Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update
Published on March 28, 2005 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Wizards 10th Season Kicks off Saturday, April 2nd at Arrowhead
The Kansas City Wizards will kickoff the 2005 MLS regular season this weekend against the Colorado Rapids, opening their 10th season at Arrowhead Stadium, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. CT. The reigning Western Conference Champion Wizards begin a new era in 2005 as they move to and compete in the Eastern Conference for the first time. The Wizards join the Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, the MetroStars and New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference, while the two expansion teams, CD Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake, join the Western Conference.
In an offseason that saw two new expansion teams join the League and a wealth of turnover in personnel on nearly every roster in MLS, the 2005 Wizards will look very similar to the team that reached the MLS Cup Final in 2004 as all 11 starters from the 2004 MLS Cup return in 2005.
The Wizards key addition in the offseason was veteran midfielder Sasha Victorine who brings a load of experience and success to the Wizards including a MLS Cup Championship. Another key addition is the return of Chris Klein from ACL surgery. Klein suffered the second torn ACL of his career in August of 2004 that ended his season. He has fully recovered and looks to be an important piece of the Wizards run to a second consecutive MLS Cup Final appearance.
Colorado enters the 2005 season with a different look than a year ago. Gone is Scottish forward John Spencer and in his place are MLS veteran strikers Jeff Cunningham (Columbus) and Wolde Harris, but the biggest change in Colorado is on the sideline. Former U.S. National Team star Fernando Clavijo takes over the head coaching reigns for the departed Tim Hankinson looking to get the Rapids back on track after going 39-45-30 over the past four seasons under Hankinson.
U.S. Open Cup Championship Ring Ceremony to Take Place Prior to Home Opener
Prior to the Wizards 2005 home opener against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, April 2nd, the Wizards will celebrate the Wizards 2004 U.S. Open Cup Championship with a ring ceremony and the presentation of a U.S. Open Cup Championship flag that will be flown above Arrowhead at all future Wizards games. The ceremony will take place on the field just prior to the 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
Members of the Wizards U.S. Open Cup Championship team will receive specially designed championship rings that commemorate the Wizards U.S. Open Cup title as well as their Western Conference title and MLS Cup Final appearance.
Wizards to Host U.S. Watch Party March 30th at Lew's Grill & Bar in Waldo
The Kansas City Wizards will host a Watch Party for the U.S. vs. Guatemala World Cup Qualifying match on Wednesday, March 30th at Lew's Grill and Bar in Waldo. Join fellow Wizards and National Team fans at Lew's to cheer on Kerry Zavagnin, Josh Wolff and the rest of the U.S. National Team as they battle for a spot in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The World Cup Qualifier kicks off at 7:00 p.m. CT, but fans are encouraged to come early and enjoy food and drink specials for Wizards and National Team fans throughout the evening. Wizards players Davy Arnaud, William Hesmer, Jack Jewsbury and Diego Walsh will be on hand to sign autographs before the game and at halftime.
Lew's Grill & Bar is located at 75th and Wornall (7539 Wornall Rd.) and
features over a dozen Plasma, Big Screen, & High Definition TV's throughout
the restaurant. There will be live music immediately following the
U.S.-Guatemala game Wednesday night. For more information about Lew's, or
for directions, call 816-444-8080 or log on to www.lewsgrillandbar.com
Wizards Single Game Tickets on Sale Now for 2005 MLS Regular Season Kansas City Wizards Single Game Tickets for the 2005 season are on sale now
through Ticketmaster and can be purchased through Ticketmaster online at
www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 816-931-3330 or in person at any
Ticketmaster Outlet throughout the Kansas City area. The Wizards will open
the 2005 regular season on Saturday, April 2nd when they host the Colorado
Rapids at Arrowhead Stadium with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. CT.
Tickets for all 16 Wizards regular season home games are available in
seating locations with pricing available for adults and youth (15 and
younger). Club Level seating is $23 for adults and $17 for youth, Midfield
Sideline Reserved is $19 for adults/$14 for youth, Outer Sideline Reserved
is $17 for adults/$12 for youth and Endline General Admission is just $14
for adults and $10 for youth. Zard Card holders (15 years and under) can present their Zard Card at any
Ticketmaster Outlet to purchase tickets to "The Yard", the endline general
admission section, for just $6 for themselves and each accompanying adults. The Zard Card can be used for any Wizards home game at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City Wizards Injury/Absence Report Player Status Reason M - John Minagawa-Webster Out Strained MCL (R)
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Major League Soccer Stories from March 28, 2005
