Colorado Rapids

Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are a soccer club based in Commerce City, Colorado one of the participants of Major League Soccer. Founded in 1995, Rapids have made to finals twice in their history once in the 1997 MLS Cup and then in 1999 US Open Cup. The Rapids lost both times.

They played their home matches at Mile High Stadium till 2001 from where they moved into INVESCO Field at Mile High in 2002 and finally moved to Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the Denver suburb of Commerce City for the 2007 season. The team colors are burgundy and sky blue with the home jerseys being burgundy. Along with an official MLS reserve team, the Colorado Rapids also have an affiliation with the Colorado Rapids U23's of the Premier Development League

Foundation and Initial Days.

The Colorado Rapids were one of the ten founding clubs of Major League Soccer. Despite fielding experienced players, the team finished dead last in the Western Conference with the worst record in the league, in the inaugural 1996 season. The new head coach Glenn Myernick fielded the team in the following season dramatically changing the outlook of the team by adding fresh players. The team fought back after initial struggle and managed two major upsets advancing to the MLS Cup final. However they lost the final to DC United.

The club officially revealed its new colors on February 9, 2007. The new uniform at home will now be a white shorts, burgundy jersey and burgundy socks, while the away uniform will be sky blue jersey, sky blue shorts, and sky blue socks.

International Partnerships.
Arsenal F.C. The Arsenal and Rapids announced partnership at the time of unveiling of new colors. The partnership's stated aim is to increase the two club's cooperation in promoting each others' football style in the other country. The relationship between the two clubs encompasses advantageous coaching and better player development for Colorado with the possibility of developing friendliness between the teams. The media attention that Arsenal enjoyed in the US market is yet another advantage that matches other European clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid. The deal between the two also includes a US soccer tournament to be hosted in Denver, with teams competing for the Arsenal Cup.

CF Pachuca.
The Colorado Rapids' partnership with Club de Futbol Pachuca was announced on August 7, 2007. Club de Futbol Pachuca is the champion of the Primera Division de Mexico. The Pachuca Academy at Dick's Sporting Goods Park landmarks the relationship. The deal also includes an annual series between the clubs besides a swap over of best practices as well as conduct of their preseason training at each other's home ground. The Pachuca Academy is unique in the United States and will be administered in partnership with a sports consultancy team (ProSport) with its headquarters in Mexico City, and led in part by Enrique Borja.

As regards to average fan attendance, the Rapids have always have been among the top teams in the league. A number of organized groups have come and gone both large and small, the most notable of these were the Jolly Green Men, the River Ratz, and Ultra Azul. Lack of growth, leadership and tensions between them can be counted as some of the reasons for the failures of these groups.

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