It's a happy anniversary for Sporting Kansas City and their fans today as it's the 10th anniversary of OnGoal LLC purchasing the Kansas City Wizards from Lamar Hunt. It was also the start of what would be one of the more remarkable turnarounds of a franchise in sports as Kansas City went from a poorly attended, often forgotten also-ran in MLS to a model franchise in the league with arguably still the best soccer specific stadium in the country. The club has gone from getting next to no media attention both locally and nationally to receiving regular coverage not only in the paper but on radio, not just with updates of the scores, but with broadcasts of the games. The same is true for television locally. Nationally, because of their success on the field and the atmosphere created by the fans at Children's Mercy Park, Sporting KC has become a regular on national television over the past few years.
It really is amazing to think back on the despair that I felt about the potential of Kansas City being able to retain the team that I loved back when Hunt put the team up for sale after the 2004 season. The thought running through many of the few fans that Kansas City did have at the time was "when's the announcement coming." When will the announcement come that the Wizards are moving to Tulsa, San Antonio, Philadelphia, San Diego, or a number of other rumored locations that came up during the almost two years the team was for sale. During that time the Heart of America Soccer Foundation was founded with the goal of helping to find new owners for the club, similar in set up to Soccer Silicon Valley, which had attempted to save the San Jose Earthquakes. Then came the emergence of OnGoal LLC, the ownership group including Neal Patterson, Cliff Illig, Greg Maday, Pat Curran, and Robb Heineman. The group purchased the club late in the 2006 season and the rest has become history.
Just a couple weeks ago Kerry Zavagnin had come out to the Cauldron tailgate to thank the fans for their support ahead of his induction as a Sporting Legend at half time of Sporting KC's 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. A few of the fans that have been around the club since his playing days, myself included, got to have a good discussion with him about the development of the team. One thing he'd asked us was what the biggest change that we've seen with the club. My response to him was the professionalism of the club, from the top down. While I appreciate everything that Hunt did for the team in creating it and not immediately selling it off when the team was for sale, the team didn't feel as professional as it does now. It doesn't feel like an afterthought, not just by the ownership, but by the fans and other people in the city. It's treated like a legitimate team that is to be taken seriously, not a dog and (mini) pony show that is to be enjoyed and then move on with your life. Now, while it still hasn't fully reached the level of the Chiefs or the Royals, it is viewed in a positive light and while maybe not enjoyed by all, has at least earned more respect than the Wizards did in their early years.
The professionalism is reflected in almost every aspect of the club's off the field work, but especially in advertising where the club doesn't market just to families and children, it's pushed itself towards real sports fans and soccer fans. Success on the field under OnGoal has certainly helped that as well, especially at a time when both the Royals and Chiefs were struggling on the field. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the club's attendance, where the club has sold out over 80 straight home MLS games at Children's Mercy Park. Instead of drawing numbers in the low five digits or high four digits, KC is regularly getting over 20,000 instead of CMP for games. The most obvious change comes when reviewing the club's average attendance, under the Hunt's, Sporting averaged around 11,060 per game and had five seasons where the club averaged less than 10,000 people at game at Arrowhead Stadium. Since 2007, the club has averaged almost 16,000 a game, and that includes three years playing at Community America Ballpark, where capacity was just over 10,000. Since the opening of CMP, the club has averaged over 19,400 fans per game, a stark contrast from the Hunt years that have made Sporting KC one of the envies of MLS teams.
On the field, Sporting Kansas City have won an equal number of trophies between the two different ownership groups with the club winning three under the Hunt's (2000 Supporters' Shield, 2000 MLS Cup, 2004 US Open Cup) and three under OnGoal (2012 US Open Cup, 2013 MLS Cup, 2015 US Open Cup). But Sporting has accomplished those feats in a much different and much more competitive MLS than there was under the Hunt's. In the Hunt's last year owning the club, MLS had just 12 teams, it's since grown to 20 and will be expanding to 24 in the next couple years. Even factoring in the stronger, bigger MLS, Sporting KC has been more successful on the field under OnGoal than under the Hunt's, in 11 seasons under the Hunt's Sporting made the playoffs seven time, a number equaled by OnGoal in nine seasons (and will be passed if KC holds onto a spot this year). In terms of wins, Sporting has racked up 128 in 318 league games while KC got 140 in 339 under the Hunt's, KC has averaged 1.46 points per game under OnGoal, while averaging 1.31 under the Hunt's (I'm putting the 2006 season all under Hunt since there was really no opportunity for OnGoal to make moves that season).
In the end while many fans get frustrated with the way the team performs on the field a lot of that comes from the high expectations that not just the fans have put on the club, but the expectations that the club have put on themselves from the success that they have had since OnGoal took over the club. As MLS continues to expand and MLS continues its transition from MLS 2.0 to MLS 3.0, OnGoal and Sporting will need to continue to evolve the way that they go about business with the team to keep the team competitive. But based on what they've done with the club so far I have faith that they can build it successfully forward.
Showing posts with label Lamar Hunt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lamar Hunt. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Thursday, July 16, 2015
#TBT The Rochester Wizards
I read a really good article this week over on Empire of Soccer called The Rise and Fall of the Rochester Rhinos. It's a history of the only non-MLS team to win the US Open Cup, and their ascension to being an MLS expansion favor to almost going out of existence. The club is now appears to be back on their feet in the USL.
The reason I bring the article up is because Kansas City's MLS history almost became Rochester's MLS history. As I've previously mentioned, after the 2004 season, Lamar Hunt put the Kansas City Wizards up for sale. Throughout the coming 2005 season, many rumors surfaced about potential locations the Wizards were set to be moved to. From Tulsa, to San Antonio, to New York, to yes, Rochester. In fact, Rochester was arguably the favorite to land the Wizards. As the article mentions, after Rochester had failed in their bid to get an expansion team in 2005 when the league added Chivas USA and Real Sale Lake, they turned their attention to purchasing the for sale Wizards. At the time, Rochester was drawing pretty much the same if not more than KC was at Arrowhead, even though Rochester was in the minor leagues. According to one of the team's original owners, Steve Donner the deal to move the Wizards to Rochester was pretty much a done deal, "we had an agreement pretty much done in principle with Kansas City to move the Wizards here."
