12 | |
| 2020 | MLS | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 39 | 1.86 | 1st | 5th | QF | Not Held | MLS is Back tournament | QF | 21,188 |  Alan Pulido |
6 | |
| 2021 | MLS | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 58 | 1.7 | 3rd | 4th | SF | Not Held | Did not qualify | 18,757 | Dániel Sallói |
16 | ||
| 2022 | MLS | 34 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 42 | 54 | -12 | 40 | 1.18 | 12th | 23rd | Did not qualify | SF | 18,365 |  Johnny Russell |
8 | |||
| 2023 | MLS | 34 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 48 | 51 | -3 | 44 | 1.29 | 8th | 15th | SF | R4 | 18.616 | Alan Pulido |
14 | |||
1. Avg. attendance includes statistics from league matches only.
2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league, MLS Cup playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches.
International Tournaments
Sporting Kansas City has also played in several international tournaments:
- 2001 Copa Merconorte
- 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup
- 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup
- 2009 North American SuperLiga
- 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League
- 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League
- 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League
- 2019 CONCACAF Champions League
Player Records
Top Goalscorers
| # | Name | Years Played | MLS Goals | Playoff Goals | Open Cup Goals | CCL Goals | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preki |
1996–2000 2002–2005 |
71 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 81 |
| 2 | Johnny Russell |
2018–present | 60 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 67 |
| 3 | Dom Dwyer |
2012–2017 | 57 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 66 |
| 4 | Dániel Sallói |
2017–present | 47 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 60 |
| 5 | Davy Arnaud |
2002–2011 | 43 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 52 |
| 6 | Josh Wolff |
2003–2006 2008–2010 |
43 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 46 |
| 7 | Chris Klein |
1998–2005 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 43 |
| 8 |  Kei Kamara |
2009–2013 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 41 |
| 9 | Graham Zusi |
2009–present | 31 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 35 |
| 10 | Mo Johnston |
1996–2001 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| Benny Feilhaber |
2013–2017 2019 |
29 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 32 | |
| 12 |  Vitalis Takawira |
1996–2000 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| 13 |  Scott Sealy |
2005–2008 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 |
Here are some other records for MLS regular season games:
- Most Games Played: Graham Zusi (355)
- Most Goals: Preki (71)
- Most Match-Winning Goals: Dániel Sallói (16)
- Most Assists: Preki (98)
- Most Wins (Goalkeeper): Tim Melia (73)
- Most Shutouts (Goalkeeper): Tim Melia (52)
- Most Saves (Goalkeeper): Tim Melia (530)
- Most Ejections: Roger Espinoza (11)
Sporting Legends
"Sporting Legends" is a special program started in 2013. It honors people who have been very important to Sporting Kansas City and to soccer in the area.
Here are some of the people named as Sporting Legends:
- Preki (2013) – A top player, he was MLS MVP twice and is the club's all-time leader in goals and assists.
- Tony Meola (2013) – A great goalkeeper, he was MLS MVP and Goalkeeper of the Year in 2000, and MLS Cup MVP.
- Bob Gansler (2013) – He coached the team to the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield in 2000.
- Peter Vermes (2014) – He won the MLS Cup as a player and later as a coach. He also led the team to multiple U.S. Open Cup wins.
- Jimmy Conrad (2014) – A strong defender, he was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2005.
- Lamar Hunt (2014) – He was one of the founders of Major League Soccer and owned the Kansas City Wizards for many years.
- Chris Klein (2015) – He was part of the 2000 MLS Cup winning team and a multiple-time MLS All-Star.
- Kerry Zavagnin (2016) – He won the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield in 2000 and the U.S. Open Cup in 2004.
- Mo Johnston (2017) – He was part of the 2000 MLS Cup winning team and an MLS All-Star.
- Josh Wolff (2019) – He helped the team win the U.S. Open Cup in 2004.
- Jimmy Nielsen (2021) – A key goalkeeper, he won the U.S. Open Cup in 2012 and the MLS Cup in 2013. He was also MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2012.
- Davy Arnaud (2022) — He won the U.S. Open Cup in 2004 and was team captain.
- Benny Feilhaber (2024) — He was a big part of the 2013 MLS Cup winning team and won two U.S. Open Cups.
Hat Tricks (3 Goals in One Game)
| Player | Date | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Vitalis Takawira |
May 16, 1998 | New England Revolution |
| Preki |
September 5, 1998 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Davy Arnaud |
July 3, 2004 | Dallas Burn |
| Eddie Johnson |
May 26, 2007 | New England Revolution |
| June 2, 2007 | New York Red Bulls | |
 Birahim Diop |
October 23, 2010 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Dom Dwyer |
July 1, 2015 | FC Dallas |
| Gerso |
May 17, 2017 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Johnny Russell |
April 20, 2018 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| Krisztián Németh |
March 30, 2019 | Montreal Impact |
| Johnny Russell |
May 26, 2019 | Seattle Sounders FC |
+ Dom Dwyer scored four goals in this game
Images for kids
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Jimmy Conrad played with Kansas City from 2003 to 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Sporting Kansas City para niños
- List of Sporting Kansas City seasons
- Sports in Kansas City
