MLS Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update

Published on September 15, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


WIZARDS COMPLETE THREE-GAME ROAD TRIP AT CHIVAS USA ON SUNDAY:

The Kansas City Wizards enter an important stretch of three games in seven days, beginning on Sunday in Los Angeles against Chivas USA. The Wizards are 4-1-3 in their last eight MLS matches as the team is in the midst of a late-season playoff push with eight games remaining. Kansas City is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, one point back of Toronto and six points out of the final playoff position, held by Seattle. Toronto and Seattle have both played 24 games already this season, giving the Wizards two games in hand to make up ground in the race for postseason contention.

Sunday's game will be the third straight road match for Kansas City, as the Wizards return to The Home Depot Center, where the road trip started with a 2-0 upset of the league-leading Los Angeles Galaxy on August 28. Kansas City followed that performance with a 1-1 come-from-behind draw at Philadelphia on September 4 and the Wizards were idle last weekend for the first time since the World Cup break in June.

Chivas USA is also in the thick of the playoff race with 25 points from 23 games played, and sit in seventh place in the Western Conference standings. Head Coach Martin Vasquez' team is coming off the ChivaClasico against partner club Chivas Guadalajara on Tuesday in San Diego. The friendly ended in a scoreless draw, with Chivas USA earning a 4-2 victory on penalty kicks.

Kansas City is 5-4-4 all-time against Chivas USA, but will be looking for their first road win versus Chivas USA after going 0-3-3 in the six contests held in Carson, California. Chivas USA holds the advantage in the season series after earning a 2-0 victory over Kansas City in the teams July encounter at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Following Sunday's game, the Wizards will have a short turnaround as they return to Kansas City for back-to-back home matches, first against Houston at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, September 22 and then another tough Texas team in FC Dallas at 7:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 25.

The Wizards match against Chivas USA will be telecast live in high definition in both English and Spanish (SAP) on KCWE Channel 29. It will also be broadcast live over the airwaves on La Gran D 1340 AM.

OMAR BRAVO MAKES 2ND U.S. APPEARANCE SINCE SIGNING WITH KANSAS CITY AS 2011 DESIGNATED PLAYER:

Omar Bravo started and played 45 minutes in Tuesday's ChivaClasico between C.D. Guadalajara and Chivas USA in San Diego in his second appearance in the United States since signing with the Kansas City Wizards last month. The two partner clubs played to a scoreless draw at Petco Park before Chivas USA emerged 4-2 victors in a penalty shootout.

Bravo recorded two shots in his 45 minutes of action, leading all players in the first half of the friendly. Bravo and Chivas Guadalajara now return to Mexico where they will host Jaguares on Saturday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m. CT in league competition. The match will be broadcast live in the United States on Telemundo.

The Wizards signed Bravo in August as a Designated Player for the 2011 season. The 30-year-old striker and Mexico international will remain with Chivas Guadalajara for the remainder of the 2010 Apertura, Mexico's 17-game fall season, by the terms of a loan agreement reached between the two teams and Major League Soccer.

Kansas City and Chivas have also agreed to play home-and-home friendlies at their new stadiums in 2011 as part of the agreement. The Wizards will play at Chivas' new Estadio Omnilife during Kansas City's preseason, and Chivas Guadalajara will play in Kansas City's new soccer stadium after the venue opens next summer.

Bravo has 108 goals and counting in league competition for Chivas Guadalajara, second most in club history. He has also been a mainstay on the Mexico National Team with 16 goals, including two at the 2006 World Cup, in 65 appearances.

WIZARDS SELECT GLOBAL SPECTRUM TO OPERATE NEW MLS STADIUM:

The Kansas City Wizards announced Monday that the club has selected Global Spectrum to manage and operate the team's new 18,500-seat future home, slated to open in June 2011. Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, manages 90 stadiums, arenas and convention centers throughout North America, including PPL Park in Chester, PA, home of the Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union.

The Wizards state-of-the-art, $160 million venue is being built at The Legends in Village West in Kansas City, Kansas and was designed as the first authentic American soccer stadium. Global Spectrum will provide innovative management, marketing and operations at the new stadium, which features 36 luxury suites, two premium clubs, a 60,000-sq. ft. entertainment plaza, and a 2,000-seat supporters section.