I remember being told later that it was far enough along that the Hunts were counting parking spots in Rochester for the upcoming move of the Wizards to Rochester. According to Donner in the article, one of the things that apparently held up the deal was that while the Hunts were going to pay the annual league expenses, in exchange they wanted equity in the stadium. The lack of their own deep pocketed partner seemed to be a main sticking point.
On the opposite side I still remember being told about Lamar Hunt's want to keep the team in Kansas City. In the end though we all know that Hunt didn't sell the Wizards to the Rochester ownership group in 2005, and with their financial issues over the next few years, it was probably for the best for the league. Instead in 2006, Hunt sold the team to OnGoal LLC, and a little less than five years after the sale,Sporting Park opened to a sell out crowd.
The reason I bring the article up is because Kansas City's MLS history almost became Rochester's MLS history. As I've previously mentioned, after the 2004 season, Lamar Hunt put the Kansas City Wizards up for sale. Throughout the coming 2005 season, many rumors surfaced about potential locations the Wizards were set to be moved to. From Tulsa, to San Antonio, to New York, to yes, Rochester. In fact, Rochester was arguably the favorite to land the Wizards. As the article mentions, after Rochester had failed in their bid to get an expansion team in 2005 when the league added Chivas USA and Real Sale Lake, they turned their attention to purchasing the for sale Wizards. At the time, Rochester was drawing pretty much the same if not more than KC was at Arrowhead, even though Rochester was in the minor leagues. According to one of the team's original owners, Steve Donner the deal to move the Wizards to Rochester was pretty much a done deal, "we had an agreement pretty much done in principle with Kansas City to move the Wizards here."
I remember being told later that it was far enough along that the Hunts were counting parking spots in Rochester for the upcoming move of the Wizards to Rochester. According to Donner in the article, one of the things that apparently held up the deal was that while the Hunts were going to pay the annual league expenses, in exchange they wanted equity in the stadium. The lack of their own deep pocketed partner seemed to be a main sticking point.
On the opposite side I still remember being told about Lamar Hunt's want to keep the team in Kansas City. In the end though we all know that Hunt didn't sell the Wizards to the Rochester ownership group in 2005, and with their financial issues over the next few years, it was probably for the best for the league. Instead in 2006, Hunt sold the team to OnGoal LLC, and a little less than five years after the sale,Sporting Park opened to a sell out crowd.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Sporting Name Three to be Inducted as Sporting Legends
Sporting Club announced today that they will be inducting three people as Sporting Legends this year. After a fan vote that included Kerry Zavagnin, Chris Klein, and Mo Johnston, two players were chosen, Peter Vermes and Jimmy Conrad. The team also announced that the team's original owner Lamar Hunt would be inducted as well.
The trio will be inducted on Friday during half time of Sporting KC's game against the Philadelphia Union.
Of the players available for selection, neither one was my choice selection this year, my vote went to Mo Johnston. For me I was only looking at Vermes' playing career with Kansas City. With him currently being the coach of the club I personally had seen his coaching history as something to not yet be considered in the discussion. I felt of the candidates available, on their playing alone, Vermes was the weakest candidate for inclusion as a Sporting Legend. Based on his time as coach I figured once he was done coaching he would then go in as a legend for both his play and his coaching. But in the release the team put out they are including his coaching accomplishments. I understand including it, cause they are great accomplishments, but to me it just doesn't sit right when he is still the team's coach.
As for Conrad, he is 100% deserving of going in as a Sporting Legend. For me though I felt that at this time, Johnston was the more deserving candidate. Honestly Conrad was probably second in my head behind Johnston.
Then there's Hunt, who is probably the most deserving candidate of anyone that has been elected as a Sporting Legend. That's one of my issues with the Sporting Legends system right now, the fact that Hunt was not the first person selected for the honor. When the team announced Preki, Tony Meola, and Bob Gansler as the first class, I'd hoped that Hunt would be the second class, inducted by himself, getting the attention and honor he deserved as the team's founder and for bringing not just the team to this city, but bringing MLS to this country, and helping to keep KC and the league alive through the lean years of the league. I know I've said some bad things about Hunt over the years, especially after he announced the team but he's done so much for the team, he could have sold it to Rochester, San Antonio, or somewhere else before OnGoal came in and purchased the team. He really, I think, he deserved to be in a class all on his own.
That leads to another thing with the Sporting Legends program right now. I understand that there is catching up to do with regards to inductees into the program, we've gone almost 20 years without one, so there is history in the team that needs to be recognized and celebrated. But in the first two years there have now been six selected.
In my mind there aren't that many more players I would consider "Legends" for the club at this point who are no longer playing. Really in my mind the only ones right now not in that should be, are the three who didn't get in this year (Johnston, Klein, and Zavagnin), along with Nick Garcia, Jimmy Nielsen, and Josh Wolff. And even all of that may be pushing it, look at the likes of DC United, who only have 10 players in their Hall of Tradition, only twice have they inducted more than one per year, and they started in 2003. Or the Chicago Fire who have seven in their Ring of Honor who have never inducted more than one a year. As I said earlier, I understand that there's a need to catch up, but I'm not sure there a reason to basically induct as many in two years as the Five have since 2003. I would hope the inductions slow down to just one a year, if that, at this point. I don't want to get to the point where a player is being elected just to elect someone.
The trio will be inducted on Friday during half time of Sporting KC's game against the Philadelphia Union.
