The Kansas City Wizards, the Kansas City Power & Light District and the Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee announced today that all 64 matches of this summer’s FIFA World Cup will be shown live at the 2010 Summer of Soccer in the Living Room at KC Live! The Summer of Soccer is expected to be one of the largest outdoor FIFA World Cup viewing parties in the United States.
Starting with the World Cup’s opening match on June 11 and running through the final match on July 11, the Summer of Soccer will feature every match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ shown live in the KC Live! Living Room at the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City. The Living Room’s video screen is the largest of its type in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and the location is ideal for fans, with bars, restaurants, shops and many other surrounding amenities.
“The FIFA World Cup is the biggest event in the world and we are excited to partner with the Wizards to invite all of Kansas City to participate in it in a way very few fans can outside the host country,” said Nick Benjamin, Executive director for the Kansas City Power & Light District. “We hope every Kansas Citian stops by to experience the Summer of Soccer and be a part of this incredible event.”
The Summer of Soccer will begin with the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on June 11, when Mexico opens the tournament with a match against host nation South Africa at 9 a.m. CT. In addition to the screen in the Living Room, matches will be shown in surrounding bars, including Spanish-language broadcasts for all Mexico and Honduras games. Kansas City Wizards defender/midfielder Roger Espinoza is on the Honduras World Cup squad.
“Throughout Kansas City’s efforts to be a World Cup Host City, our region continually demonstrates we are a world-class city and, most importantly, a world-class soccer city,” Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee Director David Ficklin said. “So it is only natural that Kansas City will host one of the largest World Cup viewing parties in the United States. This event is a great example of Kansas City’s commitment to soccer, the FIFA World Cup, and the USA World Cup bid. We anticipate great crowds, full of passionate and colorfully dressed World Cup fans. This will provide a special and unique glimpse into the excitement of hosting the FIFA World Cup that we seek to bring to our great city and region.”
In addition to showing the games, there will be a multitude of special events and limited-time offers at the Power & Light District throughout the month-long tournament. Fans can enjoy food and drink specials at many of the surrounding establishments throughout the tournament.
Admission to the Power & Light District for the Summer of Soccer will be free, there will be no age limit and no dress code. Parking will be available in the garages and lots surrounding the Power & Light District, in addition to the on-street spaces around the downtown area. Parking is free in Power & Light District lots for up to three hours with validation. A detailed map of the Power & Light District can be found at www.powerandlightdistrict.com.
All games will start at either 6:30 a.m. CT, 9 a.m. CT or 1:30 p.m. CT. Click here for a full match schedule (all times listed on the schedule are Eastern).
The World Cup is far and away the most-watched sporting event on the planet. The 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany was broadcast in 214 countries and territories, with a total broadcast time of 73,072 hours on 43,600 broadcasts. The tournament drew a total of 26.2 billion viewers, including a cumulative audience of 715.1 million for the final match.
The Summer of Soccer, presented by the Kansas City Wizards, will be another step in showing that Kansas City has the passion required to host a FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022, should the U.S. bid be successful. To support the U.S. Bid Committee’s efforts to bring the world’s most popular sporting event to Arrowhead Stadium, sign the petition at www.goUSAbid.com/KC.
About the Kansas City Wizards
The Kansas City Wizards are currently celebrating their fifteenth season in Major League Soccer (MLS) and the fourth full season under the innovative vision of Kansas City-based ownership group OnGoal. Founded in 1996 as one of the charter members of MLS, Kansas City has since gone on to win each of the United States’ major domestic trophies (The 2000 MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield and the 2004 U.S. Open Cup). Founded and owned by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the team was purchased by OnGoal, LLC, a locally-owned group of investors, in 2006. OnGoal possesses the drive to spearhead new ideas and make the Wizards the premier organization in MLS through an entrepreneurial spirit and first-class customer service. 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 efforts. For more information, visit www.KCWizards.com.
About the Power & Light District
The Kansas City Power & Light District is a vibrant eight-block neighborhood in the heart of downtown Kansas City that is redefining the City from its skyline to its sidewalks. The District has brought the beat back downtown, combining entertainment, dining, shopping, nightlife and amenities with imaginative and innovative urban design. For more information, visit www.powerandlightdistrict.com.
About the Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee
The Kansas City Bid Committee is comprised of Kansas City Business, Community, Government, and Professional and Recreational Sport leaders to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to Kansas City. The Committee is Co-Chaired by Kansas City Chiefs Chairman of the Board Clark Hunt and Cerner Corporation’s Chairman and CEO and Kansas City Wizards co-owner Neal Patterson. Arrowhead Stadium would serve as host for all games in Kansas City. To support Kansas City's effort, visit www.goUSAbid.com/KC.
About the USA Bid Committee
The USA Bid Committee is a non-profit organization created to prepare a successful application to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022 on behalf of the United States Soccer Federation. The Bid Committee submitted its comprehensive bid to FIFA by May 2010, with FIFA’s 24member Executive Committee making a decision in December 2010. Members of the USA Bid Committee include Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy owner Philip Anschutz, comedian and Seattle Sounders FC part-owner Drew Carey, former world champion boxer Oscar De La Hoya, Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, Walt Disney Company President and CEO Robert Iger, former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, New England Revolution and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Academy Award-nominated director Spike Lee, AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. For more information, visit goUSAbid.com.
