Photo by Briana Tozour via Uplash.

If you’re looking for a good sports city and atmosphere, Kansas City is your place to be. It’s host to four major professional sports teams across three different sports: baseball, football and soccer. This article aims to be a survey of Kansas City sports, highlighting each team and providing a little history for each.

Chiefs Kingdom: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are the oldest professional sports team in Kansas City, although they weren’t established in Kansas City. Our beloved Chiefs were established in 1960 as the Dallas Texans by then-American Football League (AFL) founder Lamar Hunt.

A minor tangent about the AFL: The AFL was created as an alternative to the NFL by Lamar Hunt. To avoid a talent war, the AFL merged with the NFL to create one league in June 1966. The AFL became the American Football Conference (AFC), whose title still bears Mr. Hunt’s name. The first AFL-NFL championship in 1967, amusingly called the World Championship, kicked off what would become the Super Bowl era.

In 1963, the Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City and rebranded as the Kansas City Chiefs. Since then, they’ve won six league titles (four Super Bowls and two AFL championships, before the AFL and the NFL merged) and are currently one of the best teams in the league. Under the leadership of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes II and head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs have won their division for nine straight years, the AFC championship game for five of the last six years, and three Super Bowls.

On first arrival in Kansas City, they played at the Municipal Stadium on E. 22nd Street and Brooklyn Avenue. In 1972, the team moved to Arrowhead Stadium in Jackson County, where they have played for the last fifty years.

Across from Arrowhead is the second team we’ll encounter on this tour of KC sports: Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals.

The Boys Are Playing Some Ball: Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals inhabit Kauffman Stadium (in the same sports complex as Arrowhead), named after entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing M. Kauffman. (His family foundation also contributed significantly to Kauffman Gardens and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, both located in downtown KC.) Like the Chiefs, the Royals also played in Municipal Stadium until 1972.

The Kansas City Royals are currently in-season. As of the time of writing, they place third in the American League Central, trailing the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers. The Royals haven’t seen as much success as the Chiefs. They’ve only won the World Series twice, in 1985 and 2015. Since that win in 2015, the Royals have only made the playoffs once.

That said, the Royals are looking to turn things around this year and build on their AL playoff appearance last season. Stars like Bobby Witt Jr. (#7) have garnered significant attention; Witt Jr. was selected as a starting shortstop on the US national baseball team. Last year, KC Royals ace Cole Ragans (#55) was named to an All-Star team, and the Royals hope he can continue to deliver.

The Other Midwestern Football: Sporting KC

Sporting KC came to Kansas City in 1996 as the Kansas City Wiz, creating electric football from the second they landed in Kansas City. A decade and a half of KC Wiz brought an MLS Cup (2000), a US Open Cup (2004), and a dramatic victory against Manchester United in 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium; Man Utd. would go on to win the English Premier League that year.

In late 2010, the Wizards rebranded as Sporting KC and opened their own stadium, Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, although they’ve kept elements of the Wiz heritage ever since. Six years of MLS playoff appearances through 2017 have been followed by what the Sporting website politely calls a “dip in form.” Although the team is third last in Major League Soccer, they’ve won two of their last three matches against St. Louis and San José.

Making a Splash: KC Current

The Kansas City Current are KC’s newest addition to professional sports, playing in the NWSL – the National Women’s Soccer League. In Dec. 2020, the NWSL awarded an expansion franchise to Kansas City, and the city was up for the challenge. KC Current owners constructed CPKC Stadium for the club, the first stadium in the world specifically created for a women’s professional sports team.

While some may be tempted to write off the Current due to a rocky start in 2021-23 (where they had two seasons placing in the bottom three), the Current have made waves in the league ever since. They qualified for the 2024 playoffs as the #4 seed and made it to the semifinals, losing to top-seed and eventual NWSL champions Orlando Pride.

The Current have substantial talent on their side, including 2024 Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga (#6), whose 20 goals last year set an all-time NWSL record. This year, the Current have only allowed one goal this season and won their first five regular season matches, the only team in the league to do so. Their only loss came to the North Carolina Courage on Apr. 26, 3-2.

