As the Kansas City Wizards prepare on the field for the MLS Western Conference Championship, things are being prepared off the field for next season and beyond.
The Wizards will call CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas, home for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Located near the Legends at Village West shopping and entertainment district and the Kansas Speedway, the permanent home of the independent Northern League T-Bones baseball team will provide numerous amenities and an atmosphere much different than the comparatively isolated and cavernous Arrowhead stadium.
"Soccer is more than a spectator sport. It is experiential," said Greg Cotton, Wizards executive vice president said. "Our fans' game-day experience should include both pre-game and post-game festivities. With the Legends right next door, we have a unique opportunity to introduce our fans to this extended experience."
"The Wizards soccer team is a great attraction for Kansas City. So are Village West, The Legends and CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Combining these world-class attractions is a win for soccer fans and all Kansas City residents," Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Joe Reardon said.
The current capacity of the stadium will be upped to near 10,000, via temporary modifications providing an intimate atmosphere for the fans and the players.
"It will be a little different atmosphere from playing in a 70,000-seat Arrowhead Stadium," said midfielder Davy Arnaud who has played in many U.S. Open Cup games played in small Kansas City venues.
"This move allows the Wizards and our fans the opportunity to be a part of a more intimate atmosphere that has not been present before," Cotton said. "We believe this is an excellent venue for showcasing our world-class athletes in at atmosphere that is exciting, energetic and fun."
Also gaining energy are the Wizards' plans for a permanent soccer specific stadium. The proposed Three Trails Redevelopment plan by developers Lane4 Property Group has won two victories this week.
As reported by the Kansas City Star on Tuesday, the city plan commission panel approved a rezoning request and changes to a land-use plan that Lane4 needed to make their proposal work. Then on Wednesday, the Kansas City Tax Increment Financing Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval for the Three Trails TIF Plan that includes construction of an 18,500-seat stadium where the now closed Bannister Mall stands next to Interstate 435 in south Kansas City.
A 250-room hotel, 609,000 square feet of retail space, and 610,500 square feet of office space are included in the first phase of the project in addition to the stadium and its 12 adjacent youth soccer fields. When fully developed over 10 years through additional retail and office space, the cost will be approximately $943 million, 29 percent of which will be funded via the TIF mechanism. Of that, the stadium and fields account for $143 million, roughly half of which will be paid for by private investment.
"We're pleased with the outcome," Robb Heineman, president of OnGoal LLC, the owner of the Wizards, said to the Star. "This keeps us on track to receive council approval in December, which is critical to us."
The plan will now move on to the City Council in December and the Missouri General Assembly. Groundbreaking is targeted for before the end of the year for a 2010 opening of the stadium.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