Of the players available for selection, neither one was my choice selection this year, my vote went to Mo Johnston. For me I was only looking at Vermes' playing career with Kansas City. With him currently being the coach of the club I personally had seen his coaching history as something to not yet be considered in the discussion. I felt of the candidates available, on their playing alone, Vermes was the weakest candidate for inclusion as a Sporting Legend. Based on his time as coach I figured once he was done coaching he would then go in as a legend for both his play and his coaching. But in the release the team put out they are including his coaching accomplishments. I understand including it, cause they are great accomplishments, but to me it just doesn't sit right when he is still the team's coach.
As for Conrad, he is 100% deserving of going in as a Sporting Legend. For me though I felt that at this time, Johnston was the more deserving candidate. Honestly Conrad was probably second in my head behind Johnston.
Then there's Hunt, who is probably the most deserving candidate of anyone that has been elected as a Sporting Legend. That's one of my issues with the Sporting Legends system right now, the fact that Hunt was not the first person selected for the honor. When the team announced Preki, Tony Meola, and Bob Gansler as the first class, I'd hoped that Hunt would be the second class, inducted by himself, getting the attention and honor he deserved as the team's founder and for bringing not just the team to this city, but bringing MLS to this country, and helping to keep KC and the league alive through the lean years of the league. I know I've said some bad things about Hunt over the years, especially after he announced the team but he's done so much for the team, he could have sold it to Rochester, San Antonio, or somewhere else before OnGoal came in and purchased the team. He really, I think, he deserved to be in a class all on his own.
That leads to another thing with the Sporting Legends program right now. I understand that there is catching up to do with regards to inductees into the program, we've gone almost 20 years without one, so there is history in the team that needs to be recognized and celebrated. But in the first two years there have now been six selected.
In my mind there aren't that many more players I would consider "Legends" for the club at this point who are no longer playing. Really in my mind the only ones right now not in that should be, are the three who didn't get in this year (Johnston, Klein, and Zavagnin), along with Nick Garcia, Jimmy Nielsen, and Josh Wolff. And even all of that may be pushing it, look at the likes of DC United, who only have 10 players in their Hall of Tradition, only twice have they inducted more than one per year, and they started in 2003. Or the Chicago Fire who have seven in their Ring of Honor who have never inducted more than one a year. As I said earlier, I understand that there's a need to catch up, but I'm not sure there a reason to basically induct as many in two years as the Five have since 2003. I would hope the inductions slow down to just one a year, if that, at this point. I don't want to get to the point where a player is being elected just to elect someone.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
The Case for Sporting Legends
Today Sporting KC announced five former players for the club who are up for election to become the second class of Sporting Legends, a hall of fame type program created to honor the greats that have played for KC throughout the years. Last year the club elected Preki, Tony Meola, and Bob Gansler to the first class. This year the player elected to become a Sporting Legend will be decided by fans in a vote on the team's website and social media. The top vote getter will be unveiled later this summer. So I figured I'd take a look at the five players up for selection and who should be selected.
First for me, I can't vote for people that are still a part of the club. So sorry to Peter Vermes and Kerry Zavagnin, but the two of them fall off the selection process for me. Both I think will end up becoming Sporting Legends eventually. I think the two will go in for different reasons though. For me, I'm not sure that Vermes playing career here alone is worthy of being considered a Sporting Legend. Vermes played less than 80 league games for KC, the fewest of the five players available. He was named defender of the year in 2000 and was an MLS Best XI pick that year. But honestly I'm not sure that he's a club legend on that alone. What he's done as technical director and head coach will be what carries him to that status.
For Zavagnin his play on the field speaks for itself and should make him a Legend. He is the team record holder for league minutes played at 20,516, minutes in all competitions at 25,290, appearances in all competitions at 291, and starts in both league (228) and all competitions (281). He's second on the team in league appearances at 237. But like Vermes I just can't vote for him when he's still a member of the club, and technically he's still never left since 2000, transitioning from a player in 2008 to an assistant in 2009.
So with those two off the table in my opinion my vote comes down to three remaining players, Jimmy Conrad, Mo Johnston, and Chris Klein. All three will eventually be added to the list but it comes down to who should be in the second class. Two of the three, Conrad and Klein captained the club for at least a short period of time with the club. The two are also comparable when it comes to appearances in all competitions, (230 for Conrad, 235 for Klein), league appearances (204 for Conrad, 200 for Klein), starts in all competitions (228 for Conrad, 216 for Klein) and league play (203 to 183). Klein as the more offensive minded player obviously finished with more goals he was second on the team when he left with 39 in league and 43 in all competitions, he's since fallen to fourth in both. Compared to Conrad's 17 goals (both league and all competitions) which are both team highs for defenders. Klein is also second on the team all time in assists with 45 league and 52 in all competitions. Comparatively, Conrad helped to anchor the 2004 back line that was one of the best in MLS history at that time.
The last nominee, Johnston burst onto the scene for KC in 1996, scoring two goals in his debut, a 6-4 win over the Columbus Crew. By the time he retired after the 2001 season, Johnston was at the time the team's second leading scorer in league play with 31 and in all competitions with 32, he's since dropped to sixth in both of those categories. He also added 28 league assists, 32 in all competitions. When he retired he was the team leader in minutes played in both league play (12,600) and all competitions (14,182). He also ended his career as the leader in league (149) and all competition appearances (169), same for starts (142 league, 157 all competitions). And he is also part of one of the great images in team history with his bloody face in the 2000 Western Conference finals after taking a boot to the face in the process of helping to set up Miklos Molnar's series winner in a mini game, sending KC to MLS Cup.
For me this is a tough decision. Conrad is arguably my favorite KC player of all time (my son's name is Conrad). Meanwhile, Johnston was one of my original heroes while growing up watching the team play. And Klein was one of the players I tried to model my play on the wing after when I played myself.
