{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Wichita B-52s | image = Wichita B-52s logo.png | image_size = 150 | caption = | shortname = | founded = 2013
| ground = Hartman Arena<br>Wichita, Kansas | capacity = 5,000 | owntitle = Owner/President | owner = Joseph Pindell<ref name="kwch130822"/> | mgrtitle = Head Coach | manager = Kim Roentved<ref name="weag141202"/> | league = Major Arena Soccer League | season = 2014–15 | position = 4th, Central Division<br>Playoffs: DNQ | website = http://www.wichitab52s.com/ | alt1 = | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = | pattern_ra1 = | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = | body1 = | rightarm1 = | shorts1 = | socks1 = | alt2 = | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = | body2 = | rightarm2 = | shorts2 = | socks2 = | pattern_la3 = | pattern_b3 = | pattern_ra3 = | pattern_sh3 = | pattern_so3 = | pattern_name3 = | leftarm3 = | body3 = | rightarm3 = | shorts3 = | socks3 = | American = true }}
The '''Wichita B-52s''' was an American professional indoor soccer team based in Wichita, Kansas. Founded in July 2013, the team made its debut in the Professional Arena Soccer League with the 2013–14 season under head coach Larry Inlow. After beginning the 2014–15 season under Jeff Kraft, Kim Roentved was named head coach in December 2014.<ref name="weag141202"/> The team played its home games at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.<ref name="weag131101"/> In August 2015, the team announced it would not be participating in the 2015–16 MASL season.
==History== In June 2013, the Wichita Wings of the MISL folded but a successor corporation named FC Wichita LLC announced their intention to join the PASL for the 2013–14 season.<ref name="osc130604"/> The name and home arena for the Wichita, Kansas, based team were not immediately announced.<ref name="wich130603"/><ref name="kake130603"/> On July 10, the team announced that it secured a lease at Hartman Arena but now planned to delay joining the PASL until the 2014–15 season.<ref name="face130710"/><ref name="wegl130822"/>
On July 23, the PASL announced that a different ownership group had secured a Hartman Arena lease and the franchise to play in Wichita for the 2013–14 season.<ref name="osc130723w"/><ref name="kans130724"/> On August 22, team owner Joseph Pindell announced that it will play as the "Wichita B-52s" to honor the city's aviation heritage.<ref name="kwch130822"/><ref name="kake130822"/> (More than 700 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress aircraft were built in Wichita.) The team's blue and orange official colors reflect the colors of the original Wichita Wings.<ref name="ksn130822"/><ref name="osc130822b"/> Indoor soccer veteran Jeff Kraft served as head coach for the first five games of the 2014–15 season.<ref name="weag131101"/><ref name="wegl130822"/><ref name="kake130822"/> He was replaced on an interim basis by former assistant coach Darin Smith.<ref name="wbpr141126"/>
Kim Roentved, former professional soccer player and former head coach of the Missouri Comets indoor soccer team, was named in October 2014 to be the Director of Operations for the Wichita B-52s. Roentved was also a fan favorite player when he played for the Wichita Wings. On December 2, 2014, the team elevated him to head coach.<ref name="weag141202"/>
In May 2015, local media reported that some players and staff had worked the previous season without pay, some checks written by the team to vendors had bounced, and that the team owed Hartman Arena approximately $2,000.<ref name="kwch150521"/> Team owner Joey Pindell told KWCH-DT that the "B-52's are experiencing some struggles" but that he was working with MASL officials to resolve their issues.<ref name="kwch150520"/> In August 2015, the team it would not be participating in the 2015–16 MASL season.
