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MLS Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update

March 9, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


COUNTDOWN TO FIRST KICK, PRESENTED BY DICK'S SPORTING GOODS - 12 DAYS:

The Kansas City Wizards open the 2009 MLS season next Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT against Toronto FC at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The Wizards returned last Thursday from a two-week trip to Guadalajara, Mexico and enter the final stretch to the Home Opener. Kansas City travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa over the weekend for a pair of friendly matches against the Minnesota Thunder to conclude preseason preparations.

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 will train each day this week at 10 a.m. at the team's Swope Park Training Center. With Herculez Gomez back from injury and Adam Cristman nearing a return to full fitness, the team is fast approaching its season-opening form. 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

Tuesday, March 10 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

Wednesday, March 11 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

Thursday, March 12 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

Friday, March 13 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center

WIZARDS CONCLUDE PRESEASON SATURDAY IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA:

The Wizards 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.

WIZARDS HOLD EVENT MONDAY, MARCH 16 AT PARADISE PARK IN LEE'S SUMMIT:

On Monday, March 16, from 5-8 p.m., the Kansas City Wizards will host a family event to kickoff the 2009 Major League Soccer season at Paradise Park in Lee's Summit, Mo. Wizards fans will be able to enter Paradise Park at a vast discount ($15 per person) and enjoy attractions such as Go Karts, Rock Climbing Wall, Miniature Golf, Bumper Cars, Foam Factory, and the Children's Edutainment Center. An all-you-can-eat pizza buffet will also be available. Wizards players will be on hand to sign autographs and interact with fans, and the new Starting 11 Girls will be introduced as well.

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

SIGN-UP FOR 3RD ANNUAL CASH CUP TODAY:

From April 3-5, the Wizards will host the 3rd annual Indoor Cash Cup at KC Soccer Dome. Between $500-$1,000 will be awarded to the first place team of the Men's Competitive and Co-ed Competitive divisions, along with 2009 Wizards apparel for each player on the Championship-winning teams. All teams are guaranteed a minimum of three (3) games, and each team will receive 12 tickets to the Wizards match on April 5 as part of registration fees. For more information, visit this page at kcwizards.com.

To sign up, contact:

Tournament Director Brian Budzinski (816) 215-9456 brian@kcsoccerdome.com

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)

HARTMAN, MARQUESS CONDUCT CLINIC FOR KC UNITED:

Who: GK Kevin Hartman, D Matt Marquess

When: Thursday, March 12; 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Where: Electric Park, I-435 and 95th

What: KC United players will have the opportunity to get pointers from the pros. Kevin Hartman and Matt Marquess will instruct players during their practice and sign autographs afterwards.

STARTING 11 GIRLS, DYNAMO ATTEND ST. PATTY'S DAY PARADE IN BROOKSIDE:

Who: Starting 11 Girls, Mascot Dynamo the Dragon

When: Saturday, March 14; 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Where: Brookside, MO

What: The Starting 11 Girls and Dynamo the Dragon will be participating in Brookside's St. Patrick's Day Parade. They will walk alongside Brookside Soccer and handing out information and items to get everyone excited for the Wizards 2009 season.




Major League Soccer Stories from March 9, 2009


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.

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