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Whether you prefer watching boys in blue or exploring #TealTown, Kansas City knows how to bring the energy to its local sports teams. At home, away, and at the stadium, there is always a KC sports team for you to discover.

When Trump was booed and a banner saying “Impeach Trump” was unfurled at Nationals Park during Game 5 of the World Series, many online decried the action and said we need to keep politics out of sports. Many Americans like to think of politics and sports as being neatly separated. Many stadiums, including Kauffman Stadium, explicitly ban banners and signs that contain political material. But the Nationals fans might be onto something that has been missing from American sports for too long: political fan culture.

I’m sure more than a few people have already rolled their eyes – or even closed this tab – because this idea is almost an anathema to American sports fans. Politics and sports should be separate, just ignore the military flyovers, national anthem before the game and other displays of American nationalism. But I don’t want to discuss these elements as much as I want to discuss fan culture. 

Politics as a part of fandom is really a form of organic fan culture. Team managers and owners typically do not endorse it and often seek to suppress it. Instead, it develops from within the fan base and is reflected in the symbols they embrace, the chants they use and the songs they sing. It also often manifests as protests against team management. Typically it emerges out of the political and social ideas of the fan base or a small part of the fan base. This seldom manifests as support for a party, organization or candidate. Instead, it gravitates toward broader ideological positions and displays of support for causes and movements.

This is especially true for soccer teams. Many soccer teams around the world originated as local clubs for the community, usually centered around public schools or churches, especially among the urban working class. Because the teams’ origins are in the community, fans feel a sense of ownership and have been able to develop the fan culture themselves. Liverpool Football Club in England, Celtic FC in Scotland, FC St. Pauli in Germany, AS Livorno in Italy, AEK Athens in Greece, Hapoel Tel-Aviv in Israel and Boca Juniors in Argentina are generally considered left-wing teams. Chelsea FC in England, SS Lazio in Italy and Beitar Jerusalem in Israel are generally considered right-wing. Other teams are identified with a specific side in a particular political divide, and this often plays into sports rivalries. FC Barcelona is associated with Catalan nationalism and separatism, while Real Madrid is associated with Spanish unionism. 

However, political fan culture is not limited to soccer, although it is most apparent there. The rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leaves has a political undercurrent, reflecting the divide between French Canadians and English Canadians and the Quebec sovereigntist and nationalist movements. None of this means that all fans of these teams are politically aligned, and there is certainly a diversity of political thought among fans.

It should be acknowledged that at times political fan culture can stray into the fringes, and in a dark way. SS Lazio has a disturbingly large minority of fascist supporters who wave swastika flags, give Nazi salutes and shout racist and anti-semitic chants during matches. Beitar Jerusalem has been dubbed “Israel’s most racist team,” and fan clubs have been connected to a number of incidents of racist violence. In England, the Chelsea Headhunters are a gang of neo-Nazi Chelsea fans who regularly attack minorities and fans of rival teams. Sports leagues in the United States are no strangers to violence and racism either, but vile conduct is by no means universal to all leagues and teams.

Political fan culture has failed to develop in the United States in comparison to abroad in large part because of the extreme commercialization of sports. While soccer teams abroad grew out of community sports clubs, baseball and football teams were established by businessmen. American sports leagues are first and foremost business ventures, not governing bodies for sports. As a result, fans don’t feel the same level of control over the teams that many soccer fans abroad do. In Germany, fans are required by law to own a controlling share of teams. In the United States, only one professional sports team, the Green Bay Packers, is owned by the fans. This has restricted the development of organic forms of fan culture, with team owners and league officials cultivating it for fans instead. Politics are naturally controversial and bad for business. As a result, leagues and teams seek to stamp out this form of organic fan culture. 

Sadly, this is one problem in the NFL we can’t blame solely on Roger Goodell.

