The Major League Soccer club based in Colorado is the Colorado Rapids, commonly shortened to the Rapids.
The Rapids are one of Major League Soccer's original clubs. They were founded in 1995 and played their first MLS season in 1996, making them part of the league's inaugural group. The club represents the Denver metropolitan area and currently plays its home matches at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
Colorado reached its first MLS Cup final in 1997 but lost to D.C. United. Its breakthrough came in 2010, when the Rapids defeated FC Dallas 2–1 after extra time to win their first MLS Cup championship. The club's name refers to the powerful, fast-moving water associated with Colorado's rivers and mountainous landscape.
A frequent confusion is geography: the club is often described as being in Denver because it serves the Denver area, but its stadium is in Commerce City. “Rapids” is the standard short form of the club's official name, Colorado Rapids.