Kansas City, MO/KS

• Soccer in Kansas City
• About Arrowhead Stadium
• About Kansas City, MO & KS

Kansas City has a long and storied soccer culture. Professional soccer first blossomed in Kansas City when the Spurs won the NASL Championship in 1969. Indoor soccer flourished in KC from 1980 to 2005, first with the Comets and then the Attack. A charter member of MLS, the Kansas City Wizards won the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield in 2000 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship in 2004 - becoming the city's most successful sports team in the past 25 years.

Given the team's success, it's no accident that 20 Wizards have represented their country in the World Cup - including 13 from the USA, 2 from Scotland, and one each from Argentina, Cameroon, Denmark, Nigeria and Yugoslavia. Most recently, current Wizards Jimmy Conrad (2006) and Josh Wolf (2002 & 2006) have represented the USA, and Claudio Lopez represented Argentina in 1998 & 2002.

Kansas City is currently enjoying a soccer facility development boom with over $50 million spent in the past 3 years and another $175 million planned with the Wizards new stadium and fields complex about to break ground.

Kansas City has been the home for the past 13 years to the Brass of the United Soccer League's PDL. The area is also home to over 30 collegiate soccer programs. At the youth level, Kansas City consistently ranks within the top-five nationally in per capita participation rates.

Located just nine miles from downtown Kansas City, iconic Arrowhead Stadium is currently celebrating a $375 million renovation that when completed in the fall of 2010 will make Arrowhead one of the most modern stadiums in the world.

With a seating capacity of 77,000, Arrowhead has been the home of the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) since 1972. It also hosted the Wizards (MLS) from 1996-2007, a 2001 U.S. Men's World Cup qualifying victory over Costa Rica in front of fans from 48 different states, and 4 visits from the U.S. Women's National Team. This past September, Arrowhead hosted the Clasico Nacional between Mexico's Club America and Chivas of Guadalajara in front of over 26,000 fans.

In addition, Arrowhead has hosted five Big 12 Conference American football championship games and hosts the annual Border Showdown American football game between the Missouri Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks.

KCATA runs shuttle buses to the stadium for major events, and with over 35,000 parking spaces, the venue is accessible by Kansas City's easy-to-navigate highway system and the perfect spot to take part in the Kansas City art of tailgating.

An energetic city forged by a rich history, Kansas City is brimming with activities to keep visitors entertained - eclectic cuisine, swinging jazz, one-of-a-kind museums, a thriving arts scene and fantastic shopping. Part of the city's charm lies in its beauty, with an impressive network of boulevards, spacious parks and, of course, exquisite fountains.

The world-renowned jazz legacy continues today in clubs throughout the city. For barbecue lovers, the city's signature food can be found at more than 100 barbecue establishments, but visitors also delight in restaurants of every ethnic origin.

Discover dozens of unique museums, including the world-class Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum.

Shopping is elevated to an art form at the beautiful Country Club Plaza and at Hallmark's Crown Center.

Don't miss the beautifully restored Union Station, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun amusement parks or NASCAR races at the Kansas Speedway.

This city is passionate about the arts with outstanding symphony, ballet, theater and opera companies.

The city's location within an 8-hour drive of 55 million Americans makes it easy to get here and our reasonable prices make fun affordable.