Year founded: 1995.
First season in MLS: 1996.
Stadium: DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO.
Honors: MLS Cup (2010).
2023 highlights: The Rapids open with a trip to Lumen Field on February 26th and end the season with a third and final meeting with Rocky Mountain Cup rivals Real Salt Lake, at home, on October 21st. In between, they tackle newcomers St. Louis City home and away, host FC Cincinnati in what will be just a third encounter, and travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face Atlanta United. Their last visit to Georgia was in 2019 and ended up being a last game in charge for Anthony Hudson. Six of the last nine are on the road, starting with a three-game stretch once MLS resumes after Leagues Cup. This season's 4th July opponents will be Portland Timbers, the side against whom Tim Howard made his Rapids debut and MLS return on Independence Day, 2016.
Head Coach: Robin Fraser.
Players to watch: Diego Rubio, Darren Yapi, Kevin Cabral, Andreas Maxsø, Connor Ronan.
Players in: | Players out: |
Cole Bassett (returned from loan spell at Fortuna Sittard NED) Steven Beitashour (re-signed) Moise Bombito (Generation adidas) Kevin Cabral (trade from LA Galaxy) Michael Edwards (re-signed) Alex Gersbach (transfer from Grenoble) Calvin Harris (trade from Cincinnati) Marko Ilic (on loan from KV Kortrijk) Andreas Maxsø (transfer from Brøndby) Connor Ronan (signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers) | Lucas Esteves (loan expired) Felipe Gutierrez (loan expired) Clint Irwin (out of contract, joined Minnesota United) Philip Mayaka (option declined) Drew Moor (retired) Collen Warner (waivers) Gyasi Zardes (out of contract, joined Austin FC) |
2022 summary: Having finished top of the Western Conference at the end of 2021, the Rapids ended a disappointing 10th last season, three places and four points shy of a playoff spot. Injuries disrupted their rhythm but the departure of key components of that 2021 success was likely the major cause of such a backward step. Gone from 2021 were the likes of Kellyn Acosta - who would win the double at LAFC - as well as Dominique Badji, and Cole Bassett (since returned). Others followed during the '22 campaign; among them Mark-Anthony Kaye, Andre Shinyashiki, Auston Trusty, and Nicolas Mezquida.
Facts and Stats: The clash with RSL on the final day of the regular season will be the sixth such meeting. The two clubs met in the last game of 2005, and then in every final game of the season from 2007-10. The 2010 occasion saw RSL bag two goals in the 90th minute to claim a 2-2 draw, and the Rocky Mountain Cup. The result ended up sending the Rapids into the Eastern Conference portion of the playoffs, en route to lifting MLS Cup.
Milestones for 2023: The Rapids are five goals away from scoring 400 at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, their home since 2007.
Diego Rubio is two shy of 100 appearances for the club and sits on 35 goals. Ahead of him on the all-time goal scorers' list are Conor Casey (50), Paul Bravo, Omar Cummings (both 39), and John Spencer (37).
Goalkeeper William Yarbrough is joint-second with Clint Irwin on 26 shutouts, three behind club leader Matt Pickens (29).