MLS Sporting Kansas City

Heartland Soccer Association Announce Strategic Partnership

May 21, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Wizards, Heartland Soccer Join Together to Promote Soccer from Youth Ranks to Professional Level; Entire Kansas City Wizards Roster will Appear Sunday at Heritage Soccer Park to Launch Partnership

(May 21, 2009) - The Kansas City Wizards and Heartland Soccer Association (Heartland) announced a major strategic partnership Thursday that will help both organizations promote the game of soccer in the Kansas City area and increase participation in the sport. The organizations will join together Sunday during the Kansas City Invitational tournament at Heritage Soccer Park in Overland Park, Kan. for an event to kickoff the partnership. Wizards players and coaches will appear at Heritage Park between 12:30 - 6:30 p.m., conducting demonstrations for young soccer players, signing autographs and discussing strategy with coaches, players and parents. Media availability will take place between 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

"The future of soccer in Kansas City is extremely bright," Wizards President and co-owner Robb Heineman said. "We have invested heavily in the sport over the past three years, and our long-term vision is to grow the game in partnership with the many excellent youth soccer clubs around the region. We look forward to working with soccer leagues, clubs, teams, coaches and players throughout Kansas City and the Midwest on growing affinity for the beautiful game."

Heartland Soccer Association represents six youth soccer clubs, 850 teams and over 15,000 youth players. Member clubs include: Overland Park Soccer Club, Northeast United Soccer Club, Southwest United Soccer Club, Kansas Premier Soccer League, Blue Valley Soccer Club, and Kansas Rush. Heartland also conducts 4-6 tournaments per year. In total, Heartland reaches around 30,000 youth soccer players per year.

"To do our part to grow the world's game in Kansas City, the Wizards must engage the youth soccer community in ways that are unique and meaningful to players and their parents," Wizards Executive Vice President Greg Cotton said. "This partnership is an important step toward fulfilling this objective. By working closely with Heartland Soccer Association and all of their member clubs, we hope to continue the growth of soccer in our region."

As part of the agreement, the Wizards will work with Heartland Soccer on a new Field Improvement program that includes ticket-sales fundraisers and donated auction items. Both organizations will engage in co-branding and on-site opportunities at Heartland events and Kansas City Wizards matches, and will work together to source corporate partners that believe in the growth of soccer in the region.

"Teaming up with the Kansas City Wizards is wonderful for Heartland Soccer Association and our member clubs," Heartland Soccer Association Executive Director Shane Hackett said. "It's great that the Wizards are helping us improve the fields at Heritage Park. Also, allowing our young players direct interaction with professional athletes will create those inspirational moments that are so important to young players."

About Heartland Soccer Association Heartland Soccer Association was formed in 1977 as the Johnson County Soccer League for the purpose of promoting soccer in Johnson County, Kansas. There were 600 players initially split geographically according to school districts with the Shawnee Mission School District split, due to its size. The Kansas Premier Soccer League (KPSL) was established a few years later for players who were ready to go to the next level. In 1995, the KPSL joined Johnson County Soccer as a club and both the leagues became Heartland Soccer Association. Today, Heartland Soccer Association is a nonprofit and educational youth soccer association. Heartland represents approximately 850 teams (over 15,000 youth players), 2,000 coaches, and 300 referees per season in Johnson County, KS. Heartland is a member of the Kansas Youth Soccer Association, the US Youth Soccer Association, and the US Soccer Federation. Member clubs include: Kansas Rush, Overland Park Soccer Club, Northeast United Soccer Club, Southwest United Soccer Club, Kansas Premier Soccer League, and Blue Valley Soccer Club. For more information, visit www.heartlandsoccer.net.

About the Kansas City Wizards The Kansas City Wizards are in the midst of their fourteenth season in Major League Soccer (MLS) and the third full season under the innovative vision of Kansas City-based ownership group OnGoal. The organization possesses the drive to spearhead new ideas and make the Wizards the premier organization in MLS through an entrepreneurial spirit and first-class customer service. Kansas City was introduced as one of the 10 charter members of MLS on June 6, 1995. The League continues to grow and will contain 15 teams in 2009 and 16 teams in 2010. The Wizards have captured two major championships in team history, the 2000 MLS Cup and the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophies. The Wizards continue to strive for excellence on and off the field and pride themselves on their ability to touch lives in the Midwest and make Kansas City a better place to live through philanthropic activities. For more information, visit www.kcwizards.com.

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