Wizards Launch Re-Designed Blog Hillcrest Road
January 13, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Monday, the Wizards launched a new look for their team blog, Hillcrest Road. The site, accessible at www.hillcrestroad.blogspot.com, is the official blog of the organization and features regular updates on players, community initiatives and front-office events.
The new look matches the "KCW 2009" theme employed by the team on its website, www.kcwizards.com, and other collateral. The Wizards want fan feedback on the new look. Visit the blog today and comment on the look and feel.
2009 MLS SuperDraft Takes Place Jan. 15, Airs Live on ESPN 2
Learn the names of those aiming to become the next MLS stars this Thursday when 60 young players will be selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. The event will begin at 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) in St. Louis, Mo., in conjunction with the annual convention of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The first hour of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft will be televised live on ESPN2. Members of the Wizards Technical Staff will be in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Tuesday for the final day of the 2009 adidas Combine, which serves as the final showcase for many of the elite college players eligible for the draft.
The Wizards currently control five picks in the SuperDraft. Kansas City has one first-round selection, two second-round selections, one third round selections and two fourth-round selections. One of the fourth-round selections will be sent to the Colorado Rapids to complete the trade late in the 2008 regular season for midfielder/forward Herculez Gomez
Held at the St. Louis Convention Center - America's Center, the 2009 MLS SuperDraft will consist of four rounds of 15 picks each. The first overall selection belongs to Seattle Sounders FC, which is set to kick off their inaugural season in MLS this year.
The 2009 MLS SuperDraft order follows (as of January 13, 2009):
1st ROUND:
1. Seattle Sounders FC
2. Toronto FC (from San Jose)
3. Los Angeles Galaxy
4. Toronto FC
5. FC Dallas
6. D.C. United
7. D.C. United (from Colorado)
8. Kansas City Wizards
9. Chivas USA
10. New England Revolution
11. FC Dallas (from San Jose, Houston)
12. Real Salt Lake
13. Toronto FC (from Chicago)
14. New York Red Bulls
15. New England Revolution (from Columbus)
2nd ROUND:
16. Seattle Sounders FC
17. San Jose Earthquakes
18. FC Dallas (from Los Angeles)
19. Chivas USA (from Toronto)
20. Colorado Rapids (from FC Dallas)
21. D.C. United
22. Kansas City Wizards (from Colorado)
23. Kansas City Wizards
24. New England Revolution (from Los Angeles, Chivas USA)
25. New England Revolution
26. D.C. United (from Houston)
27. FC Dallas (from Salt Lake)
28. Chicago Fire
29. New York Red Bulls
30. Columbus Crew
3rd ROUND:
31. Seattle Sounders FC
32. San Jose Earthquakes
33. Los Angeles Galaxy
34. Toronto FC
35. Colorado Rapids (from Dallas)
36. D.C. United
37. Colorado Rapids
38. New England Revolution (from Kansas City)
39. Toronto FC (from Dallas, Chivas USA)
40. New England Revolution
41. Houston Dynamo
42. Kansas City Wizards (from Salt Lake)
43. Chicago Fire
44. New York Red Bulls
45. Columbus Crew
4th ROUND:
46. Seattle Sounders FC
47. Colorado Rapids (from San Jose)
48. Los Angeles Galaxy
49. Los Angeles Galaxy (from Toronto)
50. Kansas City Wizards (from Dallas) $
51. Colorado Rapids (from D.C. United)
52. Chicago Fire (from Colorado)
53. Kansas City Wizards $
54. Real Salt Lake (from Chivas USA)
55. New England Revolution
56. Houston Dynamo
57. Real Salt Lake
58. Chicago Fire
59. Colorado Rapids (from New York Red Bull)
60. Columbus Crew
$ - Per a previous trade Colorado is to receive the lower of KC's 2009 4th round SuperDraft picks. This pick is to be determined 48 hours prior to the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. This trade will not include any future picks KC may receive in 2009 4th round SuperDraft.
