It is no secret that Major League Soccer existed long before the days of things such as 25 free spins no deposit casino. Specifically, the MLS was formed in 1995. One year later, the MLS would begin its inaugural season with 10 founding soccer clubs.
One of those teams is the Colorado Rapids. The original owners of Colorado Rapids were originally owned and operated by a business known as the Anschutz Corporation.
The Beginning
They did not get to the best start in the 1st season as they started off 11-21-0. Changes were needed. Thus, Colorado Rapids hired a new manager in Glenn Myernick as well as a new general manager in Dan Counce. They signed over 10+ new players and emphasized more possession in their offensive approach.
The team would go to 14-12 in their first 26 games of the 1997 season. However, they ended their season with a six-game losing streak to finish their season 14-18. Yet, they still clinched the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They would go on a Cinderella run to the MLS CUP by sweeping both the Kansas City Wizards in the Conference Semifinals and the Dallas Burn in the conference finals. However, they would lose 2-1 to D.C United in the MLS Cup Final.
Two years later, the franchise would have a successful regular season and find themselves in the U.S. Open Cup Final. However, they would lose to the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
In 2002, the Colorado Rapids would make Mile High Stadium their new home. This would mark the first year in which the teams would outpace all other MLS teams with regard to home attendance. They would average over 20,000 fans per game.
In 2004, Colorado Rapids would change owners and become owned by Kroenke Sports Enterprises. This entity is now known as Kroenke Sports and Entertainment. They still own the team today. In 2006, the club would hire a head executive who would take over the business arm of the club. Shortly thereafter, the club would change its team colors as well as its logo. They would also move to their current home stadium, Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
For the first ten years of the franchise's existence, its logo consisted of a gold-colored "RAPIDS" wordmark across the middle. A thin green-colored "COLORADO" wordmark was featured at the very top. The middle of the logo featured silver and white cap mountains while the bottom of the logo consisted of waters with sizable waves.
In 2007, the franchise switched its logo to a badge colored red and blue. It also had grey trim. A white-colored "COLORADO RAPIDS is featured prominently in the middle of the logo. Below that, one can see that there are blue mountains with a white soccer ball in the middle and a red "96" wordmark. This logo still exists to this day.
MLS Cup
Shortly after, the Colorado Rapids would finally win the MLS Cup. During that season, the Colorado Rapids would go 12-8-10 during the regular season.
They played well enough in the regular season to be considered a wildcard seed. Due to their wildcard status, the Colorado Rapids were placed in the Eastern Conference bracket even though they were a Western Conference team.
The Colorado Rapids would upset the Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup Quarterfinals and then outlast the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS Cup Semifinals.
This put the Colorado Rapids in the MLS Cup Finals against FC Dallas. The title game would go into extra time. In the 107th minute, the Rapids clinched the cup on an own goal by a defender from FC Dallas. It came off of an attempted chip by Rapids striker Macoumba Kandji.
The Rapids would win their first and only MLS Cup in finals history.
Additional Accomplishments
Overall, the Colorado Rapids have made the playoffs more often than not. They've made the playoffs 15 times in 27 years. Overall, the Colorado Rapids have made a total of four appearances in international tournaments.
They played in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1998 and made three appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League. (2011, 2018,2022). The Rapids would make it to the Round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions League in 2018 and 2022.
The all-time leading scorer for the Colorado Rapids is Conor Casey with 53 goals. Conor Casey is one of six players in Rapids history that was honored by the franchise in their "Gallery of Honor." Other honorees include Marcelo Balboa, Paul Bravo, John Spencer, Chris Henderson, and Pablo Mastroeni.
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