Club: Colorado Rapids
Founded: 1996
City: Commerce City, Colorado
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Manager: Gary Smith
Qualification method: 2010 MLS Cup champion
Previous CONCACAF Champions League appearances: None
Honors: USA League - 1 (2010)
Official website: http://www.coloradorapids.com/

One of the 10 charter members of Major League Soccer, the Colorado Rapids are making their first trip to the CONCACAF Champions League as a result of beating FC Dallas to win their first MLS Cup in November. The Rapids also reached the final in 1997, losing to D.C. United. Its other appearance in a final was the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 1999, losing to the second-division Rochester Rhinos, the last non-MLS team to win the 98-year old competition. Coached by Gary Smith, who spent much of his career playing in the lower leagues in England, the Rapids are led by U.S. international Pablo Mastroeni, a defensive midfielder who competed in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and forward Conor Casey, who spent six years in Germany before becoming the Rapids career scoring leader with 45 goals. Owned by American entrepreneur Stan Kroenke, who also owns the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, the St. Louis Rams of the NHL and is a majority shareholder of English powerhouse Arsenal, the Rapids play in Dick's Sporting Good Park, one of 11 soccer-specific stadiums in MLS.