Kansas City Sporting Club

[boban]

they learned a lot from the stadiums and the new experiences that have come in MLS since TFC started.

You make it sound like TFC had no one to learn from with regards to stadium design.
Home Depot Centre was up and running for a few years and Toyota park was practically done before a shovel hit the ground on the NSS at the CNE. Also Dallas was opened. As far design, all better than NSS. Two of those had a proper roof. TFC also knew what was coming down the road with RBNY (the nixed design was even FAR better than what TFC put up). The NSS was a dramatic step BACKWARD for the SSS popping up in North America.
Stop being an apologist for MLSE.

[twistedchinaman]

It's a good start for sure, renaming to Sporting Club. The Wizards idea was born out of a fairy tale written by L Frank Baum, and while local enough...was sorta dumb.

It could've been worse...Kansas City Stockyard Workers.

[rocker]

You make it sound like TFC had no one to learn from with regards to stadium design.

I "make it sound like" ??? Sorry those sounds are the crazy voices you're hearing in your head every day.

I simply make the point that the stadium KC is building is based upon all the things that has come since TFC burst on the scene and took MLS into the next generation. KC is building on NYRB's experience... on Philly Union's experience... on TFC's experience...

I contend that NOBODY would have built a stadium like that in 2006... so there's no reason for people to criticize BMO for not looking like that. Who would spend 180 million or more on a soccer specific stadium before 2007?? Nobody.

p.s. BMO Field is designed using some elements from other stadiums.... but of course the model wasn't as diverse in 2006 as it is now. And if TFC knew this thing would blow up, they would have spent more $$$$ tricking out BMO Field. But hindsight makes you look like a genius, doesn't it?

[James17930]

They explain the logo in detail here:
http://www.insightkc.com/sportingbrand/index.html

Doesn't make the logo better but it does give some insight into what everything means.

Wow -- they brought Asclepius into it.

Well that does it for me

[billyfly]

THE REAL SPORTING

[greatwhitenorf]

Lifted off of a Spurs fan website, mock MLS names for possible future franchises.

(Energie) Penobscottbus
ADO Den Hagerstown
Hearts of Oakland
Hajduk Pitt(sburgh)
Key West Ham United
GreenBayern Leversconsin
Stoke-lahoma City
Cape Henlopeñarol
Feyenoord Dakota
FC Barceloneonta
Real Fargoza
Sao Palo Alto
Cheyenne-derlecht
FC Lokomotiv Chattanooga
Zenit St. Petersburg (FL)
Crewe Alexandria (VA)
Bayonne Leverkusen
BSC Young Boise
Aston Wasilla
Tupelo-komotiv
Racine Santander
Savannahthinaikos
Boca Raton Juniors
Moose Jawventus
Dayton Orient
Minneapolis-St. Pauli
Niagara Grampus Eight
Oklahoma City Sounders
Kansaslautern
Galatallahassee
Aspen Villa
West Bromwich Albany
Newell’s Old Boise
Go Ahead Philadelphia Eagles
Borussia Kansasgladbach
Green BayErn Leversconsin
Kentucky FC
Castel Di Sacramento

+ Future Canadian entries

ExtremaDurham

Hamilton Macadamians

Kawartha Antlers

[manic.street.preacher]

^ #FutureMLSFranchise is about as awesome as it gets with hashtags ... re: rebrand, as much as the names Wizards sucks, i'm not terribly keen on the change

[TOBOR !]

^^ *yawn*

[Cashcleaner]

^ #FutureMLSFranchise is about as awesome as it gets with hashtags ... re: rebrand, as much as the names Wizards sucks, i'm not terribly keen on the change

I say we start using their nickname for Kansas City. Inoffensive Soccer Franchise FC.

[Macksam]

Wiz/Wizards = stupid
Sporting = pretentious

Pretentious or stupid? I personally would go with stupidity.

[CBTFC]

Kentucky FC

To celebrate opening day, every fan gets a free bucket of chicken upon entry to the stadium.

[boban]

I "make it sound like" ??? Sorry those sounds are the crazy voices you're hearing in your head every day.