In the end, as I said, all five of these players will eventually be Sporting Legends, but for this vote I'm going to vote for the player that gave the most legendary moment in their legendary career, and that's Johnston. That play of him taking the boot to the face is forever etched in my mind watching it happen from my parents seats at Arrowhead. He deserves to go in in this class.
An aside.
While I vote for Johnston of the five players available to choose from, I continue to be disappointed that the team's original founder, Lamar Hunt is not included or inducted yet as a Sporting Legend. We were told last year that Hunt deserved to be in a class of his own. To me there's no reason at all why Hunt should not be a Sporting Legend yet.
First for me, I can't vote for people that are still a part of the club. So sorry to Peter Vermes and Kerry Zavagnin, but the two of them fall off the selection process for me. Both I think will end up becoming Sporting Legends eventually. I think the two will go in for different reasons though. For me, I'm not sure that Vermes playing career here alone is worthy of being considered a Sporting Legend. Vermes played less than 80 league games for KC, the fewest of the five players available. He was named defender of the year in 2000 and was an MLS Best XI pick that year. But honestly I'm not sure that he's a club legend on that alone. What he's done as technical director and head coach will be what carries him to that status.
For Zavagnin his play on the field speaks for itself and should make him a Legend. He is the team record holder for league minutes played at 20,516, minutes in all competitions at 25,290, appearances in all competitions at 291, and starts in both league (228) and all competitions (281). He's second on the team in league appearances at 237. But like Vermes I just can't vote for him when he's still a member of the club, and technically he's still never left since 2000, transitioning from a player in 2008 to an assistant in 2009.
So with those two off the table in my opinion my vote comes down to three remaining players, Jimmy Conrad, Mo Johnston, and Chris Klein. All three will eventually be added to the list but it comes down to who should be in the second class. Two of the three, Conrad and Klein captained the club for at least a short period of time with the club. The two are also comparable when it comes to appearances in all competitions, (230 for Conrad, 235 for Klein), league appearances (204 for Conrad, 200 for Klein), starts in all competitions (228 for Conrad, 216 for Klein) and league play (203 to 183). Klein as the more offensive minded player obviously finished with more goals he was second on the team when he left with 39 in league and 43 in all competitions, he's since fallen to fourth in both. Compared to Conrad's 17 goals (both league and all competitions) which are both team highs for defenders. Klein is also second on the team all time in assists with 45 league and 52 in all competitions. Comparatively, Conrad helped to anchor the 2004 back line that was one of the best in MLS history at that time.
The last nominee, Johnston burst onto the scene for KC in 1996, scoring two goals in his debut, a 6-4 win over the Columbus Crew. By the time he retired after the 2001 season, Johnston was at the time the team's second leading scorer in league play with 31 and in all competitions with 32, he's since dropped to sixth in both of those categories. He also added 28 league assists, 32 in all competitions. When he retired he was the team leader in minutes played in both league play (12,600) and all competitions (14,182). He also ended his career as the leader in league (149) and all competition appearances (169), same for starts (142 league, 157 all competitions). And he is also part of one of the great images in team history with his bloody face in the 2000 Western Conference finals after taking a boot to the face in the process of helping to set up Miklos Molnar's series winner in a mini game, sending KC to MLS Cup.
For me this is a tough decision. Conrad is arguably my favorite KC player of all time (my son's name is Conrad). Meanwhile, Johnston was one of my original heroes while growing up watching the team play. And Klein was one of the players I tried to model my play on the wing after when I played myself.
In the end, as I said, all five of these players will eventually be Sporting Legends, but for this vote I'm going to vote for the player that gave the most legendary moment in their legendary career, and that's Johnston. That play of him taking the boot to the face is forever etched in my mind watching it happen from my parents seats at Arrowhead. He deserves to go in in this class.
An aside.
While I vote for Johnston of the five players available to choose from, I continue to be disappointed that the team's original founder, Lamar Hunt is not included or inducted yet as a Sporting Legend. We were told last year that Hunt deserved to be in a class of his own. To me there's no reason at all why Hunt should not be a Sporting Legend yet.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
MLS Cup Trophy Coming to LiveSTRONG (If Only for a Year)
Strike one up to the power of social media. The Wizards MLS Cup 2000 trophy has been found. After Sporting Times article a few weeks ago regarding the fate of the 2000 trophy, the question on where the trophy was has circled through not only the KC soccer community but had started to go through the MLS community as well.
Today the Star broke the news that the trophy is not in Dallas as I had though when I wrote my 2012 wishes, wanting the trophy to return to KC. In the end, the trophy never left Kansas City. The trophy has been in storage at Arrowhead since the renovations of the facility in 2007.
Clark Hunt, after hearing of the campaign to get the trophy back to Kansas City contacted Cliff Illig and Robb Heineman offering to display the trophy at LiveSTRONG Sporting Park next year. The trophy will only stay at LSP for one year before going on display permanently in the Lamar Hunt Gallery at Arrow Stadium's Chief's Hall of Honor. In return, Sporting KC will get a replica of the trophy that will then be put on permanent display.
When OnGoal bought the team in 2006, part of the deal to sell the team was that Lamar Hunt and Hunt's Sports Group would retain the 2000 MLS Cup. This was because of how important it was to Lamar according to his son, Clark. “That trophy was very, very important to my father...it was his first trophy in MLS and first professional trophy since the Dallas Tornado (won the North American Soccer League) in 1971."
I appreciate the fact that the trophy is "found" and will be making it's way LiveSTRONG Sporting Park, if only for a year, but I still don't agree with everything that was said. Firstly, while I have no doubt of Clark's comments about the trophy being important to his father, I just question how important Clark sees it. It was so important in Clark's eyes that two years after the renovations at Arrowhead were completed the trophy was still in storage collecting dust. As soon as renovations were done the Chiefs Lombardi trophy was out and on display for fans.