Despite this, things are beginning to change, and we are starting to see political fan culture develop. The growing popularity of Major League Soccer has led to the emergence of fan groups that are explicitly anti-racist, anti-fascist and promote radical inclusivity, like the Fountain City Ultras here in Kansas City. This development has already brought fans into conflict with the League Front Desk. When the MLS updated it code of conduct at the start of this last season, prohibiting political displays, a group of Portland Timbers Fans were banned for three games by the league after waving flags with the three arrows – an anti-fascist symbol. In response, fans from nearly every team in the league launched the #AUnitedFront campaign to oppose the rules and the ban, and fans from rival teams began openly flaunting the MLS rules by waving anti-fascist flags during games. Fans united to stand up to the league and declare they were no longer going to allow the fan culture to be dictated by commercial interests. 

While the recent events at Game 5 could be just a one-off event, the fact that the crowd joined in the chant, rather than simply a few fans who brought the banner, tells me this is part of something bigger. 

“I think this is huge for DC,” a jubilant fan being interviewed by Fox 5 DC said after the National’s victory in Game 7.  “DC needed this. We got some asshole in the f****** White House.” 

I’m hopeful that this is the start of a burgeoning political fan culture in baseball. Maybe next season someone at the K will have a sign saying “Royals Fans Against Racism.” And hopefully, the Royals will also have a better season.

Oct. 27, 2015. Game 1 of the 2015 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets.

Most of us know the story by heart. Kansas City was on the rise with infectious city pride because of the Royals. After a heartbreaking loss to the Giants in Game seven of the 2014 World Series, the team carved a destructive path of dominance to the next Series. This time they claimed it.

2015 was the year the Royals became champions for the first time in 30 years and redeemed themselves. The city was on fire. Royals shirts, hats and posters were everywhere. People knew players by name and followed the team closely after their hearts had been captured by the scrappy, love-able underdogs of 2014. 2015 was the deserved denouement of a thrilling story with a climax in October 2014.

This was not how I got to experience this story.

My family is made up of hard-core baseball people – Royals baseball people, specifically. I grew up going to games every summer, expecting losses. The team was not good. I was young near the end of the Mike Sweeney-era of the Royals and grew up during the long “rebuilding period”of which many of us were just skeptical of. Ned Yost? Everyone kind of thought of him as the butt of some joke of which none of us really knew the punchline.

It changed once I was a little older. Players started to stay longer. We have favorites. By the time I was in high school, we had some recognizable, encouraging faces and the team is actually decent. In the summer before my sophomore year, it looked like we’d have a chance at the playoffs.

Even then, it seemed pretty far-fetched to a grass-roots fan and cynic, like me. I knew the bad times. I knew that it was a long shot. I loved some of our boys but I still was skeptical.

In the midst of this slow but steady rise, I left for a semester abroad. I didn’t have access to the internet or any kind of technology, besides a payphone. I started getting letters from my family saying how close the team was to reaching the playoffs.

Then a letter came describing how we clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 1985.

Somehow, the team made it to the wildcard game. Somehow, they won. I woke up the morning after that game to find out from a teacher that it was an insane one. Then I got the play-by-play of the game from my brother’s next letter. I hear my family’s ecstatic retelling of the game, of where they were and how they heard of it.  They sent me the paper from the next day so I could read about it.

They relayed more and more news of the postseason as the days pass. My team – for the first time – was a team to watch. I heard of my city rallying and claiming my team as its own. I got to watch none of it. Before I knew it, I got a phone call after Game seven. My family somehow got themselves tickets to see it. I heard of the heartbreak, the betrayal and the tears.

I was hooked on the story, but I was very much on the outside of it. I was shocked when I got home to see a new city. A city, and a team, in renaissance. I was determined to be a part of it.

The 2015 season flew by. The Royals knew want they wanted and they went for it. Dayton Moore, Royals general manager, crafted a playoff worthy team. I still felt a bit on the outside. I questioned some trades – I have to admit I wasn’t so sure about Cueto when he came. I questioned some heroes of 2014 – it pains me to say I was unconvinced by the late, great and gone too soon Yordano Ventura.

But throughout the season, I started to catch the fever everyone else got the year before. Our boys were going to do it this time. In such a pure Kansas City way, our heroes led the way.