Global Spectrum handles similar responsibilities for Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA, and the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, among many others.

Global Spectrum will also book non-soccer events for the stadium. The company works with numerous concert promoters and traveling show producers throughout North America and can utilize these resources to create new and exciting opportunities for the Kansas City region.

METRO SPORTS TO BROADCAST TWO UPCOMING KANSAS CITY MATCHES:

The Kansas City Wizards announced Wednesday that two of the team's upcoming matches will be shown live on Metro Sports, with a 30-minute pre-game and 30-minute post-game show as part of both productions. Kansas City's next home match against the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, September 22 and the Wizards game at Chicago at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, October 12 will both be available live and in high definition throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area on Metro Sports.

The two mid-week matches are games that were rescheduled from dates earlier this season and could not air on KCWE Channel 29 due to prior scheduling commitments.

Metro Sports is available on Time Warner Cable Channels 30 and 1030 (HD), as well as Comcast Channel 258 and Sunflower Channel 37. Wizards supporters across the country will also be able to watch on Major League Soccer's Direct Kick package or online via the MatchDay Live pay-per-view service.

Kansas City Wizards play-by-play broadcaster Dave Borchardt and color commentator Sasha Victorine will be the on-air talent for both matches.

Both matches will also be available via live Spanish-language radio broadcasts on La Gran D 1340 AM.

PLAYOFF PUSH TICKET PACKAGE NOW AVAILABLE FOR LAST FOUR HOME GAMES:

The Kansas City Wizards are now offering a special Playoff Push ticket package for the team's four remaining home games in the 2010 regular season. The $60 package includes one bleacher ticket to each of the following four matches:

* Wednesday, September 22nd vs. Houston Dynamo

* Saturday, September 25th vs. FC Dallas

* Saturday, October 9th vs. Seattle Sounders FC

* Saturday, October 23rd vs. San Jose Earthquakes

The package also comes with priority consideration for purchasing 2010 playoff tickets, should the Wizards advance to the postseason. Kansas City is currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings and sit six points back of the final playoff position with eight games remaining.

The Playoff Push ticket packages can be purchased by calling 888-4KC-GOAL, or single game tickets can be purchased online at KCWizards.com.

SUNIL CHHETRI PLAYS FOR INDIA NATIONAL TEAM IN 2-0 WIN:

Kansas City Wizards striker Sunil Chhetri, on loan to the India National Team for the remainder of the 2010 MLS season, started and played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday in the team's 2-0 win over Namibia at The Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi. Chhetri nearly scored twice in the victory, narrowly missing on a header in the 69th minute and having a close-range shot saved in the 87th minute.

Chhetri made his third consecutive start for India, ranked No. 160 in the world in the FIFA World Rankings released today, after also playing in a pair of home-and-home friendlies against Thailand earlier this month. India will next face Gambia on Saturday, September 19.

Chhetri was also recently honored by the Football Players Association of India at their second annual awards event on Sunday in India.

ZOLTAN HERCEGFALVI ACTIVATED FROM DISABLED LIST:

Kansas City Wizards striker Zoltan Hercegfalvi was activated from the disabled list on Monday in a move that will allow him to play during the 2010 season pending his recovery from a torn ACL. Zoltan has been on the disabled list since suffering the injury in a pre-season friendly against AC St. Louis on April 17.

The 30-year-old Hungarian forward signed with Kansas City in July 2009 and made 10 appearances last season. He scored twice down the stretch for Kansas City, tallying his first MLS goal in October against Houston and scoring again two games later against Seattle. He also had one assist, coming on the game-tying goal in a 3-2 victory over Dallas on September 19.

KANSAS CITY NEARS LEAD IN PEPSI REFRESH GRANT TO BUILD LOCAL SOCCER FIELDS:

Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad is representing the Wizards bid to build and improve youth soccer fields at Belvedere Park as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project and is nearing the lead with days remaining in the contest. Every Major League Soccer team outlined an idea that has been vying for fan votes since August 20 with an ultimate $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant up for grabs to fulfill the project. Fans can cast their votes at www.MLSsoccer.com/PepsiRefresh thru Monday, September 20 at 10:59 p.m. CDT. Conrad and the Wizards are currently in second place behind Philadelphia.

