* Wizards Look Ahead to Historic 2011 Season
* Jimmy Conrad a Finalist for MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year
* Wizards Announce 2010 Team Awards
* Wizards Raise Money for Breast Cancer Awareness
* Soccer Documentary Pelada to Play in Overland Park Beginning Friday
* Wizards Participate in Halloween Trunk or Treat on Friday
* KCW U16 and U18 Juniors Resume Training
* Wizards 2011 Designated Player Omar Bravo Returns from Injury
* Wizards Players and Front Office Active on Twitter
* Fans Encouraged to Support U.S. Effort to Land World Cup in 2022
WIZARDS LOOK AHEAD TO HISTORIC 2011 SEASON:
Following a 4-1 win over San Jose in the season finale last month, the Kansas City Wizards enter the offseason with high expectations for the 2011 season. Kansas City will welcome Mexican international Omar Bravo as the team’s second-ever Designated Player and will move into a state-of-the-art soccer stadium, currently under construction at Village West in Kansas City, Kansas.
The Wizards are accepting initial payments for season tickets for the 2011 season, beginning at $14-per-seat for the Member’s Stand and ranging to $40-per-seat for the West Stand, with additional club and suite options also available. Fans can reserve their spot in the seat selection process by placing a $50 payment per seat, which will be applied to the cost of 2011 season tickets, by visiting KCWizards.com or calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
The 2011 season will feature 34 regular season games, with MLS First Kick scheduled for March 19 and regular season action continuing until October 22. The 16th season of Major League Soccer will feature the introduction of two new teams, the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers, with an expansion draft held on November 24th. The annual MLS SuperDraft will then take place on January 13th at the NSCAA National Convention in Baltimore.
The 2011 soccer season will also feature the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June, with the winner qualifying for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. The United States is an automatic qualifier for the 12-team tournament. Shavar Thomas, Roger Espinoza, Jimmy Conrad, Davy Arnaud, Stephane Auvray and Omar Bravo all participated in the 2009 edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
JIMMY CONRAD A FINALIST FOR MLS W.O.R.K.S. HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR:
Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad is one of three nominees up for 2010 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year, with the award winner to be announced by Major League Soccer on November 8th. New York’s Seth Stammler and Houston’s Brian Ching are also nominated for the annual honor.
Conrad was chosen Kansas City Wizards 2010 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year for his involvement in the community this season, going above and beyond the efforts that earned him the 2009 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year distinction. Conrad continued his role as a player ambassador with the Autism Speaks foundation, holding his third annual clinic for children affected by Autism and promoting the Soccer Day 5k for Autism Speaks. Conrad is currently trying to raise $800 for Autism Speaks by encouraging fans to purchase a piece of his celebrity puzzle online.
Conrad is in his third year as a player ambassador for the Child Protection Center, volunteering this year as Honorary Chair of their golf tournament. Conrad was also the Wizards representative for the Pepsi Refresh Project contest and finished runner-up, winning $25,000 for Belvidere Park.
Conrad’s wife Lyndsey was the driving force behind the Wizards Wives Club annual Stuff the Bus school-supply collection and Jimmy participated in the donation at City Union Mission. He also served as a board member for the Kansas City Zoo, taking part in the Jazzoo festival that raises funding for outreach opportunities and zoo operations. Finally, Conrad remains an active supporter of the Boys and Girls Club, and was asked to be a featured speaker for their “Graduate To Go” program.
WIZARDS ANNOUNCE 2010 TEAM AWARDS:
The Kansas City Wizards announced the team’s annual awards in a special pre-game ceremony held prior to the season finale against San Jose at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The awards were voted on by Kansas City Wizards players, coaches and media members:
• Kansas City Wizards 2010 Most Valuable Player: FWD Kei Kamara
• Kansas City Wizards 2010 Budweiser Golden Boot: FWD Kei Kamara
• Kansas City Wizards 2010 Defensive Player of the Year: GK Jimmy Nielsen
• Kansas City Wizards 2010 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year: DEF Jimmy Conrad
• 2010 Bob Gansler KCW Juniors Player of the Year: DEF Konner Knoll
Please click here for more information on each award winner.
WIZARDS RAISE MONEY FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS:
The Kansas City Wizards helped raise funds for The Young Survival Coalition Kansas City and the Kansas City Soccer Foundation by holding an online auction for Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. The Wizards auction included pink game-used and game-worn items from the October 9th Breast Cancer Awareness match against Seattle at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Fans bid on an autographed official Jabulani soccer ball, Wizards goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen’s pink jersey and gloves, as well as Manager Peter Vermes’ game-worn, autographed scarf.
“Young Survival Coalition (YSC) Kansas City is excited to partner with the Kansas City Wizards for Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Jennifer Johnson, YSC Kansas City Executive Director. “YSC encourages all women to know their bodies and be their own breast health advocate, and never let anyone tell them they are ‘too young’ for breast cancer.”
SOCCER DOCUMENTARY PELADA TO PLAY IN OVERLAND PARK BEGINNING FRIDAY:
Glenwood Theatre in Overland Park, Kansas will be showing Pelada, the soccer documentary exploring the allure of pick-up soccer games across the world, beginning on Friday. The movie sold out in advance for a special screening at Glenwood Theatre last Thursday, which raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and included a special appearance by Wizards players Matt Besler, Graham Zusi and Korede Aiyegbusi.
