Headlines for the week of April 23, 2007:
Join the Wizards at the GET CLOSE Home Opener
Wizards Announce Hispanic Radio Partners
Broadcast Updates
Press Credential Information
Wizards Stay Active in Community
Wizards Reserves Travel to Missouri State
Swope Park Training Center Update
Kansas City Wizards Training and Game Schedule
Join the Wizards at the GET CLOSE Home Opener
After three consecutive road games, the Kansas City Wizards will return to Arrowhead Stadium for the 2007 GET CLOSE home opener Wednesday, April 25, to take on expansion side Toronto FC in the Canadian club's first-ever trip to Kansas City.
Aside from the exciting, attack-oriented action on the field, the Wizards have put together an array of events surrounding the 90 minutes of soccer that are unparalleled in Kansas City. Starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Arrowhead parking lot, Mix 93.3 and the Wizards will host a singles contest where 93 lucky ladies will have the chance to win a date with up-and-coming rookie forward Willy Guadarrama.
Guadarrama, a self-proclaimed and confirmed ladies man, comes to the Wizards from Campbell University where he starred on the soccer field for four seasons.
The contest will resemble the dating show "Singled Out." Participants will be asked questions prior to the contest. Guadarrama will then select his favorite answer between two choices. If the lady has the same answer Willy picks, she gets to stay. If she has the other answer, she will leave the contest and enter the Singles area to mix and mingle with other local singles. Guadarrama will whittle the field down and eventually choose one winner.
Guadarrama and the chosen lady will then embark on an all-expense paid evening provided by the Wizards and Mix 93.3 to Red, White and Boom 12, held June 10 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. The concert features: Daughtry, Katharine McPhee, Hellogoodbye, Gym Class Heroes, Augustanna and JoJo. Red, White and Boom promises to be one of the most entertaining concerts of the summer.
The opener will also be the first of three Gail's Harley Davidson T-Shirt Wednesdays. The first 5,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive a special-edition t-shirt featuring a Wizards bicycle kick.
At halftime, the nationally-known Marching Cobras from Kansas City will perform, ensuring that fans stay excited from kickoff to the final whistle. Then, fans can stick around in the stadium after the match for a spectacular fireworks show.
Check out the GET CLOSE home opener for a taste of the high-quality events the Kansas City Wizards have planned for the rest of the home schedule. Each home game will be a multi-hour event full of fun for all ages.
Wizards Announce Hispanic Radio Partners
The Kansas City Wizards are proud to announce a partnership with local radio stations "La Gran D" 1340 AM and "La Playa" 1480 AM. "La Gran D" will broadcast all 15 Wizards home matches in 2007. On Cindo de Mayo, both "La Gran D" and "La Playa" will broadcast the match as the Wizards take on the Columbus Crew at noon CT.
Julio Caraveo and Alberto Ririgoyen will call the first game. Carlos Chicas and Jose Lopez will call the May 5 game as the Wizards further extend themselves to the Latino community.
"We're excited because these two stations reach a Spanish-speaking demographic that has been untapped in the Kansas City Wizards history," Director of Latino Relations Leobardo Prieto said. "They're hip, they're trendy and they're diverse."
Kansas City has not had a presence on the Spanish-speaking airwaves since 2004. The Wizards organization is proud to buck this trend.
"This is another example of our reaching out to the Latino community," Executive Vice President Greg Cotton said. "In a short period of time, we've achieved great success in bringing together the Kansas City soccer community, and we continue to work toward that goal."
Broadcast Updates
The Jimmy Conrad Show will not be aired Wednesday due to the GET CLOSE Home Opener Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium. The Wizards take on expansion club Toronto FC in the first home match of the 2007 season.
Tune in to Metro Sports if you can't make it to the stadium as the Wizards host TFC for the first time ever. Voice-of-the-Wizards Sean Wheelock and former Wizards defender Brian Roberts will call the action live. Coverage begins before the game at 6:30 p.m. and will last until 30 minutes after the game's conclusion.
