Remember the Kansas City Wizards? Going back even further, remember the Kansas City Wiz? Sure, that team has one MLS Cup win to their name, but they were largely a joke. They had a horrendous nickname and once even horrendous colors (yes, colors because they looked like a rainbow). Few people showed up to their games at a NFL venue, then it got more embarrassing when they had to move to a minor league baseball stadium. That seems like an awfully long time ago now though because the club is now Sporting Kansas City and the top team in the Eastern Conference, packed with young and excited players. Above all, most striking is their stadium, a $200 million crown jewel to soccer, planted right in the middle of corn country.
Sporting Kansas City Vs. Colorado Rapids, MLS Cup 2011: Livestrong Sporting Park’s Biggest Day Yet
It’s easy to make too big of a deal of Livestrong Sporting Park. Yes, their 2011 season turned around when they started playing in the venue, but that could be chalked up to having to play 10 road games to start the season more than the stadium itself. It also ignores that the team was playing well in spurts to start the season, only to be best by some bad breaks.
Whether it is too easy to credit or not though, Livestrong Sporting Park marks a turnaround in the club. They had a beautiful home and before long, they had wins. Most importantly, the club had fans. A city that once looked at the club with disdain has embraced it and filled the stadium with regularity. Now those fans are going to get a treat. They’re going to see Sporting play a playoff match in their own stadium.
Everyone expects the stadium to be packed on Wednesday for the second leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal tie. With a 2-0 lead over the Colorado Rapids, it should be an easy, happy evening for the home side. The stadium will be noisy from the opening kick for the biggest match that the stadium has hosted yet. Of course, that is only until Sunday, when the stadium is expected to play host to Sporting in the Eastern Conference final with a spot in MLS Cup on the line. Oh, how times have changed in Kansas City.
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