The Kansas City Wizards appear to be set to stay at Arrowhead Stadium for the 2007 Major League Soccer season, according to various media outlets. The club is expected to officially announce where its home schedule will be played on Tuesday.
"(Throughout the process to find a temporary facility), we'd kept open communications with the Hunt organization," Wizards president Robb Heineman told the Kansas City Star. "We're working on finalizing a deal to play next season at Arrowhead Stadium."
The stadium, which is home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, was set to undergo renovations this year, but a delay in the design plans means the Wizards should be able to stay put at least for a year, as discussions to construct a permanent home for the club will continue.
"The Hunt organization and the Chiefs have been incredibly accommodating," Heineman said."
Also playing a role in the discussions is Kansas City's Major League Baseball team, the Royals. Due to the close proximity of their home field at the Truman Sports Complex, the organizations are working together on scheduling issues in an effort to minimize overcrowding and parking problems.
"We've had conversations with the Royals and they've been very gracious," said Greg Cotton, Wizards executive vice president of business operations, to the Kansas City Business Journal. "We're optimistic that we'll be able to work something out."
The Wizards, which were sold by the Hunts to a group of investors headed by Heineman, have played at Arrowhead Stadium since the team and league's inception in 1996. The stadium's primary tenants, the Chiefs, are owned by Hunt Sports Group.
"I think this works out great for us," Heineman said to the Star. "If we'd known at the start of the process that Arrowhead was going to be available, that's where we would've started."
Nothing has been finalized beyond the 2007 season, but the Wizards are actively pursuing the construction of a new soccer-specific home to move the team to in the near future.
"The likelihood of us being in the market again to find a place to play in '08 is high," Heineman told the Business Journal. "My guess is that Arrowhead will be under full construction in 2008 and we'll be looking for a place to play."
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