Wizards Weekly will still air as scheduled Thursday at 11:30 p.m., Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Wizards Stay Active in Community
With the 2007 season now in full swing, the Kansas City Wizards are also ramping up community involvement all across the metro area. Below is the full listing of events featuring the Kansas City Wizards for the week of April 22-28.
Who: Kansas City Wizards
When: Tuesday, April 24 from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: 810 Zone, 4800 W. 119th Street, in Leawood, KS
What: Join Wizards players Kerry Zavagnin and Ryan Raybould for a live remote with Sports Radio 810 WHB at the Leawood 810 Zone Tuesday, April 24, from 4-6 p.m. The Wizards and 810 will be offering fans the chance to purchase $8.10 tickets for the home opener on Wednesday, April 25. Both Zavagnin and Raybould will be promoting this great ticket special at 810 Zone, so come on out to meet and mingle with the Kansas City Wizards!
Who: Kansas City Wizards
When: Tuesday, April 24 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Where: The Brooksider, 6330 Brookside Plaza in Kansas City, MO
What: The Wizards and 610 Sports will host a rally at The Brooksider. DA from 610 Sports will be there live, getting fans out to support the team and buy tickets for the GET CLOSE home opener and Gail's Harley Davidson Blue T-Shirt Wednesday. Attendees may purchase 6 tickets and a water cooler for $61 through 610 AM. This deal is good only at the event and is sponsored by the Kansas City Limo Lounge.
Who: The Kansas City Wizards Coaches, Players, and Staff
When: Thursday, April 26 starting at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Blonde Nightclub, 100 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO
What: The Kansas City Wizards team will be in full attendance at C.A.S.A.'s annual fundraiser that will showcase a Halls fashion show and Wizards DJ contest. Davy Arnaud, Nick Garcia, Kevin Hartman, Jack Jewsbury, Ryan McMahen, and Kerry Zavagnin will strut down the runway with their significant others modeling Halls newest fashions while a new Wizards theme song that will be played at home games will be introduced.
Who: Mascot Dynamo
When: Thursday, April 26 11:30-12:30 p.m.
Where: Kansas City Town Pavilion, 1111 Main, Kansas City, MO
What: Dynamo the Dragon will join students and their parents at the Kansas City Town Pavilion for "Take Your Child to Work Day." The event is hosted by Copaken White Blitt and will offer an afternoon of fun during a day of hard work for the students.
Who: Mascot Dynamo
When: Saturday, April 28 10:30-12:00 p.m.
Where: Mill-Walk Mall, 2601 Cantrell Road, Harrisonville, MO
What: Dynamo will be attending Cass Medical Center's Children's Health and Safety Fair fundraiser. There will be information booths, entertainment, a petting zoo, free immunizations and much more.
Wizards Reserves Travel to Missouri State
The Kansas City Wizards reserve squad travels to scrimmage the Missouri State University soccer team Monday, April 30 at Plaster Stadium. The Wizards take on the Bears at 7 p.m. CT.
Wizards defender Jack Jewsbury hails from Springfield, where he starred at Kickapoo High School for four years. Jewsbury scored a state record 59 goals in his senior season and 124 goals in his career.
Swope Park Training Center Update
The new Kansas City Wizards training center in Swope Park has reached the halfway point in construction. All the exterior walls have been put up and the roof is in place.
This week, contractors are framing the interior walls, installing windows and doors and installing interior mechanical elements. Contractors are also finishing the drainage system on both soccer fields that the Wizards are refinishing. Sod will be installed on the field receiving blue grass in two weeks. Sod will be installed on the Bermuda field in three weeks.
Pictures will be available soon. Check www.kcwizards.com later this week for a construction photo gallery.
Kansas City Wizards Training and Game Schedule
Tuesday, April 24
Practice: 10 a.m.
Wednesday, April 25
Kansas City Wizards vs. Toronto FC: 7:00 p.m. CT (Metro Sports)
Thursday, April 26
Practice: 10 a.m.
Friday, April 27
Practice: 9:30 a.m.
Team departs for Toronto: afternoon
Saturday, April 28
Kansas City at Toronto FC: 11:30 a.m. (DK, HDNet, Metro Sports, MLSLIVE.tv)