I simply make the point that the stadium KC is building is based upon all the things that has come since TFC burst on the scene and took MLS into the next generation. KC is building on NYRB's experience... on Philly Union's experience... on TFC's experience...

I contend that NOBODY would have built a stadium like that in 2006... so there's no reason for people to criticize BMO for not looking like that. Who would spend 180 million or more on a soccer specific stadium before 2007?? Nobody.

p.s. BMO Field is designed using some elements from other stadiums.... but of course the model wasn't as diverse in 2006 as it is now. And if TFC knew this thing would blow up, they would have spent more $$$$ tricking out BMO Field. But hindsight makes you look like a genius, doesn't it?

Well you are incorrect. RBNY were planning a stadium. Yes when Red Bull bought the team a design change happened, but even the nixed plans were on par with what KC has or even better. The NSS at the CNE was a regression of the stadiums being built 4,5, 6 years ago.
Honestly, what designs in the tin box that we have are so prevailing in these new stadiums?
MLSE knew TFC was going to make money from the get go. Make no mistake about that. They knew it. They sold it as a risk so they would only spend minimal on infrastructure on that stadium.

[__wowza]

^^
and then they realized that they could pack a stadium regardless of perks like a roof.

[Chewy Unikronik]

They explain the logo in detail here:
http://www.insightkc.com/sportingbrand/index.html

Doesn't make the logo better but it does give some insight into what everything means.

What a bunch of Hoooey! Do they really think this shit up when designing? Please.

[CommradePolski]

As long as they still look like smurfs and we can chirp em about that Im good with it.

[troy1982]

Badge up close

[rocker]

the badge looks better on the shirt than in the JPG image.

[ilikemusic]

Im guessing the 'sporting club' idea is meant to be symbolic and 'connect' all levels of soccer to the team.

Their new stadium is a big sports complex is it not? With like 15 pitches or something like that?

Im guessing they see the 'Sporting Club' and an all-inclusive term that refers to the entire complex, any teams playing there, and by extension, all the players that go there.

I could speak in more abstract corporate bullshit speak, but I would have to punch myself in the face for being a douche if I did.

[rocker]

Their new stadium is a big sports complex is it not? With like 15 pitches or something like that?

the previous incarnation of the KC stadium complex at another location had the additional community pitches alongside... this one does not, mainly cuz it's located right in a shopping/entertainment area.

[kodiakTFC]

Im guessing the 'sporting club' idea is meant to be symbolic and 'connect' all levels of soccer to the team.

It doesn't. Its Sporting because they plan to have a rugby and lacrosse team.

[James17930]

the previous incarnation of the KC stadium complex at another location had the additional community pitches alongside... this one does not, mainly cuz it's located right in a shopping/entertainment area.

In the interview with the KC guy on It's Called Football he said they are still going to have those 15 - 20 pitches next to the stadium . . . or maybe I misunderstood.

[rocker]

In the interview with the KC guy on It's Called Football he said they are still going to have those 15 - 20 pitches next to the stadium . . . or maybe I misunderstood.

well, it could be further down the street. But not right next to the stadium, as the stadium is blocked on three sides.... unless they've bought out the parking lot of the Nebraska Furniture Mart.

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=39...,0.013797&z=16

if they're talking regulation pitches, they could probably squeeze three or four to the immediate left in that stretch of grass between the motor speedway and the stadium. Although it looks like the other greenspace around the motor speedway is used for parking.

[RicoSuave44]

How have 3/4 of us voted for the new name/logo??!?! As bad as the old name was, the new one is 5x worse. Up there with Real Salt Lake for worst in league. Seriously.... Wizards is a pretty badass name. ATM it's crappy... but 30 odd years from now I reckon it would have the same throwback zany ring to it as 'Knickerbockers' sounds today. Plus the name Wizards actually has some history behind it. FFS, at least in South America when Liverpool, Everton, Barcelona etc were created they were formed by ex-pats with a connection to the name. How many Portuguese are in KC?! It's a stupid marketing ploy.... just like fuzzy mascots and cheerleaders and shoot-outs. Sounding 'ethnic' or 'established' is the current trend. Typical American Disneyfication of the beautiful game.
To all those who voted for the new name.... please GYHAS!!!!!