I also cannot understate my admiration for Lamar Hunt, for not only bringing Major League Soccer to Kansas City, but helping work to make sure that MLS stayed in Kansas City. Yes he put the team up for sale, but he gave precedent to selling the Wizards to local ownership. He could have easily sold the team to New York businessman, Andrew Murstein (who wanted to move the team to New York and revive the Cosmos), or sold and moved the team to Rochester when the Raging Rhinos were outdrawing MLS teams on a regular basis, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Tulsa, or any number of the other cities that were rumored to be getting the Wizards. Instead he kept the team in Kansas City and along came OnGoal and the rest is history.
All that said, I can't think of a situation where an owner has sold a team and kept the trophy that the team won for a championship. But yet Lamar and HSG kept their trophy when OnGoal bought the team. I mean the Kauffman's didn't keep the Royals 85 World Series trophy, there's a replica of it apparently at the Kauffman Center, but the original is in the Royals Hall of Fame at Kauffman. Why isn't something like that done in this instance? Instead, Sporting is the one that will be getting the "replica" trophy. Yes I understand the trophy will stay local, it'll be at Arrowhead. It just doesn't seem right that a trophy for the team is staying with the former owner. Will the Chiefs Lombardi Trophy go if Hunt ever sells the Chiefs?
Today the Star broke the news that the trophy is not in Dallas as I had though when I wrote my 2012 wishes, wanting the trophy to return to KC. In the end, the trophy never left Kansas City. The trophy has been in storage at Arrowhead since the renovations of the facility in 2007.
Clark Hunt, after hearing of the campaign to get the trophy back to Kansas City contacted Cliff Illig and Robb Heineman offering to display the trophy at LiveSTRONG Sporting Park next year. The trophy will only stay at LSP for one year before going on display permanently in the Lamar Hunt Gallery at Arrow Stadium's Chief's Hall of Honor. In return, Sporting KC will get a replica of the trophy that will then be put on permanent display.
When OnGoal bought the team in 2006, part of the deal to sell the team was that Lamar Hunt and Hunt's Sports Group would retain the 2000 MLS Cup. This was because of how important it was to Lamar according to his son, Clark. “That trophy was very, very important to my father...it was his first trophy in MLS and first professional trophy since the Dallas Tornado (won the North American Soccer League) in 1971."
I appreciate the fact that the trophy is "found" and will be making it's way LiveSTRONG Sporting Park, if only for a year, but I still don't agree with everything that was said. Firstly, while I have no doubt of Clark's comments about the trophy being important to his father, I just question how important Clark sees it. It was so important in Clark's eyes that two years after the renovations at Arrowhead were completed the trophy was still in storage collecting dust. As soon as renovations were done the Chiefs Lombardi trophy was out and on display for fans.
I also cannot understate my admiration for Lamar Hunt, for not only bringing Major League Soccer to Kansas City, but helping work to make sure that MLS stayed in Kansas City. Yes he put the team up for sale, but he gave precedent to selling the Wizards to local ownership. He could have easily sold the team to New York businessman, Andrew Murstein (who wanted to move the team to New York and revive the Cosmos), or sold and moved the team to Rochester when the Raging Rhinos were outdrawing MLS teams on a regular basis, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Tulsa, or any number of the other cities that were rumored to be getting the Wizards. Instead he kept the team in Kansas City and along came OnGoal and the rest is history.
All that said, I can't think of a situation where an owner has sold a team and kept the trophy that the team won for a championship. But yet Lamar and HSG kept their trophy when OnGoal bought the team. I mean the Kauffman's didn't keep the Royals 85 World Series trophy, there's a replica of it apparently at the Kauffman Center, but the original is in the Royals Hall of Fame at Kauffman. Why isn't something like that done in this instance? Instead, Sporting is the one that will be getting the "replica" trophy. Yes I understand the trophy will stay local, it'll be at Arrowhead. It just doesn't seem right that a trophy for the team is staying with the former owner. Will the Chiefs Lombardi Trophy go if Hunt ever sells the Chiefs?
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Wizards Were THIS Close to Leaving KC
KC has gotten quite a few new fans over the past few years, and while they have heard the history of the team and the stories of the team potentially moving. But I would suggest for all fans, not just those that are newer read this story about the Rochester Rhinos no longer being on MLS' radar.
The reason for this is because you'll learn about how close Kansas City really did come to losing their MLS team to Rochester. For those that don't know the situation back in the later part of the 90's early part of the 00's, Rochester was drawing over 10,000 fans a game at a time when MLS was only drawing around 13,000 to 14,000 on average and on the low end in the 7,000 to 8,000 range. So Rochester appeared to be a team that would be above the minimum in the league.
How KC fits into this, is because KC was one of those teams at the low end of the attendance level. And while they weren't going to be put up for sale for another few years, back in 2002 Hunt's Sports Group met with the owners of the Rhinos in the hopes of getting the Wizards to move to Rochester into their new stadium, now called Sahlen's Stadium. I'd heard stories that the move was so close to happening that they were counting parking spots basically. Rochester's owners didn't have the funds at the time to meet MLS' year end cash call, but the plan would have been that Hunt would still own the team and meet the cash calls for equity in the stadium. The Rhinos ended up not making the deal because they were worried that Hunt would end up owning over 50 percent of the stadium if MLS never turned a profit. Rochester's loss turned out to be KC's gain. Even though KC fans had to live through Hunt officially putting the team up for sale, the rumored moves to New York or to San Antonio, or wherever else, OnGoal bought the team in 2006 and five years later we opened our home in KCK. Hope those of you that didn't know the history (and even those that didn't) enjoyed the look.
The reason for this is because you'll learn about how close Kansas City really did come to losing their MLS team to Rochester. For those that don't know the situation back in the later part of the 90's early part of the 00's, Rochester was drawing over 10,000 fans a game at a time when MLS was only drawing around 13,000 to 14,000 on average and on the low end in the 7,000 to 8,000 range. So Rochester appeared to be a team that would be above the minimum in the league.
