The Kansas City Wizards will again be calling Arrowhead Stadium home for the 2007 season.
The Wizards originally thought that Arrowhead would not be an option for the 2007 season due to stadium renovations. But the team will return for a 12th season in the only home facility it's ever known.
"I think when we were first informed by the (NFL's Kansas City) Chiefs that Arrowhead would not be available, it was really prior to the construction schedule being fully vetted out and determined," said Wizards president Robb Heineman.
The Wizards organization kept in close contact with the Hunt organization while it searched for a temporary stadium. When it became an option, the Wizards made a formal request about six weeks ago for use of the stadium.
"Arrowhead for us, what it allows us to do this year is to reduce a lot of our operational concerns and risks associated with us kind of getting a late start with the club here this year," Heinemann said.
The high school and college stadiums that had been considered for the Wizards as a temporary home presented logistical problems that Arrowhead did not have as a stadium. One of the problems was the risks involved with increasing seating capacity at the smaller venues.
The search continues for a soccer-specific stadium site for the Wizards. The Wizards organization is looking at soccer specific stadiums in the United States and Europe in forming the blueprint for a new stadium.
"We're still full speed ahead on a permanent stadium," said Wizards vice president Greg Cotton. "There's no doubt about that. We're hopeful to have an announcement regarding that within this season."
The agreement with the Chiefs is for one season. The Wizards could again be in the hunt for a temporary stadium for the 2008 season.
Thomas Foote is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
