SamPierron
31 Dec 2004, 12:55 PM
Fellow soccer fans,
Both those of you who are fans of the Kansas City Wizards and those who are not (the great unwashed, the infidels, etc.) know that the Wizards are in some peril.
A few weeks back, Lamar Hunt called a press conference to announce his intention to sell the Wizards. Immediately, some members of the Kansas City soccer community went into action. Two of them, Derek Gathright and Greg Cotton (Lucid and Village_Idiot on BigSoccer, respectively) merit particular mention for seeing the light of hope that many, myself included, were too stunned to see.
In the days that have passed since Mr. Hunt's announcement, much has happened, and much information has come to light. For one thing, the heart of America Soccer Foundation was formed in short order, with a great deal of assistance from the good people at Soccer Silicon Valley. You may, of course, visit our website at http://www.hoasoccer.org to learn more.
Our actions and goals have been guided by the information that has come our way, and it is coming in at a fast and furious pace. Most of it can't go into the public realm, but the broad outlines certainly can. At least three local groups (and at least one or two from outside the area) have contacted Hunt Sports Group about acquiring the Wizards. Of those, two have the money on their own to get the purchase and construction of a stadium done, and, thanks to us, they are now talking to each other as well. One more local group with the requisite capital is still putting their plan together, but intends to make contact with Hunt Sports Group soon.
It appears, too, that work has been done by several of these groups with regard to a soccer complex similar to that found in Frisco, TX or Carson, CA, and local governments have expressed major interest. The Kansas City Sports Commission is keen to see this get done, and has called a meeting with local representatives on Jan. 6th to discuss this very issue.
It hardly seems coincidental that someone at Hunt Sports Group felt the need to leak to a local sports radio station yesterday that if a stadium deal gets done, they might not sell the team after all.
Our approach has several prongs. The first, and probably the most significant, is that we are doing work behind the scenes: linking interested parties, private lobbying, etc. Another is that we have linked up with the Wizards with regard to their "Kicks for Kids" program. In this program, tickets are purchased to donate to local charities for disadvantaged children. This provides a means for people to support both the future growth of MLS and the current bottom line, all while making a charitable, tax-deductible donation. Our other major prong is that we are generating public, positive news about the Wizards. In the absence of word from the front office for a variety of reasons on these issues, it is up to us to shed light on the situation. The Wizards might not be able to say that seemingly everybody and his sister is putting an investment group together and a stadium and 20-field complex plan in accessible locations, but we can.
So, assuming you're interested in seeing the Wizards stay in KC, you want to know: "What can I do to help?"
If you're in the KC area, or a driveable distance, the *single best* thing you can do is to call the Wizards and buy season tickets. It's not even close. If you can't make it too often, buy a mini-pack. They have flexible ticket packages. Call them and order first thing on Monday. Tell them, too, that we convinced you to do so.
Also, use http://www.hoasoccer.org to find out how to contact local representatives about the benefits of a soccer complex in their jurisdiction. Contact your representatives, and contact those of other local areas. Call, email, FAX and write!
Also on your website, you can find out where and how you can help with our organization...meetings, etc. Check it out; it's actually fun.
Whether you live in the KC area or not, you can donate to the "Kicks For Kids". There's a link to it from http://www.hoasoccer.org. That helps the Wizards in a big way.
Finally, you can give us a hand. As an organization, we have financial needs as well. We are putting in a lot of time and money as it is, and *anything* you can do to help alleviate our burden, or further enable us to get our message out would be great. There's a PayPal link from the website.
I'm sure this message is too long for BigSoccer. If you can, please spread this around by any means necessary. Email it to your friends, neighbors and enemies...anyone who loves the game. This is not just an issue in KC. We, like San Jose, are now a test case; a test case in how we don't necessarily have to be pawns in the MLS game. We can be players. We can be participants in the destinies of our teams. I'm asking for just a little bit of help in *our* fight to keep *our* team.