How KC fits into this, is because KC was one of those teams at the low end of the attendance level. And while they weren't going to be put up for sale for another few years, back in 2002 Hunt's Sports Group met with the owners of the Rhinos in the hopes of getting the Wizards to move to Rochester into their new stadium, now called Sahlen's Stadium. I'd heard stories that the move was so close to happening that they were counting parking spots basically. Rochester's owners didn't have the funds at the time to meet MLS' year end cash call, but the plan would have been that Hunt would still own the team and meet the cash calls for equity in the stadium. The Rhinos ended up not making the deal because they were worried that Hunt would end up owning over 50 percent of the stadium if MLS never turned a profit. Rochester's loss turned out to be KC's gain. Even though KC fans had to live through Hunt officially putting the team up for sale, the rumored moves to New York or to San Antonio, or wherever else, OnGoal bought the team in 2006 and five years later we opened our home in KCK. Hope those of you that didn't know the history (and even those that didn't) enjoyed the look.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
5 Years Ago
Five years ago yesterday for Wizards fans will bring many mixed feelings. Yesterday was the five year anniversary of Lamar Hunt announcing that he was putting the Wizards up for sale. I say that this brings mixed feelings because at the time it brought rage, fear, and frustration to most if not all Wizards fans. But years later, after the purchasing of the team by OnGoal, that day is seen as a day when a big change occurred with the team and things started to turn around.
The day before the announcement was when the speculation started. Hunt had called a press conference for 2:30 pm the next day. This was shortly after the failing of Bi-State II which would have helped to renovate Arrowhead for Hunt's other KC team, the Chiefs. Immediately the thoughts of relocation and selling the team came up, but with the announcement being in KC relocation seemed extremely unlikely. The more hopeful people were hoping for either the announcement of a stadium deal, new investors, or potentially a World Cup qualifier returning to KC. Even those with contacts inside the front office didn't even know what the announcement was going to be about.
I remember exactly where I was that day. I was a senior in college and unfortunately had my European Reformation class right at the same time as the announcement. I dazed through class that day and took part of my final in that class before bolting back to my room and getting back on Bigsoccer to find out what had happened with the announcement. I get on my computer and the first thread I see is this. My heart like most Wizards fans immediately sank. The sadness quickly turned to rage at Hunt for doing this, for wanting to sell "my" team. I became so pissed at Hunt that I quit watching the Chiefs and vowed never to spend another dime on that team (this turned out to be false because as a Jackson County resident I'm helping to fund their stadium renovations). I still 5 years later have not watched more than a few plays a season of the Chiefs.
Here was Hunt's reasoning at the time for selling the team: "Similarly not feasible for the Wizards to not succeed without a SSS. I must concede I did not fully recognize this when the league first started. The recent failure of the Bi-State committee makes us realize that we need to focus on having an appropriate facility for the Chiefs in mid-America. It is because of this we are announcing that we are putting the Wizards up for sale."
That was a punch in the gut, he threw the Wizards under the bus to work to get things taken care of for the Chiefs. From a profitability standpoint I understand, but still years later that hurts a little to read that quote.
After the initial sadness/frustration, things started to be worked out, the Heart of America Soccer Foundation was formed with one of their primary goals being to find local ownership for the Wizards. Wizards fans owe people like Sam Pierron, Greg Cotton, Mark Naster, and others in the HASF that started this work. It took over a year and a half, but HASF and others had worked to bring together OnGoal LLC which on August 31, 2006 purchased the Wizards from Hunt. And while the work after that point has had it's ups and downs, that moment is still probably the best day in Wizards history in my mind.
As time has gone by, I have forgiven Hunt to a point. He kept his word and worked to find local ownership first. He just as easily could have let KC be a lame duck for the 2005 season and sold them off to Rochester, San Antonio, or wherever half way through the season. But he kept his commitment to finding local owners and it worked out for the best for the Wizards as OnGoal has helped to breath some new life into the team. And now with a new stadium looking like it could very well be in the final planning stages I now look back at the announcement of the sale of the team as a turning point (for the better) of the team.
The day before the announcement was when the speculation started. Hunt had called a press conference for 2:30 pm the next day. This was shortly after the failing of Bi-State II which would have helped to renovate Arrowhead for Hunt's other KC team, the Chiefs. Immediately the thoughts of relocation and selling the team came up, but with the announcement being in KC relocation seemed extremely unlikely. The more hopeful people were hoping for either the announcement of a stadium deal, new investors, or potentially a World Cup qualifier returning to KC. Even those with contacts inside the front office didn't even know what the announcement was going to be about.
I remember exactly where I was that day. I was a senior in college and unfortunately had my European Reformation class right at the same time as the announcement. I dazed through class that day and took part of my final in that class before bolting back to my room and getting back on Bigsoccer to find out what had happened with the announcement. I get on my computer and the first thread I see is this. My heart like most Wizards fans immediately sank. The sadness quickly turned to rage at Hunt for doing this, for wanting to sell "my" team. I became so pissed at Hunt that I quit watching the Chiefs and vowed never to spend another dime on that team (this turned out to be false because as a Jackson County resident I'm helping to fund their stadium renovations). I still 5 years later have not watched more than a few plays a season of the Chiefs.
Here was Hunt's reasoning at the time for selling the team: "Similarly not feasible for the Wizards to not succeed without a SSS. I must concede I did not fully recognize this when the league first started. The recent failure of the Bi-State committee makes us realize that we need to focus on having an appropriate facility for the Chiefs in mid-America. It is because of this we are announcing that we are putting the Wizards up for sale."
That was a punch in the gut, he threw the Wizards under the bus to work to get things taken care of for the Chiefs. From a profitability standpoint I understand, but still years later that hurts a little to read that quote.
