KANSAS CITY, Mo. – This time five years ago, the Wizards were up for sale, and the state of professional soccer in Kansas City was in limbo.
The Hunt Group, which also owned MLS franchises in Dallas and Columbus, had put the team on the market, and there were rumors that the franchise could relocate to Philadelphia or San Antonio.
But in September of 2006, a group of Kansas City businessmen operating under the name OnGoal stepped in, ending almost two years of uncertainty and bringing commitment to growing the game in the Midwest.
Four years later, that commitment is just months from being fully realized.
“They made promises right when they took over the team,” said defender Jimmy Conrad, who has played for the club since 2003. “And they’ve backed up every single one. I think that goes a long way to show the character they have and the visions they have to bring soccer to Kansas City and whole area.”
So far those visions are looking pretty promising, even if the product on the field hasn’t lived quite up to expectations this season.
A $160 million dollar soccer-specific stadium is rapidly being erected at the Legends in Kansas City, Kan., Omar Bravo will join the team next season as a Designated Player and the Wizards hosted – and defeated – Manchester United less than a month ago.
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Not bad for a team some thought might not even exist a few years ago.
Manager Peter Vermes has seen it both ways. He helped bring Kansas City their first and only MLS Cup in 2000, he stuck around when the Wizards' future was up in the air and then joined the front office in 2006, first as technical director and eventually manager.
Even Vermes acknowledges that he couldn’t have imagined the progress professional soccer has made since he first arrived.
“I never would have been able to say that we would be moving into a stadium and a month ago we would have played Man. United,” Vermes said. “I mean on and on and on. There’s no chance. I just never would have guessed it. Things happen pretty quickly.”
And as quickly as things have happened, the last step is yet to be fully realized.
For Wizards president Robb Heineman, the final step of the puzzle is the product on the field.
“I think what we want to do is to continue to project to Kansas City that we’re quite serious about trying to put a consistent winner on the field,” Heineman said. “I think [the signing of Bravo] suggests that’s what we are trying to do.”
WATCH: Vermes on Omar Bravo
And, based on OnGoal’s track record, odds are Heineman won’t accept anything but success.
Just four years ago, the stadium, Bravo, the training facility and the current roster were all just dreams. Now, the realization of those dreams is on the horizon.
“The expectation is we’re going to do something special in 2011,” Conrad said. “It’s a good pressure to have.”