Sincerely,
Sam Pierron
President/CEO, Heart of America Soccer Foundation
Both those of you who are fans of the Kansas City Wizards and those who are not (the great unwashed, the infidels, etc.) know that the Wizards are in some peril.
A few weeks back, Lamar Hunt called a press conference to announce his intention to sell the Wizards. Immediately, some members of the Kansas City soccer community went into action. Two of them, Derek Gathright and Greg Cotton (Lucid and Village_Idiot on BigSoccer, respectively) merit particular mention for seeing the light of hope that many, myself included, were too stunned to see.
In the days that have passed since Mr. Hunt's announcement, much has happened, and much information has come to light. For one thing, the heart of America Soccer Foundation was formed in short order, with a great deal of assistance from the good people at Soccer Silicon Valley. You may, of course, visit our website at http://www.hoasoccer.org to learn more.
Our actions and goals have been guided by the information that has come our way, and it is coming in at a fast and furious pace. Most of it can't go into the public realm, but the broad outlines certainly can. At least three local groups (and at least one or two from outside the area) have contacted Hunt Sports Group about acquiring the Wizards. Of those, two have the money on their own to get the purchase and construction of a stadium done, and, thanks to us, they are now talking to each other as well. One more local group with the requisite capital is still putting their plan together, but intends to make contact with Hunt Sports Group soon.
It appears, too, that work has been done by several of these groups with regard to a soccer complex similar to that found in Frisco, TX or Carson, CA, and local governments have expressed major interest. The Kansas City Sports Commission is keen to see this get done, and has called a meeting with local representatives on Jan. 6th to discuss this very issue.
It hardly seems coincidental that someone at Hunt Sports Group felt the need to leak to a local sports radio station yesterday that if a stadium deal gets done, they might not sell the team after all.
Our approach has several prongs. The first, and probably the most significant, is that we are doing work behind the scenes: linking interested parties, private lobbying, etc. Another is that we have linked up with the Wizards with regard to their "Kicks for Kids" program. In this program, tickets are purchased to donate to local charities for disadvantaged children. This provides a means for people to support both the future growth of MLS and the current bottom line, all while making a charitable, tax-deductible donation. Our other major prong is that we are generating public, positive news about the Wizards. In the absence of word from the front office for a variety of reasons on these issues, it is up to us to shed light on the situation. The Wizards might not be able to say that seemingly everybody and his sister is putting an investment group together and a stadium and 20-field complex plan in accessible locations, but we can.
So, assuming you're interested in seeing the Wizards stay in KC, you want to know: "What can I do to help?"
If you're in the KC area, or a driveable distance, the *single best* thing you can do is to call the Wizards and buy season tickets. It's not even close. If you can't make it too often, buy a mini-pack. They have flexible ticket packages. Call them and order first thing on Monday. Tell them, too, that we convinced you to do so.
Also, use http://www.hoasoccer.org to find out how to contact local representatives about the benefits of a soccer complex in their jurisdiction. Contact your representatives, and contact those of other local areas. Call, email, FAX and write!
Also on your website, you can find out where and how you can help with our organization...meetings, etc. Check it out; it's actually fun.
Whether you live in the KC area or not, you can donate to the "Kicks For Kids". There's a link to it from http://www.hoasoccer.org. That helps the Wizards in a big way.
Finally, you can give us a hand. As an organization, we have financial needs as well. We are putting in a lot of time and money as it is, and *anything* you can do to help alleviate our burden, or further enable us to get our message out would be great. There's a PayPal link from the website.
I'm sure this message is too long for BigSoccer. If you can, please spread this around by any means necessary. Email it to your friends, neighbors and enemies...anyone who loves the game. This is not just an issue in KC. We, like San Jose, are now a test case; a test case in how we don't necessarily have to be pawns in the MLS game. We can be players. We can be participants in the destinies of our teams. I'm asking for just a little bit of help in *our* fight to keep *our* team.
Sincerely,
Sam Pierron
President/CEO, Heart of America Soccer Foundation