Major League Soccer to Announce 2009 Schedule This Week
Major League Soccer will announce the full 2009 regular-season schedule later this week. Stay tuned to www.kcwizards.com throughout the week for the latest on the 2009 fixture list.
In December, it was announced that the Kansas City Wizards will start the 2009 season with a home match against Toronto FC on Saturday, March 21, 2009. The game will kick off at Kansas City's new start time, 7:30 p.m. CT, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Season ticket packages are now available by calling the Wizards ticket office at (913) 387-3400. Group packages for groups of 15 or more are also available for the home opener. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.
In 2009, the Wizards will continue to offer a free bus to groups of 50 from within the Kansas City metro area. Contact a Wizards sales rep at (913) 387-3400 for more information about bringing your group outing to a Kansas City Wizards match via bus. Alcohol, excluding kegs, is allowed on buses to the stadium.
Wizards Conclude Preseason Training in Kansas City Tuesday, Leave for Bradenton, Fla. Wednesday
Tuesday, the Wizards will train either outdoors at the team's Swope Park Training Center or indoors at KC Sports Lodge in Independence, Mo., depending upon weather conditions. Kansas City departs Wednesday for two weeks of camp in Bradenton, Fla. To confirm Tuesday's training location, please contact Dave Borchardt in the Wizards media relations department at (816) 665-8442 or dborchardt@kcwizards.com.
Day, Date |
Time |
Location |
|---|---|---|
Tuesday, Jan. 27 |
11 a.m. CT |
Swope Park Training Center or KC Sports Lodge |
UPCOMING TRAINING CAMPS
Dates |
Location |
|---|---|
Jan. 29 - Feb. 11 |
Training Camp in Bradenton, Fla. |
Feb. 13 - Feb. 17 |
Training in Kansas City |
Feb. 19 - March 4 |
Training Camp in Guadalajara, Mexico |
Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
6310 Lewis Road
Kansas City, MO 64132
Google Maps here
KC Sports Lodge
*KC Sports Lodge is not available via online mapping services. Please follow the directions below. Contact a member of the Wizards media relations department if you have problems finding the facility.
From Downtown
• Take I-70 East to I-470/M 291 South (Exit 15 A)
• Go south on I-470, taking the first exit (16 A) onto 40 HWY East
• Take 40 HWY East to Little Blue Parkway South/NE Lakewood Way
• Head South onto Little Blue Parkway until the KC Sports Lodge sign (1/4 mile)
• Turn Right at the KC Sports Lodge sign
• KC Sports Lodge will be on the right-hand side of the street
From Overland Park
• Take I-435 East to I-470 East
• Continue on I-470 until 40 HWY East (Exit 16 A)
• Take 40 HWY East to Little Blue Parkway South/NE Lakewood Way
• Head South onto Little Blue Parkway until the KC Sports Lodge sign (1/4 mile)
• Turn Right at the KC Sports Lodge sign
• KC Sports Lodge will be on the right-hand side of the street
Demolition Commences at Bannister Mall, Visit www.thetrailskc.com for Latest on The Trails Development
Last week, demolition commenced at Bannister Mall, the future site of a soccer-specific stadium for the Kansas City Wizards. For photos from the first week of demolition, visit
this photo gallery
at kcwizards.com.
For the latest on The Trails Development, LANE4 Property Group's $1 billion project in Southeast Kansas City that will include a soccer-specific stadium for the Kansas City Wizards, visit
www.thetrailskc.com
. This website includes all the relevant facts and figures on the project, including initial renderings and a preliminary site plan.
Midfielder Roger Espinoza Earns First Career Appearance for Honduras
Kansas City Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza earned his first career appearance last Thursday for the Honduras National Team in a 2-1 win over Belize. Espinoza was born in Honduras and lived there before moving to Denver, Colo. at age 12. Toronto FC midfielder Amada Guevara scored the opening goal, and the win put Honduras atop Group A after one match of the 2009 UNCAF (Central American Football Union) Nations Cup. Honduras, the host country, beat Nicaragua Saturday 4-1 to secure their place in the tournament semifinals and, subsequently, the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Espinoza first trained with the Honduras National Team at a training camp earlier in January to prepare for the tournament, the competition that determines the Central-American champion. The top five finishers will qualify for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Espinoza has quickly became one of Honduras' brightest prospects, as Head Coach Reinaldo Rueda tabbed Espinoza an up-and-coming star.
Kansas City Wizards Lower Season Ticket Prices for 2009 Season
The Kansas City Wizards have lowered prices for season ticket holders from their 2008 rates and will continue to offer free parking at all events. Kansas City also introduced two exciting new seating options: All-You-Can-Eat Seats and Full-Service Terrace Table Seats. Wizards fans who put down a new season ticket deposit for the 2009 season will receive a free season ticket holder scarf. To purchase season tickets for 2009, call the Wizards at
(913) 387-3400
.
In addition to their existing seating categories, the Wizards are adding All-You-Can-Eat Seats and Full-Service Terrace Tables for fans who enjoy premium entertainment options. All-You-Can-Eat Seats will be located in section 106 behind the West goal and allow patrons unlimited food and drink during the game. Full-Service Terrace Tables are high-tops around the stadium and will include unlimited drinks during each match.
The Wizards also offer a free bus to groups of 50 from within the Kansas City metro area. Contact a Wizards sales rep at (913) 387-3400 for more information about bringing your group outing to a Kansas City Wizards match via bus. Alcohol, excluding kegs, is allowed on buses to the stadium.
Kansas City Wizards to Hold 2nd Annual Open Tryouts March 7-8
The Kansas City Wizards will hold its second-annual open tryouts March 7-8, 2009 in Kansas City. The Wizards held an open tryout in 2008 for the first time since their inaugural 1996 season, with the event drawing over 200 players from 15 different countries. Two players eventually signed for Kansas City, midfielders Kevin Souter and Nelson Pizarro. Both went on to play in MLS matches for the Wizards in 2008, and Souter started the final four games of the regular season and both MLS Cup Playoff matches for Kansas City. The tryout costs $200, and players can sign up through
www.kcwizards.com/opentryout
.
Participants will take part in matches Saturday, with the top players called back for Sunday's session. Finalists will then get the opportunity to tryout with the Wizards first team in March with the chance of securing a contract. Final tryout location and times will be provided to each participant closer to the event.
Kansas City Wizards Open Tryouts
March 7-8, 2009
Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
6310 Lewis Road
Kansas City, MO 64132
Google Maps here