After the initial sadness/frustration, things started to be worked out, the Heart of America Soccer Foundation was formed with one of their primary goals being to find local ownership for the Wizards. Wizards fans owe people like Sam Pierron, Greg Cotton, Mark Naster, and others in the HASF that started this work. It took over a year and a half, but HASF and others had worked to bring together OnGoal LLC which on August 31, 2006 purchased the Wizards from Hunt. And while the work after that point has had it's ups and downs, that moment is still probably the best day in Wizards history in my mind.
As time has gone by, I have forgiven Hunt to a point. He kept his word and worked to find local ownership first. He just as easily could have let KC be a lame duck for the 2005 season and sold them off to Rochester, San Antonio, or wherever half way through the season. But he kept his commitment to finding local owners and it worked out for the best for the Wizards as OnGoal has helped to breath some new life into the team. And now with a new stadium looking like it could very well be in the final planning stages I now look back at the announcement of the sale of the team as a turning point (for the better) of the team.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Season Tickets are Here!
I was a little worried whether the tickets would get here on time, but today on my front porch in a Priority Mail package, were this year's Wizards' season tickets. With it being only 3 days until the first game, I was ready to write a scathing write up about the lateness of the Wizards in getting the tickets out to Season Ticket Holders. Still, to an extent, I am upset that it took the Wizards this long to get the tickets out. Many of the teams have already sent their tickets out to fans, and sending them out the week of the first game is just begging for multiple fans to be calling the Wizards front office frantic wondering where their tickets are.
Overall, though, I'm happy with the look of this year's tickets. Not only did they come with my parking passes, they came with a folder with an electronic media guide and fact book, and while I'm a fan of the paper versions, this will still get plenty of use. Season Ticket Holders also got their membership card. Also included were pocket schedules, a pamphlet that has a picture of the stadium from the 3 Trails website and other bits of information on tickets, the 2008 season, and 2009 season.
As for the tickets, the Wizards did a cool think this year. While last year the team had put together a collage that spanned across tickets, this year the Wizards gave each ticket it's own theme. Each ticket has a picture representing the theme and included in the package was a sheet explaining each of the themes. Here is the list of the themes in order.
vs Toronto - OnGoal - The Wizards owners
vs San Jose - The Trails - The future home of the Wizards
vs New York - Human Tunnel - Prematch team walk out
vs DC - KCSoccerStore.com - Largest selection of Wizards merchandise
vs Chivas USA - MLS Cup 2000 - The Wizards first and only MLS Cup win
vs Columbus - World Cup Wizards - 19 current or former Wizards have been in the World Cup
vs New England - KC Soccer Foundation - Charitable arm of the Wizards and OnGoal
vs Houston - National Team Wizards - 27 current or former Wizards have represented the full US national team
vs LA - Starting XI Girls - The Wizards dancers/hospitality girls
vs Chicago - Swope Park Training Facility - The Wizards home facility
vs Salt Lake - Boot Room - "A symbol of the professional atmosphere encouraged within the training facility."
vs Dallas - Lamar Hunt - Wizards founder and first owner
vs Colorado - KCW Juniors - The Wizards youth system has so far been successful locally and some national success as well.
vs Seattle - Hillcrest Road - The Wizards official blog
vs DC - Cauldron - Home to the Wizards supporter's section.
Special Game A - KC Soccer History - Celebrating the history of the Comets, Attack, and Spurs, the city's previous pro soccer teams.
Special Game B - MLS History - The league enters it's 14th season.
Special Game C - Wizards History - History of the boys in blue.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Wizards vs FCD
Kansas City continues their season tomorrow night against FC Dallas at Arrowhead Stadium. The match is also a tribute match to the late owner of both the Wizards and FC Dallas, Lamar Hunt. The Cauldron has made a special banner for the match to honor Lamar's memory.
As for the match, the Wizards will be without captain Jimmy Conrad after he broke his jaw against the Crew last weekend. Taking his place will be either second year man Tyson Wahl, or rookie Aaron Hohlbein, who played in place of Nick Garcia against DC United the first game of the season. The good news for the Wizards is that the preview for the game lists neither Scott Sealy or Carlos Marinelli on the list of injured players, so both those players stand a good chance of starting on Saturday. With those 2 starting the Wizards attack looks as dangerous as it can be, and could be the first time those 2 will be on the field for a long period of time with Eddie Johnson. The question though is who goes to the bench so both of them can start. In all likelihood Marinelli will come off the bench this game.
Some interesting news came out of Dallas this week as well. Apparently Carlos Ruiz took an unexpected extended vacation and missed practice earlier this week. According to Buzz at 3rd Degree, Ruiz will not be starting this weekend in KC due to his missing practice.
PREDICTION
KC is coming in on a 3 game winning streak, 2 of those games have been at home, while Dallas is coming off 2 loses at home. Dallas hasn't won a game in regulation in Kansas City since 1998, and while Ruiz hasn't been playing great the last few it's' good news that he won't be starting on Saturday. As for the game, Kansas City is playing the better soccer right now, and their speed up top should create a ton of problems for Dallas' slow back line.
KC - 2 (Sealy, Arnaud)
FCD - 0
As for the match, the Wizards will be without captain Jimmy Conrad after he broke his jaw against the Crew last weekend. Taking his place will be either second year man Tyson Wahl, or rookie Aaron Hohlbein, who played in place of Nick Garcia against DC United the first game of the season. The good news for the Wizards is that the preview for the game lists neither Scott Sealy or Carlos Marinelli on the list of injured players, so both those players stand a good chance of starting on Saturday. With those 2 starting the Wizards attack looks as dangerous as it can be, and could be the first time those 2 will be on the field for a long period of time with Eddie Johnson. The question though is who goes to the bench so both of them can start. In all likelihood Marinelli will come off the bench this game.
