The Gansler era ended with back-to-back playoff losses in 2005 and 2006. Current Sporting Kansas City Director of Player Personnel Brian Bliss took over as interim head coach in 2006 before Curt Onalfo became full-time manager in 2007.
Onalfo era – 2007-2009
Onalfo was at the helm in 2007 and saw the Wizards move from Arrowhead Stadium to Community America Ballpark across the street from where Children’s Mercy Park is today. In the last full season at Arrowhead, KC made the playoffs, reached the semifinals and was defeated by the Houston Dynamo.
2008 gave the Wizards their first season in Community America and two quarterfinal appearances, one in the MLS Cup playoffs and the other in the Open Cup. That season was the last year in the club’s history without Peter Vermes in charge.
The 2009 campaign opened with Onalfo at the helm and the roster adding two rookies, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi. Midway through the season, the club competed in the North American SuperLiga, picking up draws against FC Atlas and New England Revolution before bowing out in the group stage after a defeat to Santos Laguna.
Vermes took charge of the club on 4 August 2009 and earned his first win on 5 September in a 4–2 triumph over New England. The Sporting KC manager and Sporting Director has been in charge ever since and has helped Sporting to 10 playoff berths in the last 11 seasons.
Rebrand and Stadium – 2010-2011
The new decade brought new promise to the stadium as the club broke ground at Children’s Mercy Park on January 20, 2010. In his final season as the Wizards, KC moved up in the conference, finishing third with an 11-13-6 record. Although not counted as one of the 1,000 games, the Wizards defeated Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in front of a record 52,424 fans at Arrowhead Stadium on July 25.