Selection Order:
The MLS SuperDraft selection order is determined as follows: The first selection is awarded to Major League Soccer's expansion team, Seattle Sounders FC. The next six selections are from teams that did not qualify for the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs beginning with the team with fewest 2008 regular season points (3 points per win, one point per tie). The remaining eight positions are ranked by fewest regular season points among the teams that were eliminated in the same round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Procedural rules for the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
Draft Rounds: The 2009 MLS SuperDraft will include four rounds and 60 selections.
Selection Clock: Teams are permitted four (4) minutes to make a selection in the First and Second Rounds. Teams are permitted three (3) minutes to make a selection in the Third and Fourth rounds.
Intermissions: There will be a five (5) minute break between each round.
Timeouts: Each team is permitted one (1), five (5) minute timeout. Selections must be made immediately following the timeout (no additional time given). More than two (2) timeouts BY ANY TEAMS cannot be used consecutively.
Failure to Make Selection in Designated Time: Teams that fail to make their selection in time must wait until the next selection is made, regardless if their choice is presented prior to the next team's decision. The team that was delinquent with its selection must immediately have its choice in hand following the selection of the team that followed. If not, the original team must again wait for the next selection to be made.
Trades: Prior to being announced, trades need to be verified and approved by the Commissioner and/or his designee. Trade announcements should not reveal the identity of players until those players have been contacted by their respective clubs. For example, Team A trades a "player to be named later" for Team B's first selection.
Team Passing: Once a team has passed, it may no longer participate in the Draft (e.g. may no longer select players, use a timeout, etc.).
Kansas City Wizards Lower Season Ticket Prices for 2009 Season
The Kansas City Wizards have lowered prices for season ticket holders from their 2008 rates and will continue to offer free parking at all events. Kansas City also introduced two exciting new seating options: All-You-Can-Eat Seats and Full-Service Terrace Table Seats. Wizards fans who put down a new season ticket deposit for the 2009 season will receive a free season ticket holder scarf. To purchase season tickets for 2009, call the Wizards at (913) 387-3400.
In addition to their existing seating categories, the Wizards are adding All-You-Can-Eat Seats and Full-Service Terrace Tables for fans who enjoy premium entertainment options. All-You-Can-Eat Seats will be located in section 106 behind the West goal and allow patrons unlimited food and drink during the game. Full-Service Terrace Tables are high-tops around the stadium and will include unlimited drinks during each match.
The Wizards also offer a free bus to groups of 50 from within the Kansas City metro area. Contact a Wizards sales rep at (913) 387-3400 for more information about bringing your group outing to a Kansas City Wizards match via bus. Alcohol, excluding kegs, is allowed on buses to the stadium.
Kansas City Wizards to Hold 2nd Annual Open Tryouts March 7-8, 2009
The Kansas City Wizards will hold its second-annual open tryouts March 7-8, 2009 in Kansas City. The Wizards held an open tryout in 2008 for the first time since their inaugural 1996 season, with the event drawing over 200 players from 15 different countries. Two players eventually signed for Kansas City, midfielders Kevin Souter and Nelson Pizarro. Both went on to play in MLS matches for the Wizards in 2008, and Souter started the final four games of the regular season and both MLS Cup Playoff matches for Kansas City. The tryout costs $200, and players can sign up through www.kcwizards.com/opentryout.
Participants will take part in matches Saturday, with the top players called back for Sunday's session. Finalists will then get the opportunity to tryout with the Wizards first team in March with the chance of securing a contract. Final tryout location and times will be provided to each participant closer to the event.
Major League Soccer Stories from January 13, 2009
- Rapids Obtain MLS Rights to Defender Ty Harden - Colorado Rapids
- Red Bull New York Signs Forward Macoumba Kandji - New York Red Bulls
- D.C. United re-signs Bryan Namoff - D.C. United
- Red Bull New York Acquires Forward Dominic Oduro, 2009 MLS SuperDraft Selection - New York Red Bulls
- Wizards Launch Re-Designed Blog Hillcrest Road - Sporting Kansas City
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.
