This week we reached out to KC Comets to learn more about a legacy soccer brand in the United States in a city that is wild for soccer, outside and in an arena. All our questions were answered by Brian Budzinski, managing partner of KC Comets, owner of the Kansas City Soccer Dome, as well co-founder of the NWSL side, FC Kansas City. We also got answers from the club’s Marketing Manager, Nathan Dunn, who filled in the blanks, dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s. Both were gracious with their time - thank you.

One of the things we love to find out about clubs is their founding - who started your club? What was the mission or vision and has that changed over time?
Myself, Ed Scheetz & Mikey Scheetz launched the team in July of 2010. The mission & vision was simple. Recreate the old magic of the Comets in a new era. I grew up going to games at Kemper Arena and running around the upper deck with a black & orange MISL soccer ball. So the love for the Comets and Indoor Soccer has always been a part of my life.

Historically, who is your biggest rival? What is the most important game you’ve ever played and who do you look most forward to playing against this season?
Historically it’s the Milwaukee Wave. They whooped up on us for the first few years when current MASL Commissioner Keith Tozer was the Head Coach. It’s been back and forth over the last decade and a half, but the Comets have the better run recently with an 8-4 record since 2021. Both franchises have great fan bases that are very passionate.

Honestly, this season we look forward to playing the Flash, Savage & Sockers.

Who are your biggest or most important players or coaches of all time? Record setters and trailblazers?
Easy, Vlatko Andonovski as Head Coach. Won a championship with Comets in MISL and FC Kansas City in the same year. Went on to be the Head Coach of the USWNT.

Player wise. We’ve had some great ones. But Leo Gibson. He will end his decade+ career with the Comets as the leader in every offensive statistic for ALL of Kansas City Indoor Soccer History. As of January 14, 2024, Leo Gibson has 626 points, 331 goals, and 295 assists in 299 regular season and playoff games for the Comets. He is currently 2 goals shy of tying Kevin Koetters' record for most goals in Kansas City Indoor Soccer History. Koetters had 333 goals in 321 games between 1991 and 2002.

“Most important was Game 3 of the 2014 MISL Championship in Baltimore.”

Do most of your players play both or are they dedicated to playing indoor professionally? Where do you recruit from - how does your club, or MASL, add fresh pros?
We recruit globally down to locally. No rock is left unturned. We have lots of connections with Technical staff across multiple leagues and colleges. All of our guys are dedicated strictly to indoor professionally. For a while, we would have players with us for a few months during the outdoor season like Kyle McLagan, Matt Lewis & Ray Saari.

How do you keep the lights on? What are the most important marketing strategies?
Simple, dedicated owners, dedicated fans and fantastic partnerships with Kansas City business leaders. We lead the MASL in attendance as we have one of the largest front office staffs in the league that works their take off every day.

Where we separate ourselves is we lead from the front. We were voted as having the best broadcast, we have some of the brightest minds to produce our product and showcase the talents of our players both digitally and graphically.

How does your club connect with your community outside of the arena? What do you do that makes a difference?
We are in schools all the time. Talking to students about life, reading programs, making personal connections between Comets players and Kansas City Students.

Want to know more or get involved?
Follow KC Comets on Instagram HERE
And give them a follow on “X” Twitter HERE