The 2008 soccer schedule ended for the Chiefs with a 2-14 record that placed them in fourth place in their conference division. Brodie Croyle, the quarterback of this young team, ended his season in just the seventh week with a new injury. This may have been the worst season on record for the team, but fans remained hopeful and excited. Even with a series of painful losses at home and away, there was still strong demand for tickets for the Kansas City Chiefs. This loyalty has been evident since 1963 when this Texas-based team first came to town.
The beginning of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise
Lamar Hunt was the driving force that helped establish the franchise that became the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the one who first launched the idea of a second soccer league in 1959. There were 8 team owners who signed with Hunt to start the AFL. The concept of a new soccer organization competing head-to-head with the NFL was so strange that many thought it was doomed. The 8 owners of the AFL teams were nicknamed “The Foolish Club.” The new league was announced by Bert Bell, who was then the NFL Commissioner. The NFL did not want to be associated with the AFL teams, but this made little difference to the proud owners of the new teams who were full of excitement.
Chicago was the site for the first meeting of the new AFL league and the 6 founding members were the cities of New York, Denver, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston and Minneapolis. Buffalo was added as the seventh member two months later and then Boston was listed as the eighth franchise. All owners agree that without Lamar Hunt none of this would have been possible.
Shortly after all 8 teams committed to the effort, the Minneapolis owner withdrew because he had been offered an NFL franchise. Lamar Hunt was also offered a Dallas expansion franchise, but turned it down so he could focus on his new AFL league. The owners elected Hunt as president of the AFL in 1960, and a contingent from Dallas received the coveted NFL expansion franchise. The AFL also incorporated the 2-point conversion soccer rule. This same game rule would eventually be approved by the NFL in 1994. During the 1960 football season, the AFL was contracted with ABC television in a deal that earned each of the clubs $ 112,000.
The mighty Texans had a championship season in 1962, but Dallas was unable to keep 2 separate professional soccer teams. Hunt had started scouting trips to some of the larger cities like Miami and Atlanta to search for a new home. The mayor of Kansas City learned of the impending move and invited Hunt to take his team to the Midwest. There was a frenzy of incessant activity to add new seats to the Municipal Stadium and also to sell tickets.
Looking forward with renewed determination
This soccer team is not letting the 2008 season slow them down in their determination and drive. Players are eager to hit the field to train and fans are eager to see what new faces will come their way. The fall 2009 schedule will be a time for the Chiefs to channel that determination into winning units. With the anticipation of a new quarterback at a fever pitch, fans are turning up the heat with ticket requests for the Kansas City Chiefs.