==Year-by-year== {| class="wikitable" |bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|<small>'''League champions'''</small> |bgcolor="#FFE6BD"|<small>'''Runners-up'''</small> |bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|<small>'''Division champions'''*</small> |bgcolor="#96CDCD"|<small>'''Playoff berth'''</small> |} {| class="wikitable" !Year !League !Reg. season !GF !GA !Pct !Finish !Playoffs !Avg. attendance |- |2013–14|| PASL || 7–9 || 91|| 113 || .438|| 4th, Central || Did not qualify || 1,650 |- |2014–15|| MASL || 10–10 || 135|| 144 || .500||4th, Central || Did not qualify || 1,463 |}
==References== {{reflist|2|refs= <ref name="osc130604">{{cite news |work=Our Sports Central |title=Local Business Owner Unveils Plans to Keep Professional Soccer in Wichita |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4607965 |date=June 4, 2013 |accessdate=June 5, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="kake130603">{{cite news |first=Jared |last=Cerullo |publisher=KAKE |location=Wichita, KS |title=Professional Indoor Soccer To Continue In Wichita |url=http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/Professional-Indoor-Soccer-To-Continue-In-Wichita-209994101.html |date=June 3, 2013 |accessdate=June 5, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="wich130603">{{cite news |first=Jeffrey |last=Lutz |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |publisher=The McClatchy Company |location=Wichita, KS |title=New pro soccer team could come in Professional Arena Soccer League |url=http://www.kansas.com/2013/06/03/2830806/new-pro-soccer-team-could-come.html |date=June 3, 2013 |accessdate=June 5, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="face130710">{{cite web |publisher=Facebook |title=FC Wichita – July 10 at 9:53pm |url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=402079686576953&id=389704991147756 |date=July 10, 2013 |accessdate=July 14, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="osc130723w">{{cite news |work=Our Sports Central |title=PASL Secures Deal to Keep Wichita Indoor Soccer at Hartman Arena This Winter |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4647835 |date=July 23, 2013 |accessdate=July 24, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="kans130724">{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Schnabel |newspaper=The Newton Kansan |location=Newton, KS |publisher=GateHouse Media |title=New indoor soccer team coming to Wichita |url=http://www.thekansan.com/article/20130724/SPORTS/130729770/1020/SPORTS |date=July 24, 2013 |accessdate=July 25, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="kake130822">{{cite news |publisher=KAKE-TV |location=Wichita, KS |title=Wichita's New Soccer Team To Be Called The B-52s |url=http://www.kake.com/sports/headlines/Wichitas-New-Soccer-Team-To-Be-Called-The-B-52s-220682121.html?ref=121 |date=August 22, 2013 |accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="kwch130822">{{cite news |first=Jenn |last=Bates |publisher=KWCH-TV |location=Wichita, KS |title=New professional soccer team coming to Wichita |url=http://www.kwch.com/sports/kwch-new-professional-soccer-team-coming-to-wichita-20130820,0,5435968.story |date=August 22, 2013 |accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="osc130822b">{{cite news |work=Our Sports Central |title=Wichita B-52s Take Off for PASL |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4670048 |date=August 22, 2013 |accessdate=August 23, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="ksn130822">{{cite web |publisher=KSNW |title=New soccer team takes off in Wichita |url=http://www.ksn.com/2013/08/22/new-soccer-team-unveils-its-name/ |date=August 22, 2013 |accessdate=August 23, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="wegl130822">{{cite news |first=Joanna |last=Chadwick |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |location=Wichita, KS |publisher=The McClatchy Company |title=Indoor soccer team will be called the B-52s |url=http://www.kansas.com/2013/08/22/2958004/indoor-soccer-team-will-be-called.html |date=August 22, 2013 |accessdate=August 23, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="weag131101">{{cite news |first=Jeffrey |last=Lutz |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |location=Wichita, KS |publisher=The McClatchy Company |title=Wichita's new soccer team deep with local ties |url=http://www.kansas.com/2013/11/01/3091744/wichitas-new-soccer-team-deep.html |date=November 1, 2013 |accessdate=November 3, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="wbpr141126">{{cite press release |publisher=Wichita B-52s |location=Wichita, KS |title=B-52s Look to Rebuild |url=http://pointstreaksites.com/view/soccerleague/news-1160/news_243473 |date=November 26, 2014 |accessdate=November 27, 2014}}</ref> <ref name="weag141202">{{cite news |first=Kirk |last=Seminoff |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |location=Wichita, KS |publisher=The McClatchy Company |title=Kim Roentved returns to sideline to coach B-52s indoor soccer team |url=http://www.kansas.com/sports/other-sports/wichita-b-52s/article4244393.html |date=December 2, 2014 |accessdate=December 2, 2014}}</ref> <ref name="kwch150520">{{cite news |first=Lauren |last=Seabrook |publisher=KWCH-DT |location=Wichita, KS |title=FF12: B-52 soccer team not paying players, staff, vendors |url=http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/FF12-B-52-soccer-team-not-paying-players-staff-vendors/33134344 |date=May 20, 2015 |accessdate=May 22, 2015 |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522085559/http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/FF12-B-52-soccer-team-not-paying-players-staff-vendors/33134344 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="kwch150521">{{cite news |first=Lauren |last=Seabrook |publisher=KWCH-DT |location=Wichita, KS |title=FF12: Passion trumps profit for B-52 soccer players |url=http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/FF12-Passion-trumps-profit-for-B-52-soccer-players/33156182 |date=May 21, 2015 |accessdate=May 22, 2015 |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522105819/http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/FF12-Passion-trumps-profit-for-B-52-soccer-players/33156182 |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}
==External links== *[http://www.wichitab52s.com/ Wichita B-52s official website] *{{Facebook|wichitab52s}} *[http://www.paslsoccer.com/ Professional Arena Soccer League official website]
Category:Wichita B-52s Category:2013 establishments in Kansas Category:Association football clubs established in 2013 Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Kansas Category:Defunct Major Arena Soccer League teams Category:Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States Category:Major Arena Soccer League teams B-52s Category:2015 disestablishments in Kansas Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2015 Category:Professional indoor soccer clubs in the United States