Tombstone
Born: January 2003 – A-League expansion franchise1ASSOCIATED PRESS. “Rampage disbanded, Wave United takes over”. The Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, WI). January 25, 2003
Folded: 2004
First Game: May 16, 2003 (L 2-0 vs. Minnesota Thunder)
Last Game: August 29, 2004 (L 2-1 @ Portland Timbers)
A-League Championships: None
Stadium
Uihlein Soccer Park (7,000)22004 Milwaukee Wave United Program
Marketing
Team Colors: Blue & Red32004 Milwaukee Wave United Program
Ownership
Owner: Tim Krause
Attendance
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Source: 2004 United Soccer Leagues Media Guide
Background
Throughout the 1990’s and into the early 2000’s, Milwaukee, Wisconsin was one of the most stable pro soccer scenes in the U.S. In late 2002, Milwaukee boasted both the reigning 2nd Division outdoor champions, the 10-year old Rampage, and the country’s longest running indoor soccer franchise, the Wave, about to enter their 19th season of competition.
But in January 2003 the Rampage went out of business, foregoing the opportunity to defend their 2002 A-League title. The ownership of the Milwaukee Wave quickly stepped into the void, forming an expansion team known as Wave United to replace the Rampage in the outdoor A-League during the summer of 2003. The indoor Wave played a complementary schedule in the Major Indoor Soccer League during the fall and winter.
2003 Season
The Rampage reportedly had a team policy against signing indoor players. Now Milwaukee’s A-League entry would make extensive use of indoor players, offering many (but not all) Wave players the opportunity to play professional soccer year round in the city.
The Wave’s long-time indoor coach Keith Tozer did not take the reigns on Wave United. Instead, the assignment went to Tozer’s indoor assistant Art Kramer. A number of Wave indoor players signed on for the outdoor season, including Greg Howes and Todd Dusosky who would each score a team-high 11 goals during the 2003 season. Wave United also signed the Rampage’s top player, forward Digital Takawira, a veteran of Major League Soccer who won the A-League Most Valuable Player award with the Rampage in 2000.
Wave United had a superb debut in the A-League in 2003. The expansion side compiled an 18-10 record, leading the 19-club 2nd division in wins (18), goals (61) and goal differential (+29).
The season ended in disappointment, however, with a first round playoff exit. Wave United faced the Minnesota Thunder in a two-leg aggregate goals series. After winning game one at Uehlein Soccer Park 1-0 on September 5th, 2003, Wave United lost 2-0 on the road in Minnesota two days later to drop the series.
Closure
Wave United’s second and final outdoor season was less successful. With Art Kramer again at the helm, the club fell back to a 12-12-4 mark and missed the playoffs.
A bright spot was midfielder Johnny Torres, a Major League Soccer veteran who earned 1st Team All-League honors for Wave United.
In late 2004, Wave ownership withdrew from the A-League, ending the club’s two-year experiment with outdoor soccer. The club continued to play in the Major Indoor Soccer League and still exists as an indoor professional club today.
Milwaukee Wave Shop
Links
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