The Rapids got their team history underway with a 3-0 loss at Kansas City against the Wiz on April 13. In the club's first home game eight days later, they would defeat the Dallas Burn, 3-1 in front of 21,711 spectators.

The club featured stars such as Marcello Balboa, Roy Wegerle and Shaun Bartlett, and was under the guidance of Bobby Houghton. But despite the star-studded team that they had, the Rapids finished the season with a disappointing record of 11-21 and had the unfortunate honor of being the first Western Conference team not to make the playoffs.