KANSAS CITY, MO - The Kansas City Wizards, in cooperation with the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY, announced last week that the oldest team trophy in U.S. sports history, the Dewar Challenge Trophy, will be in Kansas City beginning Friday, September 17th. The trophy will be in Kansas City in advance of the 2004 U.S. Open Cup championship game being played on Wednesday, September 22nd at Arrowhead Stadium between the Wizards and the Chicago Fire. The National Championship game will be the first of any sport in Arrowhead Stadium history.
The Dewar Trophy will arrive in Kansas City, escorted by National Soccer Hall of Fame Director of Communications, Jack Huckel, on Friday, September 17th. The trophy will be on display at several events around the city, including the "Arrowhead Fan Fest" at Arrowhead Stadium on September 17th and 18th, the Wizards game against the Colorado Rapids at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, September 18th and the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 19th. In addition, the trophy will also be at area grocery stores, shopping centers and soccer tournaments. The trophy will also appear on 38 The Spot's "Sports Spot", hosted by NBC Action News' Jack Harry on Friday, September 17th.
The Trophy will also be at the Wizards training session on Tuesday, September 21st from 9:30 a.m. to approximately 11:00 a.m. on the Arrowhead Stadium Field. Following that training session, all Wizards players and coaches will be available to the media for interviews. The trophy will remain in Kansas City for the U.S. Open Cup Final on September 22nd.
"We are excited that the trophy will be in so many high traffic areas in Kansas City, giving fans the chance to see the symbol of this wonderful National championship event," said Wizards General Manager Curt Johnson. "I want to encourage Wizards fans to continue sending in their suggestions for the tour. We want to fill every available time slot!"
Fans can submit a short essay of 100 words or less suggesting where they would like the Wizards to take the Dewar Trophy in the Kansas City metro area. To enter, fans should send their suggestions of 100 words or less via email to jgorman@kcwizards.com.
Dating back to 1914, the 90-year-old U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer cup competition in the United States and is among the oldest in the world. The tournament is open to affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, and is single-elimination format. This year, a total of 167 teams entered into the tournament with the hopes of winning the National Championship of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Qualifying began in early April for the right to join the final field of 40 teams in the tournament bracket and culminates with the Final on September 22nd.
A complete schedule of appearances for the Dewar Trophy is as follows:
Dewar Trophy's Tour of Kansas City
Friday, September 17th
2:00pm: Trophy Arrives in Kansas City
3:00pm - 6:00pm: Arrowhead Fan Fest - Lot D of Truman Sports Complex
7:00pm: 38 the Spot's "Sports Spot", hosted by Jack Harry
Saturday, September 18th
8:00am - 10:30am: Heritage Park Soccer Fields
11:00am - 12:00pm: Mermaid Fountain - Country Club Plaza, Broadway & Nichols Rd.
5:00pm - 7:00pm: Arrowhead Fan Fest & Wizards Season Ticket Renewal Party - Parking Lot D
7:30pm: Wizards vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Arrowhead Stadium; Trophy in Gold Suite during First Half
8:30pm: Trophy on display at Information Booth at Section 114 during second half of Wizards game
Sunday, September 19th
10:00am - 10:30am: KCFX 101.1FM Tailgate Party at Arrowhead Stadium
10:45am: Chevy Endzone Tailgate Party outside Gate B
12:00pm: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers, Arrowhead Stadium
2:00pm - 5:00pm: Western Missouri Soccer League, I-435 & Shoal Creek
Monday, September 20th
5:00pm - 7:00pm: Price Chopper - 4201 S. Noland Rd. Independence, MO
Tuesday, September 21st
9:30am - 11:30am: Trophy at Wizards Training, Arrowhead Outdoor Training Facility; All Players & Coaches available to media members following training
4:30pm - 8:00pm: "Top Dawg" Tournament, Blue Valley District Activities Complex, 135th & Switzer, O.P., KS
Wednesday, September 22nd
11:30am - 1:30pm: George Brett's on the Plaza
7:30pm: 2004 U.S. Open Cup Final, Kansas City Wizards vs. Chicago Fire; Pregame and postgame presentations scheduled on the field
