* Los Angeles Tickets on Sale Saturday
* Look For New Billboards This Week
* Jimmy Conrad Show Live Wednesday
* Johnson Named MLS Player of the Week
* Wizards Present Miss Soccer Kansas City
* Lamar Hunt Charity Auction Ongoing
* Leukemia, Lymphoma Auction Closed
* All-Star Voting Continues
* D.C. Native Lowery Goes Presidential
* Dynamo to Attend Youth Tournament
* Three Wizards to Attend Gracie Premier
* Kansas City Wizards Training Schedule
Tickets for Match Against Los Angeles Galaxy, Featuring David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Cobi Jones on Sale Saturday
Tickets to the September 27, 2007 match against David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Cobi Jones and the Los Angeles Galaxy go on sale this Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. CT. Originally scheduled to go on sale in mid-July, the initial offer date has been moved up due to high demand for tickets to that match.
Individual tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster retail outlets, Ticketmaster.com, kcwizards.com or by calling Ticketmaster directly at 816.931.3330.
For groups of 40 or more, special ticket rates apply. Group packages are available by calling the Wizards directly at (913) 387-3400 or toll free at 1-(877) 828-7222. Premium seating, including suites and club seating, is still available in limited quantities.
An exclusive online-only pre-sale will be offered Friday, June 1 from 5-9 p.m. An email containing the password needed to purchase tickets during the pre-sale will be sent to anyone who has purchased tickets to other 2007 home matches.
Look For New Billboards This Week
The Kansas City Wizards will be featured on four billboards going up across the metro area beginning this week. Keep your eyes open on major thoroughfares for exciting shots of Wizards players and information about the Los Angeles Galaxy match scheduled for September 27.
Jimmy Conrad Show Live Wednesday
Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad and the voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will co-host The Jimmy Conrad Show live from the Plaza 810 Zone Wednesday. The show, broadcast live at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN Radio 97.3, will feature Wizards defender Nick Garcia and former Wizards defender Taylor Graham, who now plays for Red Bull New York.
Wheelock, Conrad and Garcia will discuss the Wizards incredible, come-from-behind win on the road against New England last Saturday, Garcia's steady play so far this season and Saturday's match-up with first-place Red Bull New York.
Catch the show on 97.3 FM or streamed live at kcwizards.com.
Johnson Named MLS Player of the Week
Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson took home his third major MLS award of 2007 as he was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 8. Johnson scored three goals, including the game-winner in the 82nd minute on the road at New England Revolution as the Wizards defeated the Revs 4-3 to move within a point of first place in the East. Johnson now ranks second in MLS in goals (6), first in game-winning goals (4) and tied for fourth in assists (3).
"We have been able to perform consistently the past couple of months, and the results have been encouraging for us as a team and Eddie (Johnson) individually," Head Coach Curt Onalfo said. "Now the challenge is to maintain that consistency and take our game to an even higher level throughout the rest of the season."
Johnson scored in the 26th minute off an assist from defender Jack Jewsbury, in the 38th minute from midfielder Davy Arnaud and in the 82nd from midfielder Carlos Marinelli. The hat trick was the first in MLS play this season, the fourth in team history and the first for Johnson in his career in MLS play. He scored an international hat trick for the United States on Oct. 14, 2004 in a World Cup Qualifier against Panama after entering as a substitute at the half.
"I'm really happy to receive this award," Johnson said. "I grew mentally strong in the off-season. Once you get your mind focused on one thing, great things are going to happen. My teammates and I have all worked hard so far this season, and going up against Jimmy (Conrad), Nick (Garcia), Jose (Burciaga Jr.), Jack (Jewsbury), Tyson (Wahl), and Aaron (Hohlbein) at practice every day makes me a better player. None of this would have been accomplished without everyone's hard work."
Johnson becomes the first player to win Player of the Week honors more than once in 2007. He was tabbed in Week 2 after scoring a goal and assisting on two other's in the Wizards season-opening 4-2 victory on the road at D.C. United. Also, no other teams have had more than one winner of the award in 2007.