Pelada will show at least twice daily for one week, marking the first time the feature-length film has shown for consecutive days in the Kansas City area. Tickets are available online and range from $6.50 to $8.50.
Glenwood Theatre is located at 9575 Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, Kansas, on the east side of the Metcalf Shopping Center.
WIZARDS PARTICIPATE IN HALLOWEEN TRUNK OR TREAT ON FRIDAY:
Members of the Kansas City Wizards staff and team mascot Dynamo the Dragon were in attendance at Sun Fresh Market last Friday for the Trunk or Treat Festival 2010, sponsored by Sun Fresh Market, Dos Mundos and La Gran D 1340 AM.
The 6th annual event had over 2,000 youth and adults in attendance for the Halloween festivities, as the Wizards helped hand out candy and special Wizards bags. The event also included free hot dogs, chips and drinks for the first 800 attendees.
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS U16 AND U18 JUNIORS RESUME TRAINING:
The Kansas City Wizards U16 and U18 Juniors have resumed training ahead of their first matches next weekend in Dallas.
Following the completion of the boys high school soccer season, the U16 Juniors and U18 Juniors will now begin their 2010-2011 U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy seasons, competing in the Central Conference against some of the top youth clubs from around the Midwest. The two fully-funded academy teams are coached by Jon Parry and Paul Rideout.
Both teams will face the FC Dallas Juniors on Field 4 at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday, November 13 and then take on Andromeda on Sunday, November 14 on the Showcase Field at the Andromeda Training Facility. Fans are encouraged to check KCWizards.com and the Juniors Blog for write-ups on all four games and to follow all the Wizards youth academy action.
WIZARDS 2011 DESIGNATED PLAYER OMAR BRAVO RETURNS FROM INJURY:
Kansas City Wizards 2011 Designated Player Omar Bravo, on-loan to Chivas Guadalajara for the remainder of the 2010 Apertura, received full medical clearance and returned to training on Tuesday to complete his comeback from an injury to his right quadriceps that kept him out most of October.
Bravo, Chivas Guadalajara’s second all-time leading goal scorer, will be available for Manager Jose Luis Real’s selection as Chivas host Cruz Azul on Saturday at Estadio Omnilife. The match will air live in the United States at 8:00 p.m. CT on Telemundo (DirecTV Ch. 406/407, DISH Network Ch. 835/836, Time Warner Cable Ch. 158, AT&T U-Verse Ch. 3007). Chivas have two matches remaining in the 2010 Apertura, Mexico’s 17-game fall season, and are in need of victories to qualify for the postseason.
The Wizards signed Bravo in August as a Designated Player for the 2011 season. The 30-year-old striker and Mexico international will remain with Chivas Guadalajara for the remainder of the 2010 Apertura by the terms of a loan agreement reached between the two teams and Major League Soccer.
Kansas City and Chivas have also agreed to play home-and-home friendlies at their new stadiums in 2011 as part of the agreement. The Wizards will play at Chivas’ new Estadio Omnilife during Kansas City’s preseason, and Chivas Guadalajara will play in Kansas City’s new soccer stadium after the venue opens next summer.
Bravo has 108 goals and counting in league competition for Chivas Guadalajara. He has also been a mainstay on the Mexico National Team with 16 goals, including two at the 2006 World Cup, in 65 appearances.
WIZARDS PLAYERS AND FRONT OFFICE ACTIVE ON TWITTER:
Fans can follow numerous Kansas City Wizards players and front office members on Twitter for all of their latest thoughts and comments. Below is a list of each individual’s Twitter account:
Official Team Twitter: KCWizards
Forward Teal Bunbury: TealBunB
Defender Jimmy Conrad: JimmyConrad_com
Defender Matt Besler: mbesler
Defender Michael Harrington: mikeymomoney2
Forward Kei Kamara: keikamara
Goalkeeper Jon Kempin: JonKempin21
President Robb Heineman: RobbHeineman
Play-by-Play Analyst Dave Borchardt: DaveBorchardt
Color Commentator Sasha Victorine: SashaVictorine
Press Officer Kurt Austin: kaustin01
Digital Strategist Kyle Rogers: KyleLRogers
FANS ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT U.S. EFFORT TO LAND WORLD CUP IN 2022:
Kansas City soccer fans are strongly encouraged to support the bid to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to the United States in 2022. Over 1.1 million people have showed their support by signing the online petition, including nearly 31,000 signatures from Kansas City.
In addition to signing the petition at www.goUSAbid.com/kc, supporters can register their interest by texting “Kansas City” to “22442”. Kansas City is one of 18 cities still in the running to host games should the USA bid be successful. FIFA will select the host nation for both 2018 and 2022 on December 2, 2010.
The highly successful Summer of Soccer saw over 30,000 soccer fans gather for World Cup watch parties in the Kansas City Power & Light District and a new attendance record set for a soccer match in Kansas City when 52,424 turned out to see the Wizards upset English powerhouse Manchester United 2-1 at the New Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, July 25.
