The Kansas City Wizards will practice Tuesday through Friday this week at the team's Swope Park Training Center. The Wizards remain in the middle of a two-month road stretch and face CSD Municipal in a friendly match Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kansas City's next home MLS match comes Saturday, June 14 against the Columbus Crew at 7 p.m. CT.
Kansas City Wizards to Face CSD Municipal of Guatemala in Inaugural New Mexico Cup Saturday
The Kansas City Wizards will participate in the first-ever New Mexico Cup Saturday, May 31 at the University of New Mexico Football Stadium in Albuquerque. Kansas City will face Guatemalan power Club Social y Deportivo Municipal at 8 p.m. CT in the first-ever meeting between the clubs. Municipal has played four other MLS teams. Tickets for the event put on by 3 Star Sports and Entertainment Management are available online here. Fore more information, visit http://soccerinalbuquerque.com/3starsportscalendar.html. Hillcrest Road, the Wizards official team blog, will have live running commentary from the event in Albuquerque.
Club Social y Deportivo Municipal (CSD Municipal) commonly referred to as simply Municipal or Los Rojos (the Reds) was founded in 1936 in the Guatemala City. Municipal has won their national championship an extraordinary 25 times. The crown jewel of their trophy case is the silverware obtained by winning the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1974, as the Reds are the only Guatemalan team to have ever done so. The logo of Municipal is a variation of the coat of arms of the city of Santiago de Los Caballeros de Guatemala, with the image of Santiago (Saint James) over the scenery of the region. The Reds are referred to as "El equipo del pueblo" by their fans. This translates to "The People's Team," and Municipal is widely considered to be the most popular club in all of Guatemala.
Kansas City Wizards to Host Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Play-In Match Wednesday, June 4 at Shawnee Mission North High School
The Kansas City Wizards will host a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in game Wednesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. CT at Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park, Kan. The Wizards will face the winner of the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Colorado Rapids, who play Tuesday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Season ticket holders will use their ticket for "Special Game A." All other individual tickets will be $20 general-admission seats, and group tickets will be available for $15. Season ticket holders will also be able to use their "Special Game A" parking passes for reserved parking adjacent to the field at the intersection of Johnson Drive and Metcalf Lane on a first-come, first-served basis. High school students, faculty and staff in the Shawnee Mission School District will receive one free ticket with their student and/or district I.D. and will be able to purchase additional tickets at the group rate. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com here. Gates will open at 6 p.m. for the event.
Kansas City Wizards Open KCSoccerStore.com
The Kansas City Wizards launched their online team store, www.KCSoccerStore.com Tuesday as a precursor to a physical location scheduled to open alongside the team's new stadium in 2010. Since ownership group OnGoal took over in August of 2006, Kansas City has expanded its array of available merchandise and strengthened the Wizards brand.
KCSoccerStore.com becomes the preferred online retailer of the Kansas City Wizards and is a great place for soccer teams to purchase uniforms and other equipment. In addition to Wizards gear and team apparel, KCSoccerStore.com will carry merchandise from some of the biggest soccer clubs around the world including: AC Milan, FC Barcelona and 2008 UEFA Champions League winners Manchester United.
Sign Up Today for Wizards Championship Series Tournaments
Tournaments in the inaugural Wizards Championship Series include a soccer tennis competition on the Plaza in late June, a 3-versus-3 tournament at the Wizards Swope Park Training Center in mid July and an 11-versus-11 Men's tournament in late August, again at Swope Park.
Tournament details:
Wizards Soccer Tennis on the Plaza
• Three (3) games guaranteed
• Each team receives five (5) tickets to the Wizards game June 28 vs. Real Salt Lake
Registration Fee: $125
Competition: 4-versus-4
Team: Up to 5 team members
Location: Plaza Tennis Center
Dates: June 28 - 29, 2008
Age Groups: U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17/open
To register: Contact the Wizards youth soccer department at (913) 387-3400
Wizards 3-v-3 Tournament
• Three (3) games guaranteed
• Each team will receive six (6) tickets to Wizards game July 10 vs. Red Bull New York or July 27 versus Chicago Fire
Registration Fee: $230
Competition: 3-versus-3
Team: Up to 8 team members
Location: Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
Dates: July 12 - 13, 2008
Age Groups: U-9, U-10, U-11, U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, High School +
To register: Visit premiershipsports.com.
Wizards Men's Open Cup
• Three (3) games guaranteed
• Each player will receive one (1) ticket to the Wizards game August 23 vs. FC Dallas
Registration Fee: $400
Competition: 11-versus-11
Team: Up to 18 team members
Location: Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
Dates: August 16 - 17 (Opening rounds)
            August 23 - 24 (Elimination rounds)<br>
Age Groups: 18+
To register: Contact the Wizards youth soccer department at (913) 387-3400
Sign up Today for Wizards Premier Soccer Camps
Specifically for male or female premier players ages 10-16, these camps are designed to go above and beyond what is offered at a standard soccer camp. In addition to first-class training, participants will receive: appearances from Wizards players and/or coaches, a free soccer ball, a free Wizards camp shirt, a Wizards camp gift and a voucher for one free ticket to a Wizards home match.