Hartman
Jewsbury - Hohlbein - Garcia - Burciaga
Zavagnin
Arnaud - Victorine - Harrington
Sealy - Johnson
Jewsbury - Hohlbein - Garcia - Burciaga
Zavagnin
Arnaud - Victorine - Harrington
Sealy - Johnson
Some interesting news came out of Dallas this week as well. Apparently Carlos Ruiz took an unexpected extended vacation and missed practice earlier this week. According to Buzz at 3rd Degree, Ruiz will not be starting this weekend in KC due to his missing practice.
PREDICTION
KC is coming in on a 3 game winning streak, 2 of those games have been at home, while Dallas is coming off 2 loses at home. Dallas hasn't won a game in regulation in Kansas City since 1998, and while Ruiz hasn't been playing great the last few it's' good news that he won't be starting on Saturday. As for the game, Kansas City is playing the better soccer right now, and their speed up top should create a ton of problems for Dallas' slow back line.
KC - 2 (Sealy, Arnaud)
FCD - 0
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Lamar Hunt Tribute
The Kansas City Wizards will honor their former owner, Lamar Hunt this Saturday as the Wizards take on another team owned by Hunt Sports Group, FC Dallas. For the game, the Wizards will be wearing commemorative jerseys for the game. The team will also have a commemorative logo as well for the game. The logo was seen in the Wizards media guide for this season, which was passed out to Season Ticket Holders this past Saturday against the Crew. Here is a picture of the logo that will be on the Wizards uniforms on Saturday. The logo is a throw back to the Wizards original Wiz logo from back in 1996, which apparently was a logo that Lamar really liked. The jerseys of both the Wizards and opponent, FC Dallas will then be auctioned off on the Wizards website.
Conrad breaks jaw
Jimmy Conrad will now miss more time this season, thanks to another broken jaw. This Saturday against the Crew the challenge by Ricardo Virtuoso that earned him a yellow card has broken Conrad's jaw for the second time in less then a year. Last year when Conrad broke his jaw, he missed over a month of play. This injury will likely rule the center back out of the Gold Cup for the US Men's National team this summer that starts in June.
Conrad breaks jaw
Jimmy Conrad will now miss more time this season, thanks to another broken jaw. This Saturday against the Crew the challenge by Ricardo Virtuoso that earned him a yellow card has broken Conrad's jaw for the second time in less then a year. Last year when Conrad broke his jaw, he missed over a month of play. This injury will likely rule the center back out of the Gold Cup for the US Men's National team this summer that starts in June.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
RIP Lamar
For those of you that haven't heard yet, Lamar Hunt passed away tonight, Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006. I had been planning on talking about his recent bout with cancer today, but now it looks like unfortunately I'm writing a kind of obituary for a great man who has done so much for the sport of soccer in the US. Starting with his involvement in the old North American Soccer League becoming owner of the Dallas Tornado. Since then he's had a huge influence on the sport of soccer over the years. In 1996 with the formation of Major League Soccer, Lamar became a principal investor in the league, and owner of the Kansas City Wiz(ards) and Columbus Crew. Over the years, Lamar acquired ownership of the Dallas Burn(later renamed FC Dallas). His love for the sport of soccer helped keep MLS afloat in a time when lesser men would have walked away and let the young league go under. He was elected in the US Soccer Hall of Fame, as well as having the US Open Cup named after him in 1999. After the 2004 MLS Cup Final, he announced that the Wizards were for sale, which brought out anger and rage from many Wizards fans towards Lamar, myself included. He was not the most well received person with many Wizards fans. While he did put the team up for sale, though, it was his love for the team that helped keep the team in KC. If Lamar did not love the Wizards and believe that they could succeed in KC, he never would have sold the team locally, heck they probably would have been sold to out of town investors long before August of this year when OnGoal LLC purchased the team. He wanted this team to stay in KC, and while we didn't get the stadium that he built in Columbus or in Dallas, he did give the chance of that still happening by keeping the team local, and I would hope Wizards fans will never forget that. As a Wizards fan, a US Soccer fan, a Chiefs fan, I will never forget Lamar Hunt, he truely was a great man and will be missed in many circles.
If you wanna read more on Hunt's contribution to US Soccer, read Frank Dell'Apa's column on espn.com.
Hard to go onto other news after that, but I had wanted to touch on this very quickly. After Joe Cannon was traded to LA, it certainly looked like El Gato, Kevin Hartman, was on his way out of Planet LA. Two locations looked likely, Columbus to add to their soon to be roster full of keepers, or KC, who had 1 keeper on their roster. It appears that it will be the later. Hartman will be joining the Wizards for an unanounced draft pick. Overall, while I'm not a huge fan of Hartman's my hate mainly comes from his days with the Galaxy. While he's not good in the air on crosses, he is definitly an upgrade over Bo, so that can't be all bad. In the end, I think this will be a major plus for the Wizards, and if Onalfo and Vermes find some decent talent on their current scouting trip, then the Wizards could very well be in business to be back competing in the playoffs next year. Can someone just please tell Hartman that the whole frosting/bleaching your hair went out years ago?
RIP LAMAR, you will be missed.
If you wanna read more on Hunt's contribution to US Soccer, read Frank Dell'Apa's column on espn.com.
Hard to go onto other news after that, but I had wanted to touch on this very quickly. After Joe Cannon was traded to LA, it certainly looked like El Gato, Kevin Hartman, was on his way out of Planet LA. Two locations looked likely, Columbus to add to their soon to be roster full of keepers, or KC, who had 1 keeper on their roster. It appears that it will be the later. Hartman will be joining the Wizards for an unanounced draft pick. Overall, while I'm not a huge fan of Hartman's my hate mainly comes from his days with the Galaxy. While he's not good in the air on crosses, he is definitly an upgrade over Bo, so that can't be all bad. In the end, I think this will be a major plus for the Wizards, and if Onalfo and Vermes find some decent talent on their current scouting trip, then the Wizards could very well be in business to be back competing in the playoffs next year. Can someone just please tell Hartman that the whole frosting/bleaching your hair went out years ago?
RIP LAMAR, you will be missed.
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