Council vote gives KC new stadium

(by Alexander Abnos mlsnet.com 1-20-10)

A lot can happen in six years. Since 2004, when Kansas City Wizards president Robb Heineman first started efforts to bring a soccer stadium to Kansas City, the team has gone through two owners, two home fields, three potential stadium sites, and countless renderings depicting the possible layout of the Wizards' new home. By the end, the process had involved financial negotiations, political disputes, false starts, and a fair share of dead ends.
But on Tuesday, at long last, the process became a success.

In a special session that evening, the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kan. approved the Wizards' plan for a soccer-specific stadium and fields complex, finally bringing an end to the club's search for a permanent home.

"It's a bit surreal," said Heineman, also the CEO of the Wizards ownership group, OnGoal, LLC. "Honestly, I want to see steel coming out of the ground before I exhale, but I'll raise a glass of champagne tonight and celebrate a bit. This is a massive day for soccer in Kansas City."

Heineman won't be the only one celebrating. Also present at the event were hundreds of spectators, members of the local media, and Wizards fans dressed in team jerseys and apparel. When Kansas City, Kan. Mayor Joe Reardon officially approved the measure and closed the meeting, his actions were met with thunderous applause.

Among those clapping was second year Wizards defender Matt Besler, a native of Kansas City who grew up attending games at Arrowhead Stadium. The new arena, according to him, will be a game-changer.

"Having grown up here, it's obviously very exciting," he said. "But from a player's perspective, it's great to have a home that's only for us. The past couple of years we've shared locker rooms and facilities with football and baseball teams. Now when we walk into the locker room it'll be a soccer player's locker room. It'll create a certain comfort level, and that's very exciting for us."

The home-field advantage Besler spoke of applies outside the white lines as well. The yet-to-be-named stadium is planned to seat approximately 18,000 people, a vast majority of which will be covered by a distinctive ascending roof, inspired by stadiums in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. The roof will function not only as a guard against the elements, but also as a crowd noise amplifier.

The arena's design will also include three in-stadium clubs, including one just for the Cauldron supporters group, and a field-side club through which players will pass on their way to the field. At its closest, the front row of seats will be only 16 feet away from the touchline.

"I love the design; it really seems like the input of fans has been included," said Kevin Shook, a Wizards fan who attended Tuesday's meeting. "I also love the community aspect of the whole thing. Obviously the soccer is a big deal, but the jobs created are what will really help grow this city and this sport."

The economic impact of the development was the most talked-about issue during the course of the board's meeting. Every speaking member praised the impact the project would have on Wyandotte County, in terms of both money and job creation.

Between the stadium, offices, and field complex, OnGoal, LLC's development is expected to create over 8,000 new jobs in the Wyandotte County area, with a total economic impact of over $500 million annually. It is estimated that the new development will draw over 2.5 million outside visitors per year -- approximately the same as Arrowhead Stadium (home of the Kansas City Chiefs) and Kauffman Stadium (home of the the Kansas City Royals) combined, according to Heineman.

"The jobs drove this deal, and the soccer field complex is really going to give us the opportunity to capture the hearts and minds of Kansas City kids and drive them towards the game of soccer." he said, pointing out that the stadium would put Kansas City in prime contention to host U.S. national team games, international friendlies, the MLS All-Star Game, and a myriad of other events. "We're going to be come a player now because we're going to have what in my opinion the most special soccer stadium in the country."

Shook smiled.

"[The stadium] has been a long time coming," he said. "Now I hope we get a nice 5-0 win to open it up."