Johnson was then named MLS Player of the Month for April after he led the Wizards to a 3-1-0 record, scoring three game-winning goals while adding two assists. Johnson had never won an MLS Player of the Week or Player of the Month award until this season.
Johnson's Week 8 award is the 25th awarded to a Wizards player in club history. Thirteen different players have won Player of the Week awards for the Wizards. Johnson becomes the sixth player to win the award more than once and the fourth player to win the award more than once in a season.
Wizards and Metro Sports present the 2007 Miss Soccer Kansas City contest
In the spirit of the new Picturehouse feature-length film, Gracie, the Kansas City Wizards and Metro Sports are excited to bring the 2007 Miss Soccer Kansas City contest to the many young girls in the community who excel on and off the soccer field. With the help of Metro Sports, the Wizards are holding a contest to find five girls, ages 18 and under, who will serve as the new junior spokespeople for the team and don the titles of Miss Soccer Kansas City. The five winners will represent the organization throughout the 2007 season.
"As a female athlete, I applaud the Wizards efforts to showcase girls' athletics on a professional soccer stage," Metro Sports anchor Erin Bajackson said. "The female in the movie Gracie appears to have great inner strength, a quality that is valuable in life, both on and off the soccer field. We at Metro Sports always promote women in any athletic arena, and I encourage girls interested in soccer and community involvement to try out for this unique opportunity."
Set in 1978, Gracie depicts a young girl who overcomes the loss of her brother and fights the odds to achieve her dream of playing competitive soccer. It is an inspirational movie for young girls, promoting themes of courage, confidence and the ability to dream. The movie opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, June 1.
The winners of the 2007 Miss Soccer Kansas City contest would, like the character in the film, be chosen for their confidence, friendliness, love of athletics and willingness to make a difference in Kansas City. The Wizards, in partnership with Metro Sports, will hold tryouts for girls at various sites throughout the city leading up to the June 24th deadline.
The first tryouts were held at Heritage Soccer Park, home of Heartland Soccer's Kansas City Invitational, May 26 (12-2 p.m.) and May 27 (12-2 p.m.). Girls will also be able to record tryout videos at the sneak preview of Gracie on May 30 at AMC Town Center 20 (6:30-10 p.m.). The other two opportunities will be at the next two Wizards home games at Arrowhead Stadium.
The five winners will be announced at halftime of the Wizards July 1st home game against Toronto FC. Winners must be present at Arrowhead Stadium in order to receive the honor.
In addition, girls can send in DVD/video tryouts to the Kansas City Wizards office. Girls must answer the questions at the bottom of this release and also showcase their soccer skills in their tryout video. A full list of tryout locations, Miss Soccer Kansas City duties and the Wizards office address is listed below. Please contact the Kansas City Wizards communications department with any further questions at (913) 387-3400.
Miss Soccer Kansas City tryout questions:
Who is your favorite Kansas City Wizards player and why?
Who is your female role model and why?
What makes soccer fun for you?
How would you get people in the community excited about the Wizards?
What are three special qualities that you would bring to this position?
The duties for Miss Soccer Kansas City for the 2007 season would include:
- Participation in pre-game media and TV segments, including reporting from the Wizards' "Soccer Celebration" area, which revolves around activities for children.
* Participation in Kansas City Wizards community events and activities.
* Video messages to the crowd that will be played on the Jumbotron during games.
* Participation in a Kansas City Wizards practice with the players.
* Participation in the opening coin toss of a future Kansas City Wizards game.
* Photo shoot for pictures to be used in media/advertisements geared toward youth soccer, as well as in the Wizards merchandise catalogues.
* Personal bio page on kcwizards.com that will highlight background information, quotes, and any other issues the participant would like to talk about, etc.
Miss Soccer Kansas City tryout locations:
Gracie Movie Premiere: May 30; 6:30-10 p.m.