Not going to lie, I was on edge. The season itself had been trying. The city had seen tragedy. Players had lost family. The Royals family held it all together. Then, the Astros and Blue Jays tried to stop us in the ALDS and ALCS, respectively. But in the end, it was time for the kings to earn their crown.

It was suddenly Game 1 of the World Series. This time, I got to go. My brother, sister, mom and I bundled up for the chilly weather, packed snacks and prepared for what was sure to be an epic battle after an emotional season.

The game started mundanely enough in the top of the first inning. I decided to start eating my snacks. I was chowing down on an apple when Alcides Escobar took his first pitch and turned it into an inside-the-park homerun. Simultaneously choking and cheering, I felt the culmination of the year of buildup and prepared for one of the best games I’ve ever seen.

14 innings long. Extras triggered by the man, the hero himself – Alex Gordon – hitting a homer off the supposedly dominant closer Familia. The hours fly by. No one dared to leave before this game was over. Records were set in this game. It was truly a beauty of a game.

It ends in a quintessentially Royals way. A sac-fly – we won. The precedent was set for the Series.

The rest is history.

While a poor record may be a good indicator of all that has gone wrong for the ballclub, it certainly does not tell the entire story of the Royals’ 2018 season up to this point.

Trades and other various roster moves have not exactly been few and far between this year for the Royals. Just this past week, the services of catcher Drew Butera were shipped to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Minor League pitcher Jerry Vasto, who has appeared in only one game for the Rockies this season.

Butera was not the only member of the Royals’ 2015 championship roster to be traded in August, as outfielder Terrance Gore was also dealt to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations. Additionally, first basemen Lucas Duda was sent packing to the National League this week. Duda, once heralded as a quality addition this past offseason, will finish his 2018 season with the Atlanta Braves after being sold for cash considerations.

These recent transactions have more than likely been a little disheartening for Royals fans, but they only add to the list of moves that have shaken up the roster this season.

The most notable deal involving the Royals this season was the trade of third baseman and two-time All-Star Mike Moustakas just prior to the trade deadline. Moustakas was expected by many to leave in free agency this past offseason, but instead inked a one-year deal to stay a member of the Royals for the 2018 season.

The infielder’s future beyond the 2018 season remained uncertain following this deal. Still, many were surprised when Moustakas was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in late July. The Royals were given minor leaguers Brett Phillips and Jorge Lopez by the Brewers in return for Moustakas.

While Moustakas was traded to the Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain, also a member of the Royals’ 2015 championship team, left Kansas City in free agency this past offseason to sign a deal with Milwaukee. Cain signed a five-year, $80 million deal with his new team.

In addition to Cain’s departure last offseason, the Royals also lost first baseman Eric Hosmer to the lure of free agency. Hosmer, who has spent his entire career with the Royals, signed an eight-year, $144 million deal with the San Diego Padres in February.

As the record shows, there have been many low points throughout the course of this year for the Royals. Star players have been shipped out and close games have been lost. Despite the ups and downs of the 2018 season, a poor win total has not been able to hide bright spots that have shown themselves in the form of standout players and key victories.  

After sweeping the Detroit Tigers and taking the first game of the series against the Orioles on Friday night, the Royals seem to be hitting a late summer stride. A big part of their late success has been the outstanding play of their offense.

Kansas City has greatly improved upon their batting since the beginning of the season. In fact, the Royals have not scored below five runs in a victory since Aug. 18, when they beat the White Sox by a score of 3-1.

While the Royals’ offense has been on a hot streak, they are still searching for answers in the bullpen. A few starters and relievers have found consistency here and there, but pitching has generally been the Achilles heel of the Royals all season long.

One young player that has been making headlines, however, is rookie Brad Keller. As of late, Keller’s pitching has been phenomenal enough to put him in consideration for AL rookie of the year in some circles. He may not take home this award come season’s end, but Royals fans should be excited about the 23 year-old’s future on the team.

With only 28 games remaining on the schedule, the Royals will again look to the offseason as a time to regroup heading into next season. There is not a postseason bid to compete for, but the play of young prospects and seasoned veterans will be at the forefront of the organization’s focus throughout the rest of the season.

Cover photo courtesy of MLB.