Kansas City Wizards Information

The Kansas City Wizards enter their fourteenth season in Major League Soccer looking to reinforce their dominance at their temporary home, CommunityAmerica Ballpark, while ownership group OnGoal, LLC continues work on a permanent home for the team, as demolition has begun on the future stadium site. Kansas City was introduced as one of the 10 charter members of MLS on June 6, 1995. Four months later, the league unveiled the nicknames, logos and uniform designs for the franchises, including Kansas City’s newest professional sports team — the Kansas City Wiz. In April 1996, the Wiz began play under Head Coach Ron Newman. The team also officially extended its name to “Wizards” following the 1996 season, ending the short, but memorable life of the “Wiz” moniker. The Wizards ushered in a new era before the 2000 season, as the team offices moved to Arrowhead Stadium. Also, adidas, the official outfitter of MLS, unveiled a shade of blue as the team’s primary color, which sat alongside white as the organization’s official colors. On August 31, 2006, the Wizards began a new era as OnGoal, LLC purchased the club from the Hunt Sports Group. New ownership brought about a change on the soccer side as well as the business. Former Wizards great Peter Vermes was brought in as the Technical Director, and he hired Curt Onalfo as the Head Coach. OnGoal’s commitment to the Wizards and to Kansas City had its first physical manifestation in June 2007 when a new, world-class training center opened in Swope Park. Demolition has begun on the old Bannister Mall and nearby buildings, the future site of The Trails, a development including a world-class stadium for the Wizards, soccer fields, retail and office complexes. The Wizards won the MLS Cup in 2000, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004, and the MLS Supporters Shield in 2000.