National Professional Soccer League (1991-2001)
Tombstone
Born: September 4, 1991 – The Atlanta Attack relocate to Kansas City, MO
Re-Branded: August 15, 2001 (Kansas City Comets)1Pedley, Jim. “Comets, nee Attack, hope to rekindle excitement”. The Star (Kansas City, MO). August 16, 2001
First Game: November 9, 1991 (W 11-7 vs. Detroit Rockers)
Last Game: April 14, 2001 (L 22-17 @ Milwaukee Wave)
NPSL Champions: 1993 & 1997
Arenas
1991-1992: Municipal Auditorium (9,000)
Opened: 1935
1992-2001: Kemper Arena (17,488)21999-00 Kansas City Attack Media Guide
Opened: 1974
Marketing
Team Colors:
- 1998-99: Red, White, Blue, Green, Silver & Black31999-00 Kansas City Attack Media Guide
Radio:
- 1995-96: KFEQ (680 AM)
Radio Broadcasters:
- 1995-96: Bob Rennison
Mascot: Fuzzy (the ?)
Ownership
Owners:
- 1991-1993: Chris Economides & Louis Gitsis
- 1993-2001: Don Kincaid, et al.
Attendance
Our Favorite Stuff
Kansas City Attack
Logo T-Shirt
The Attack were Kansas City’s indoor soccer team for 10 seasons between 1991 and 2001. The club never quite rekindled the city’s love affair with the Comets of the 1980’s, but they achieved something that their predecessors never could, winning National Professional Soccer League championships in 1993 and 1997.
This Attack design is also available as a Long Sleeve T, in a Women’s cut or as a Hoodie Sweatshirt from our partners at Extra Time Vintage Soccer!
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Background
During the 1980’s Kansas City, Missouri was a hotspot for the growing sport of indoor soccer. The local Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) franchise, the Kansas City Comets, was so popular in the early part of the decade that they helped to drive the NBA’s Kansas City Kings out of town in 1985. The departure of the Kings and the lack of an NHL franchise made the Comets the only wintertime pro sports ticket in town starting in 1985. But the fortunes of the Major Indoor Soccer League started to fade by the late 1980’s. By 1991 Comets attendance had fallen more than 50% from its peak of nearly 16,000 fans per game in 1984.
The Comets went out of business in July of 1991. Sensing an opportunity, a pair of novice sports investors from Rochester, New York, Chris Economides and Louis Gitsis, purchased the Atlanta Attack of the lower-budget National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). They quickly shifted the team to Kansas City in September 1991, two months after the collapse of the Comets. They retained the Attack name in Kansas City, but signed popular former Comets stars Gino Schiraldi and Jim Schwab to try and lure back disenfranchised MISL fans.
The Kansas City Attack spent their first season in the winter of 1991-92 at the smaller, cheaper Municipal Auditorium. The team was strong (26-14) and made it to the playoff semi-finals. But attendance languished at 3,050 fans per game, which was both a far cry from the Comets days and beneath the NPSL’s modest league-wide average of 3,600.
Back to Kemper
In 1992-93 the Attack returned to Kemper Arena and saw a 50% surge in attendance. The team was terrific and advanced to 1993 NPSL Championship Series against the Cleveland Crunch. Casual Kansas City fans jumped on the bandwagon. A crowd of 12,134 turned out at Kemper Arena on April 30, 1993 to watch Kansas City claim its first indoor soccer title with a 19-7 victory over Cleveland in Game 5 of the 1993 NPSL Championship Series.
In 1995-96 Attack put forward the most dominant team in club history. The team set an all-time NPSL record by reeling off an 18-game winning streak en route to a 32-8 record. But after taking a 2-0 series lead in the finals against an equally strong Cleveland team (31-9), they dropped four straight and let the title slip from their grasp.
The Attack and the Crunch met in the finals for the third time in five seasons after the 1996-97 season. This time Kansas City won in a four-game sweep, claiming their second (and final) title.
Return of the Comets
In the summer of 2001, the National Professional Soccer League disbanded and the surviving teams re-organized under the nostalgic Major Indoor Soccer League brand name. Attack owner Don Kincaid chose to play the 1980’s nostalgia card as well, dropping the Attack identity in favor of a revived Kansas City Comets name. The former Attack franchise played four more seasons under the Comets name before folding in September 2005. Kincaid lost a reported $15 million on the franchise between 1993 and 2005 according to The Kansas City Star.4Flanagan, Jeffery. “Comets go dark for two seasons”. The Star (Kansas City, MO). September 14, 2005
Kansas City Attack Shop
Fun While It Lasted COFFEE SHOP
Kansas City Attack Ceramic mug
Available now from our friends at Extra Time Vintage Soccer, this fully-insulated porcelain mug is ideal for your morning brew.
Ceramic | Capacity: 11 fl oz
Dishwasher safe
Lead and Cadmium free
Imported; processed and printed in the U.S.A.
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
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