By Anna Corbett, Opinion Editor
Local sports bring communities together, and Wichita is no different. It’s a college town that doesn't present itself as such, and there is not much to do other than go to local sporting events.
Some college students may not know that Wichita has several semi-pro and professional sports teams that are fun to follow. Among them are the Wichita Thunder hockey team, the Wichita Wind Surge Double-A baseball team, the Wichita Wizards minor league basketball team, the Wichita Sky Kings professional basketball team, and the Wichita Regulators arena football team.
Faith Crabb is a junior at Newman and a Wichita native who has attended quite a few of these events, most often Wichita Thunder hockey games. Her family has been season ticket holders for many years and has even got to do a puck drop at a game. For those who don’t know, the first puck drop is an honor given to a person or a family to recognize them for their contribution to the team.
Crabb said her dad was a fan of many teams in Wichita and Kansas.
“He was a KU fan his entire life, and he loved all things hockey,” Crabb said. “He even played on a bunch of teams himself. So I have my dad to thank for all my love and knowledge of local sports.”
Nathan Galicia, on the other hand, is not local to Wichita. His hometown of Houston has a much bigger sports presence than Wichita and claims National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, and Minor League Baseball teams.
“There is a stronger presence in our city, and the people of Houston are constantly covered in team colors,” he said. “We have murals all over the city as well as a radio station for some of the teams to listen to games.”
Local sports can bring communities together during hard times and good times, Galicia said.
“When Houston was hit by Hurricane Harvey back in 2017, it was the middle of the MLB season,” Galicia said. “The Astros games were one of the most unifying and impactful events for our city.”
Crabb said that she hadn’t noticed Wichitans being as excited about local sports.
“I think it just doesn't get as much traction anymore, so the community involvement has lessened over the years,” Crabb said.
The Wichita Thunder is putting on a “Newman Night” on Saturday designed to bring in more college students. Tickets are available in student life while supplies last.
“The biggest benefit of having these teams is being able to spend a night with friends and family in an atmosphere where everyone wants and enjoys the same things,” Crabb said.
Galicia said he attended his first Wind Surge baseball game in September of 2024 and his first Wichita Thunder Hockey game will be on Saturday With Crabb.
“I think it is important to have sports teams because it gives people a sense of pride for where they come from,” he said.
There are many local sports teams here in Wichita, ranging from Minor League to Professional.
Here’s how you can see some of Wichita’s sports teams:
Wichita Thunder: Home games are at Intrust Bank Arena on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, depending on the schedule. Ticket prices range from $31-$118 and can be bought in person at the box office or on the Wichita Thunder website. Their regular season runs from October to April.
Wichita Wind Surge: This Double-A Minor League Baseball Team plays at Riverfront Equity Bank Stadium. Ticket prices start at $14 for general admission and can be bought online through their website. The regular season is from April to September.
FC Wichita: This semi-professional soccer team in the Heartland Conference plays at Stryker Soccer Complex. Tickets for general admission are $10 at fcwichita.com and games typically run year round.
The Wichita Wizards: This professional basketball team in the Mid-American Basketball Association plays at Garvey Center at Friends University from March through June. The price of single-game tickets is $12, and they can be bought online but are also available in person.
The Wichita Sky Kings is another professional basketball team. It plays in The Basketball League at Charles Koch Arena, Wichita State University as well as at Fugate Gymnasium at Newman University. The regular season happens from March to June, and single-game tickets start at $29. They can be found online.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Wichita Thunder Hockey