The focus of the week-long, 3-hour-a-day camp is to expose players to game-orientated training that will improve both their technical skills and their tactical soccer awareness. The emphasis of coaching will be on the mastering of advanced skills, performance under pressure and playing at speed in game-related situations.
The camp curriculum will feature:
• Passing and receiving on the move
• Midfield combination play
• One v One Defending
• Team Defending
• Shooting and Volleying
• Crossing and Heading
• Shooting from distance
• Taking on and beating defenders
• Daily competitive games
**Goalkeeper coaching will be available at each camp.
At the conclusion of the camp, individual player profiles will be passed on the Wizards coaching staff and player progress will be tracked during league and tournament play and future Wizards camps and training activities. Players may sign up individually or as a team, and will be coached within age and ability groups.
Wizards Premier Camps will take place at the following facilities throughout Kansas City in 2008:
Location |
Date; time |
Cost |
Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
Blue Valley High School |
June 9-13; 9:00-12:00pm |
$139 |
<a href="https://registration.challengersports.com/FindACamp/FindACamp.asp?IdS=0001CB-7AC8CC0&Method=CampSession&Key=255859|1|7321&~=" target="_blank"><b>Sign up on line</b></a> |
Tiffany Hills (SPCAA) |
June 9-13; 5:30-8:30pm |
$139 |
<a href="https://registration.challengersports.com/FindACamp/FindACamp.asp?IdS=000428-646B0B0&Method=CampSession&Key=248637|1|7160&~=" target="_blank"><b>Sign up on line</b></a> |
Blue Valley Northwest High School |
July 14-18; 5:30-8:30pm |
$139 |
<a href="https://registration.challengersports.com/FindACamp/FindACamp.asp?IdS=0001CB-7AC8CC0&Method=CampSession&Key=255859|1|7322&~=" target="_blank"><b>Sign up on line</b></a> |
Wizards Swope Park Training Center |
July 21-25; 9:00-12:00pm |
$139 |
<a href="https://registration.challengersports.com/FindACamp/FindACamp.asp?IdS=0001CB-7AC8CC0&Method=CampSession&Key=255859|1|7324&~=" target="_blank"><b>Sign up on line</b></a> |
Raytown Soccer Club |
July 28-Aug 1; 5:30-8:30pm |
$139 |
<a href="https://registration.challengersports.com/FindACamp/FindACamp.asp?IdS=000428-646B0B0&Method=CampSession&Key=248637|1|7159&~=" target="_blank"><b>Sign up on line</b></a> |
Challenger Sports
913-232-5166
Wizards@challengersports.com
The Jimmy Conrad Show Live From McFadden's at 7 p.m. Wednesday
The Jimmy Conrad Show will air Wednesday this week from McFadden's downtown. Conrad and voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will host the show from 7-7:30 p.m. CT from McFadden's, with the show broadcast live on 810 WHB in Kansas City, kcwizards.com and MLSnet.com. The show will feature special guests from the Wizards and around Major League Soccer each week.
Archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show are also available online at the Wizards podcast page.
Weekly Press Conference Held Thursday
For the duration of the 2008 season, the Kansas City Wizards will hold a weekly press conference each Thursday at the pavilion adjacent to the team's Swope Park Training Center. Head Coach Curt Onalfo will be available this week beginning at 12 p.m. Planet Sub sandwiches and cookies will be provided to all media members who attend. Each Kansas City Wizards practice will still be open to media, and outlets are encouraged to take advantage of the Wizards media policy.
Zona Wizards Airs Live Thursday on La Playa 1480 AM, Time Warner Cable Channel 5
Zona Wizards, the weekly Spanish-language radio and TV show, will air live this Thursday at 2 p.m. on La Playa 1480 AM and Time Warner Cable Channel 5. Hosted by Enrique Morales and Raul Villegas, Zona Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player each week.
Wizards Weekly to Air Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Wizards Weekly, Kansas City's weekly magazine show covering the Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and defender Tyson Wahl. Wahl has started each of the Wizards nine games so far this season after entering the year with ten career starts. Metro Sports will air Wizards Weekly three times per week.
Wizards Weekly show times:
Thursday's 9:30 p.m. CT
Friday's 6:30 p.m. CT
Saturday's 11:30 a.m. CT
Dynamo Has Busy Saturday on Tap
Who:
Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When:
Saturday, May 31; 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Where:
Theis Park, Kansas City, MO
What:
The Wizards mascot Dynamo the Dragon will be supporting the American Heart Association's efforts to raise money at their 2008 Heartwalk. Dynamo will be hanging out in the Kid Zone, taking photos and interacting with the children.
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Saturday, May 31; 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Where: Bethany Park, Kansas City, KS
What: The Wizards mascot Dynamo the Dragon will be attending the Unified Government's Safe Families, Safe Neighborhood Fair in Kansas City, KS. He will be entertaining the children and posing for photos.
