Established
1995
City
Kansas City
League History
1996 – Present / Major League Soccer
Team History
2010 – Present / Sporting Kansas City
1997 - 2009 / Kansas City Wizards
1996 / Kansas City Wiz
Nickname
Sporting – Sporting Kansas City is one of the most successful teams in Major League Soccer (MLS), and their nickname has become synonymous with success. But where did this iconic name come from?
The team was originally founded as the Kansas City Wizards in 1995, but after a rebranding effort following the 2010 season, they became Sporting KC. The new name reflects the team’s commitment to excellence and its roots in American soccer history.
In addition to representing a higher level of competition than previously seen in MLS, “Sporting” also pays homage to some of America's earliest soccer clubs that used similar names, such as Boston Celtics (1926) and Chicago Sparta (1927). These early clubs were often referred to by fans simply as "the sportings," eventually leading to them being known more formally by their city or state, plus "sportings." This tradition continues today with many modern-day teams like New York Red Bulls (formerly MetroStars), D.C United, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, etc., adopting variations on this naming convention.
As for why Sporting Kansas City chose “KC” instead of just using their full city name - it could be because they wanted something shorter that would fit better within an acronym or logo design; however, there is no definitive answer regarding this decision-making process! Regardless though – we can all agree that when you hear someone say ‘SKC' – you know exactly who they're talking about!
Championship
MLS Cups 1
2013, 2000
Stadium
2011 – Present / Children's Mercy Park
2008 - 2010 / Community American Ballpark
1996 - 2007 / Arrowhead Stadium
Owner
2006 - Present / Sporting Club
1995 – 2006 / Lamar Hunt
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2017
- 2022
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Sporting Kansas City club moved into its new stadium – CommunityAmerica Ballpark
In 2010: The Sporting Kansas City club moved into its new stadium, CommunityAmerica Ballpark (now Children’s Mercy Park), which had a capacity of 18,467 seats. -
Sporting Team Formation
With the rebranding (of Wizards to Sporting) the team follows a recent trend in MLS of adopting European-style names, such as Toronto FC, D.C. United, and Real Salt Lake. The title “Sporting” has its origins in Iberia where it is used only by multi-sports clubs with a history of having multiple departments fielding teams across different sports. Kansas City’s use ... -
Sporting KC Wins US Open Cup On Penalties
In 2012: Sporting KC wins it’s second US Open cup 3-2 on penalties after being tied 1-1 after regulation and extra time. This is the fourth trophy since the clubs inception in 1996 and points towards loftier goals in the future. The win qualifies Sporting KC for the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League. -
2013 MLS Champs
MLS Cup 2013, the 18th edition of Major League Soccer’s championship match, was a soccer match that took place on Saturday, December 7, 2013, between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas, United States. The match was to decide the winner of the 2013 season. Sporting KC was making their third appearance in ... -
Sporting Kansas City were crowned champions of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
In 2017: The club had another strong season, finishing first in the Western Conference and qualifying for the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. However, they lost to Houston Dynamo 1–0 on aggregate in the conference semifinals. The club also won its fourth U.S. Open Cup, defeating New York Red Bulls 2–1 at Children’s Mercy Park. -
Jake Reid signs five-year contract extension as Sporting Kansas City President and CEO
In 2022: Sporting Kansas City announced today that Jake Reid has signed a five-year contract extension as the club’s President and CEO. Reid has held his current position since April 2018, having previously served as Sporting Kansas City President since January 2016. He joined the organization in 2010 as the Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service before his promotion ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Sporting
Sporting Kansas City is one of the most successful teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). The team was founded as the Kansas City Wizards in 1995 and has played professional soccer ever since. Sporting KC has enjoyed a rich history that includes three MLS Cup championships, two U.S Open Cup titles, four Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cups, and six regular season conference titles across the Western Conference and Eastern Conferences MLS.
The team's first major success came when they won their first MLS championship title during their 2000 campaign under then-coach Bob Gansler. This victory marked a significant milestone for not only Sporting KC but also for American soccer as it was only the second time an American club had won a major trophy at this level of competition outside North America’s top division league – Major League Soccer (MLS).
In 2013 Sporting KC went on to win another championship title with Peter Vermes returning to coach them after he departed from 2008 until 2011; this time, however, he led them all way through playoffs, where they eventually defeated Real Salt Lake 7–6 in penalty kicks after extra time ended 1–1 following regulation playtime! The victory marked another historic moment for both club & country alike. It gave SKC its third overall cup final victory within thirteen years, making them one of the few clubs worldwide that can boast such achievement(s) within such a short period!
Since then, Sporting Kansas City has continued to be one of the most consistent teams in MLS by qualifying for playoffs every year since 2012 while winning more trophies along with way, including last year's 2019 US Open Cup Final against Minnesota United FC, which brought home sixth tournament crowning glory back home! They are now considered among some best sides competing today due largely thanks to the leadership provided by head coach Peter Vermes whose vision helped shape modern-day SKC into what we know today - perennial contenders ready to take any challenge thrown at them no matter how tough it may seem...
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Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history