Two of Kansas City's staples, the Kansas City Wizards soccer club and the Kansas City Irish Fest announced today a partnership that will enhance upcoming events planned by both parties. The Wizards will be the presenting sponsor of the Children's Area at the Irish Fest at Crown Center throughout the event held Friday, August 31st through Sunday, September 2 and will present The Elders' performance at 9 p.m. on September 2nd. The Kansas City Irish Fest will be the presenting sponsor of the Kansas City Wizards home match against Eastern Conference rivals New England Revolution at 7 p.m. CT on Sunday, August 19 at Arrowhead Stadium.
"We at the Wizards are ecstatic to work with a not-for-profit organization that puts on such a tremendous family-oriented event as the Kansas City Irish Fest," Wizards Executive Vice President Greg Cotton said. "Our involvement at their event over Labor Day weekend and their involvement at our match August 19 will be beneficial for fans and patrons of both organizations."
"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with such a great organization and are excited to reach out to the Wizards audience. The sport of soccer is a true love of the Emerald Island," Festival Director Keli O'Neill Wenzel said.
As part of the partnership, Wizards Starting 11 Girls will be on hand at the Irish Fest to staff the Wizards Children's Area. The Wizards will also have a booth set up throughout the event for ticket and merchandise sales.
The Kansas City Irish Fest have provided Flannigan's Right Hook for performance on the stage at soccer celebration prior to the August 19 Wizards match. The Irish Fest will also have a major presence throughout the night at Arrowhead Stadium for Kansas City Irish Fest Night at the Wizards. Following the match, KCIF and the Wizards will co-host a party at O'Dowd's on the Plaza.
About the Kansas City Irish Fest
The Kansas City Irish Fest is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the culture, music, character and history of Ireland and of the Irish people who call Kansas City home. Now planning the 5th year, the Kansas City Irish Fest was born of the merger of two successful smaller neighborhood events, the Brookside and Westport Irish Fests. Located in the heart of Kansas City on beautiful Crown Center Square, KCIF hosted more than 69,000 people in 2006, and is widely regarded as one of the fastest growing Irish Festivals in America. The Kansas City Irish Fest is not affiliated with, or a branch of, or managed by any retail or wholesale business, local or otherwise. They are not organized by, operated by or a chapter of any group, union or organization other than their own. KCIF is almost 100% volunteer staffed, and is grateful for the help of nearly 1,500 volunteers annually.
About the Kansas City Wizards
The Kansas City Wizards celebrate its twelfth season in Major League Soccer with the innovative vision of new ownership and the aggressive, attacking style of a new coaching staff. The organization possesses the drive to spearhead new ideas and make the Wizards the premier organization in MLS. Kansas City was introduced as one of the 10 charter members of MLS on June 6, 1995. The Wizards have captured two major championships in team history. The Wizards won the 2000 MLS Cup Championship and then the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy. 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.