Wizards vs. NY Red Bull: June 2; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Wizards vs. Houston: June 24; 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Participants can submit a DVD/video that includes answers to the previously mentioned questions and showcases their soccer skills, by Friday, June 22, to:
The Kansas City Wizards
Attn: Miss Soccer Kansas City
8900 State Line Rd. 5th Flr.
Leawood, KS 66206
Be sure to come out to the Wizards game on July 1 and hear the winners announced!
Lamar Hunt Charity Auction Ongoing
Jerseys from 18 Kansas City Wizards and 11 FC Dallas players are still available for bids starting as low as $150. Jerseys from players who started the match May 12 start at $250. Only one week remains in this auction, buy jerseys of your favorite Kansas City Wizards players today.
Wizards jerseys are available online here
FC Dallas jerseys are available online here
Portions of the funds raised will be donated to the following charity organizations:
* South Central Community Foundation's "Greensburg Future Fund," benefiting those that lost their homes in the devastating tornado that hit the south-central Kansas town of Greensburg May 7.
* The Jacobo family, benefiting the family that was featured on the May 13th Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Kansas City.
* The Kansas City Wizards Tickets for Troops program. Money raised will allow the Wizards to donate free tickets to home matches to area military personnel.
* The Kansas City Wizards Kicks for Kids program. Money raised will allow the Wizards to donate free tickets to underprivileged youth that may not otherwise be able to attend a Kansas City match.
* The Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. Foundation. Money raised on the sale of Burciaga's jersey will be donated to his foundation to help in the goal of improving the lives of underprivileged youth.
The auction ends June 4, 2007. All uniforms are autographed by the player who wore the jersey.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Auction Closed
Game-worn jerseys from the match May 5 against the Columbus Crew were available for auction at kcwizards.com through Monday. Eleven jerseys were sold, with all the proceeds going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
All-Star Voting Continues
Online fan ballots are now being accepted for the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game, which will pit the best in MLS against perennial Scottish powerhouse Celtic FC on July 19 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. Vote up to ten times per day to make your Kansas City Wizards 2007 All-Stars.
To vote, visit the kcwizards.com home page and click the All-Star ballot. Each person can vote up to ten times per day. Voting ends on Monday, June 25, 2007.
D.C. Native Lowery Goes Presidential
Who: M Amir Lowery
When: Tuesday, May 29 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: Sunset Ridge Elementary, 14901 England, Overland Park, KS
What: Amir Lowery, a Washington D.C. native, will be speaking at Sunset Ridge Elementary's 2007 Presidential Service Award Party. Lowery will be talking with the kid's about the importance of community involvement, then taking pictures and signing autographs.
Dynamo to Attend Tournament
Who: Mascot Dynamo
When: Saturday, June 2 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Where: Sheffield Park, 6840 E. 12th Street, Kansas City
What: Dynamo the Dragon will be helping kick-off a mini, one-day soccer tournament with St. Stephen's Academy.
Three Wizards to Attend Gracie Premier
Who: Scott Sealy, Yura Movsisyan and Edson Elcock
When: Wednesday, May 30 6:30-8 p.m.
Where: AMC Town Center 20 11701, Nall Avenue Leawood, KS, 66211
What: Scott Sealy, Yura Movsisyan and Edson Elcock will join staff members at the premier of the movie Gracie at Town Center 20 in Overland Park. Girls under 18 can tryout on site for the Miss Soccer Kansas City contest detailed above.
Kansas City Wizards Weekly Training Schedule
*All training sessions will take place at the Sprint World Headquarters located at 119th and Nall in Overland Park.
Wednesday, May 30
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Training / Sprint Luncheon
Thursday, May 31
10-11:15 a.m. Training
Friday, June 1
10-11:15 a.m. Training
Saturday, June 2
Match vs. Red Bull New York 7:00 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium (Live on Metro Sports)
Sunday June 3
KCW Reserves vs. RBNY Reserves 9 a.m. at Sprint World Headquarters
