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Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update

March 2, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


COUNTDOWN TO FIRST KICK - 19 DAYS:

The Kansas City Wizards open the 2009 MLS season Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT against Toronto FC at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The Wizards are currently in Guadalajara, Mexico for the second extended training camp of the 2009 preseason. The Wizards play their final friendly of the Mexico trip Tuesday at 11 a.m. CT against Salamanca FC of the Mexican 2nd Division. Kansas City then returns to train at the team's Swope Park Training Center both Thursday and Friday.

Single-game tickets for the 2009 Major League Soccer season are now on sale to the general public. Season ticket packages for 2009 are still available, starting as low as $180. Contact the Wizards at (913) 387-3400 for tickets or visit www.kcwizards.com. For individual tickets, contact Ticketmaster via phone at (816) 931-3330 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

WEEKLY TRAINING SCHEDULE

The Wizards return from a two-week trip to Guadalajara, Mexico Wednesday night and will begin training at the team's Swope Park Training Center Thursday afternoon. Newly signed midfielder Santiago Hirsig is still in the process of obtaining his visa, but will join the team in Kansas City upon receipt of his paperwork.

Date Time Location

Thursday, March 5 2 p.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

Friday, March 6 11 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

OPEN TRYOUTS HELD SATURDAY, SUNDAY AT SWOPE

For the second straight year, the Wizards will hold Open Tryouts with a spot on the team's roster at stake. Last season, both Kevin Souter and Nelson Pizarro made the cut, eventually appearing in multiple MLS games. Souter started the final four games of the 2008 regular season and both MLS Cup Playoff matches. For more information on Open Tryouts, visit www.kcwizards.com/opentryout. For media availability at Open Tryouts, contact Dave Borchardt in the Wizards media relations department at (816) 665-8442 or dborchardt@kcwizards.com.

WIZARDS PLAY SALAMANCA TUESDAY IN PRESEASON FRIENDLY

Kansas City concludes its friendly schedule during the Mexico trip Tuesday at 11 a.m. against the Salamanca FC first team. The Wizards are 1-0-2 thus far on the trip and 4-0-3 overall during the preseason. Wizards rookie midfielder Graham Zusi has played part in nine goals during the campaign, including two goals and five assists.

KANSAS CITY TIES 2 IN LAST WEEK

Last week, the Wizards tied both of their preseason matches, including a come-from-behind tie against Mexican powerhouse Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas). Chivas scored a first-half tally using a roster that featured several first-team players, including former Mexico international Jared Borgetti. Kansas City earned a late equalizer, however, as Davy Arnaud set up Graham Zusi for a game-tying goal in the 81st minute.

The Wizards then fielded a reserve team for a match-up with Salamanca's reserves that finished in a 3-3 draw. New signing Santiago Hirsig converted a first-half penalty kick and Abe Thompson and Lance Watson scored after the break in the high-scoring affair. For more information on the match, check out this post at Hillcrest Road, the team's official blog.

GOMEZ BACK ON THE FIELD

After missing the last five weeks of training, Wizards midfielder/forward Herculez Gomez returned to the field Saturday in the preseason match against Salamanca's reserve team. Gomez suffered a meniscus injury the first week of training and underwent surgery on January 29. He has now recovered and has resumed training with the team. He played the final 20 minutes against Salamanca and will work his way back toward match fitness over the final three weeks of the preseason.

WIZARDS CONCLUDE PRESEASON SATURDAY, MARCH 14 IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

The Kansas City Wizards announced Friday that they will conclude the 2009 preseason with a pair of friendly matches against the Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) Saturday, March 14 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first teams of the Wizards and Thunder will play at 5:30 p.m. CT at Prairie High School, with a second match for reserves at 8 p.m.

Prairie Soccer Club will host the day-long event, including a 4-hour youth clinic at Ely City Park in Cedar Rapids on March 14 at 8 a.m. PSC will offer a package that includes admission to the clinic, a ticket to the doubleheader March 14, a ticket to a Wizards game in Kansas City on Sept. 26 and a soccer ball for $135. Individual tickets to the doubleheader cost $30 and are available by calling Prairie Soccer Club at (319) 845-3039. Fans can order additional tickets to the Sept. 26 Wizards match in Kansas City by calling the Wizards ticket office at (913) 387-3400 or (877) 828-7222.

HARTMAN PARTICIPATES IN READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK

Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman will participate in Read Across America Week, stopping in at two elementary schools to read his children's book Boots Saves the Day to schoolchildren in Leawood and Kansas City, Kan.

Who: GK Kevin Hartman

When: Thursday, March 5; 11:00-12:00 p.m.

Where: Leawood Elementary, Leawood, KS

What: Kevin Hartman, goalkeeper and author of the children's book Boots Saves the Day, will be reading to 4th grade classrooms at Leawood Elementary. He will be participating in the festivities for Read Across America week, which recognizes the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The goal is to encourage the students to make reading a regular part of their lives, for information and enjoyment.

Who: GK Kevin Hartman

When: Thursday, March 5; 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Where: Frances Willard Elementary, Kansas City, KS

What: After participating in Leawood Elementary's Read Across America events, Kevin Hartman will read his book Boots Saves the Day to children at Frances Willard Elementary. He will be reading to 1st and 2nd graders, explaining the importance of reading in his life and how reading helps in everyday life.

PURCHASE THE TIME WARNER CABLE PREMIER 3-GAME PACK:

The Wizards and Time Warner Cable have put together an exciting 3-game pack that covers three of the most popular match-ups of the 2009 MLS season. The pack includes a ticket to the home opener against Toronto FC, a match-up with the 2008 MLS Cup runners-up Red Bull New York and a July contest against the Los Angeles Galaxy. The New York game will mark the first-ever ESPN2 match at CommunityAmerica Ballpark for the Wizards, and Jimmy Conrad bobble heads will be distributed to the first 5,000 fans through the door courtesy of Time Warner Cable. For more information on this exclusive package, contact the Wizards at (913) 387-3400.

Date Time Opponent

Saturday, March 21 7:30 p.m. CT Toronto FC

Thursday, April 23 7:00 p.m. CT New York Red Bulls (Jimmy Conrad Bobble head Night)

Saturday, July 25 7:30 p.m. CT Los Angeles Galaxy

ORDER MLS DIRECT KICK TODAY:

Major League Soccer's Direct Kick television package is again available for $79, providing fans the opportunity to watch up to 130 MLS regular season matches and select playoff games during the 2009 season.

Direct Kick returns for the League's 14th season and is available on three separate outlets. Starting March 21, satellite TV providers DIRECTV and DISH Network®, along with digital cable provider iN DEMAND Networks, will once again each present regional telecasts of Major League Soccer action. Major League Soccer has collaborated with all three providers to offer a FREE PREVIEW period, Saturday, March 21, during the opening weekend of the season known as MLS First Kick presented by Dick's Sporting Goods.

The residential price is just $79 on any of the three platforms. Commercial establishments can purchase the package for a flat rate of $100. The package will be available for purchase through each outlet between now and the end of the season.

HOW TO ORDER

DIRECTV

1-800-GET-SPORTS, 1-888-388-6622 (Spanish), online at www.directv.com/mls

price (residential): $79.00 price (commercial): $100 (888-200-4388)

DISH Network ®

1-800-333-DISH (3478), online at www.dishnetwork.com/soccer

price (residential): $79.00 price (commercial): $100 (800-454-0843)

iN DEMAND (Digital Cable TV)

1-888-SPORTS-iN, online at www.indemand.com/sports

price (residential): $79.00 price (commercial): $100 (888-776-7874)

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