Kansas City's goal is to develop soccer fields at Belvedere Park in urban Kansas City, MO, which will provide a facility to keep kids engaged, build self-confidence and avoid negative influences. Over 600 youth currently play soccer on these fields from diverse backgrounds, including over 45 ethnicities.

"The Pepsi Refresh Project allows for fans to make a positive impact on local communities," said Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad. "The Wizards want to make a difference here in Kansas City, and we hope our fans will go vote and help us win the $50,000 grant."

FINAL WEEK TO NOMINATE HOME DEPOT COMMUNITY MVP'S:

Kansas City Wizards fans have the opportunity to nominate individuals in the local community who go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others as part of the Home Depot Community MVP Contest going on now through Friday, September 17. The league-wide contest launched in July and will culminate with one winner being selected to represent each market. The winner will receive VIP tickets and team merchandise, as well as recognition at a Kansas City Wizards home game in October and national recognition during halftime of MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto. The individual will also be eligible for the national prize package, an all-inclusive trip for two to MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto.

Individuals will be selected based on their efforts in one of the following areas:

* Community Service for a local, national or international charity or community organization

* Positive impact on youth

* Environmental sustainability

* Health, wellness and education

* Military or Civic Service

Fans can submit their nominations online here . MLS W.O.R.K.S. was launched in 2007 as Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues and serves as a platform for both League and club philanthropic programs.

KANSAS CITY SOCCER SHOW AIRS LIVE AT 8 PM CT TONIGHT ON SPORTS RADIO 810 WHB:

The Kansas City Soccer Show will once again air live from 8-9 p.m. CT tonight on Sports Radio 810 WHB. Show hosts Josh Whisenhunt and Jake Gutierrez will discuss all the soccer action this week including Major League Soccer's playoff race, Champions League action and much more. Fans are encouraged to share their views and submit questions via Twitter and Facebook, and by calling in to the show at 913-3-810-810.

Since its formation in 1999, Sports Radio 810 has grown to become one of the largest and most listened to sports radio stations in the country. The station has a daytime signal strength of 50,000 watts, with a listening area that includes the states of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

WIZARDS WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD FRIDAY AT 12:30 PM CT:

The Kansas City Wizards weekly press conference will be held at 12:30 p.m. CT on Friday, September 17 at the Swope Park Training Facility. Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes and Wizards captain Davy Arnaud will speak at the press conference and be available for questions from the media.

The Wizards training schedule was altered this week due to their match on Sunday. Please see below for remaining training times this week. All training is open to the media unless otherwise noted:

* Thursday, September 16: DAY OFF

* Friday, September 17: 10:00 a.m. CT at Swope Park Training Facility

* Saturday, September 18: 10:00 a.m. CT at Swope Park Training Facility

FANS ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT U.S. EFFORT TO LAND WORLD CUP IN 2018 OR 2022:

Kansas City soccer fans are strongly encouraged to support the bid to bring the FIFA World Cup(tm) to the United States in 2018 or 2022. More than one million people have showed their support by signing the online petition, including over 30,000 from Kansas City.

In addition to signing the petition at www.goUSAbid.com/kc, supporters can register their interest by texting "Kansas City" to "22442". Kansas City is one of 18 cities still in the running to host games should the USA bid be successful. FIFA will select the host nation for both 2018 and 2022 on December 2, 2010.

The highly successful Summer of Soccer saw over 30,000 soccer fans gather for World Cup watch parties in the Kansas City Power & Light District and a new attendance record set for a soccer match in Kansas City when 52,424 turned out to see the Wizards upset English powerhouse Manchester United 2-1 at the New Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, July 25.

The Kansas City Wizards next home match is Wednesday, September 22nd at 7:30 p.m. CT at CommunityAmerica Ballpark against the Houston Dynamo. Tickets can be purchased by visiting KCWizards.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL. The Wizards are also now accepting initial payments for season tickets for the 2011 season, highlighted by the debut of Chivas Guadalajara star and Mexico international Omar Bravo, and the opening of Kansas City's state-of-the-art soccer stadium next summer.

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