/end rant

[james]

How have 3/4 of us voted for the new name/logo??!?! As bad as the old name was, the new one is 5x worse. Up there with Real Salt Lake for worst in league. Seriously.... Wizards is a pretty badass name. ATM it's crappy... but 30 odd years from now I reckon it would have the same throwback zany ring to it as 'Knickerbockers' sounds today. Plus the name Wizards actually has some history behind it. FFS, at least in South America when Liverpool, Everton, Barcelona etc were created they were formed by ex-pats with a connection to the name. How many Portuguese are in KC?! It's a stupid marketing ploy.... just like fuzzy mascots and cheerleaders and shoot-outs. Sounding 'ethnic' or 'established' is the current trend. Typical American Disneyfication of the beautiful game.
To all those who voted for the new name.... please GYHAS!!!!!

/end rant

pfftt, wizards is the worst name in the league. Its a joke. Sporting isnt great but it looks and sounds better then the Kansas City Wizards name and crest. In the 30 years it still would be a shit name!

[james]

I didn't say I liked Sporting much. I said I liked it better than Wizards because Wizards is one of the lamest names you could ever pick. If you're trying to internationalize your brand, I don't think Wizards is a good name for that. Wizards is kiddie, soccer mom stuff. I thought people on here wanted MLS to get away from that?

Most Americans won't even know there's a Portuguese club called Sporting, so I don't think they have to worry about any identity-sharing issue among fans.

I would have gone simply with Kansas City FC though. Then they'd be playing on all the "City" teams in England without being a ripoff, since their city really is called Kansas City.

i totally agree with this.

[Big Bruva]

I like the change, actually sounds like a Football team instead of a NHL, NBA, NFL team.

[Oldtimer]

MLSE knew TFC was going to make money from the get go. Make no mistake about that. They knew it. They sold it as a risk so they would only spend minimal on infrastructure on that stadium.

All indications were that ML$E was shocked and surprised by TFC's popularity, and while they thought it would be profitable in the long-haul, they were disorganized and unprepared for 20K+ fans.

For example, in year 1, they ran out of jerseys within a very short time. If they had known what was going to happen, they would have trucked in huge amounts of merchandise to make more $$$$ (and we know that ML$E loves money). The RPB board in year one had multiple threads of "I found some jerseys in XYZ store!" That's because you couldn't get merchandise for the longest while.

The decision to cheap-out the stadium was actually not made by ML$E, it was made by the CSA because they didn't get the funding from the Feds for the U-20 tournament that they expected (that's why we didn't get the roof that was in the initial plans). All plans had to be approved by the CSA's board (comprised of the leaders of the provincial associations, all with their own agendas) and 3 levels of government so ML$E would not have been able to change much, even if they had wanted to. All of this is fully documented because the negotiations were quite public due to the Toronto city council being involved. I say this not to be an apologist for ML$E, but just to set the record straight.

[Fort York Redcoat]

How have 3/4 of us voted for the new name/logo??!?! As bad as the old name was, the new one is 5x worse. Up there with Real Salt Lake for worst in league. Seriously.... Wizards is a pretty badass name. ATM it's crappy... but 30 odd years from now I reckon it would have the same throwback zany ring to it as 'Knickerbockers' sounds today. Plus the name Wizards actually has some history behind it. FFS, at least in South America when Liverpool, Everton, Barcelona etc were created they were formed by ex-pats with a connection to the name. How many Portuguese are in KC?! It's a stupid marketing ploy.... just like fuzzy mascots and cheerleaders and shoot-outs. Sounding 'ethnic' or 'established' is the current trend. Typical American Disneyfication of the beautiful game.
To all those who voted for the new name.... please GYHAS!!!!!

/end rant

Although you're right about the relevance-through-ethnicity ploy most worldwide fans would call the initial names of MLS a disneyfacation of the game not contrived changes like these.

[Ricky_Portugal]

THE REAL SPORTING

gloioso s.l.b.

[billyfly]

^Spell it right Ricky lol...

Glorioso.