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RIVERSIDE, Mo. \u2014 The City of Riverside, Missouri, may have a population of just 4,500 people, but this week it’s preparing for a crowd bigger than any in its history.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Team Netherlands arrives at Kansas City’s downtown airport Tuesday for World Cup\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n On Tuesday, the Netherlands national soccer team, currently ranked seventh in the world, arrived in Kansas City.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, they will hold a community practice where 1,000 fans will be in attendance at the KC Current’s training facility in Riverside.<\/p>\n Hours later, Riverside’s new Morton Amphitheater<\/a> is expected to host its first ever sold-out concert, bringing an estimated 16,000 people to town for a performance by Rufus Du Sol.<\/p>\n “It’s a huge moment that we are excited to have and we don’t take it for granted,” said Shannon Rousseau with the City of Riverside. “We worked really hard to get to this point and we hope to keep building on that momentum.”<\/p>\n As the city prepares for the international spotlight, residents are putting the finishing touches on projects designed to welcome visitors.<\/p>\n Among them is longtime Riverside resident Jeff Parson, known throughout the community for his elaborate plywood cutouts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Parson spent three weeks creating a large installation<\/a> welcoming the Dutch team to the city.<\/p>\n “I’ve lived here for over 30 years and to see how this city has progressed in the last 30 years and where we’ve come from, it’s amazing,” Parson said.<\/p>\n His latest creation has quickly become a popular photo stop, with residents and visitors already stopping to take pictures ahead of the team’s arrival.<\/p>\n \u00a0World Cup ref denied entry to the US was about to make history for Somalia\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n For many in Riverside, the excitement goes beyond soccer.<\/p>\n The opening season of the Morton Amphitheater is reaching a milestone with what city leaders anticipate will be the venue’s first sold-out show. The expected crowd for Rufus Du Sol will be more than three times the city’s population.<\/p>\n “We can’t wait and we’re excited,” said Parson.<\/p>\n Residents say the surge of positive attention is a welcome change.<\/p>\n “Everything is going on in Riverside right now,” said resident Sharon Curd. “It’s great. We can always use it. It’s good publicity for all of us. With all the crap going on, this is a highlight.”<\/p>\n As part of the region’s World Cup preparations, Riverside also announced a new transportation option.<\/p>\n The city is launching the free River Cities Express shuttle service<\/a>, which will connect Riverside, North Kansas City and Parkville with World Cup Fan Fest activities.<\/p>\n “It’s for whoever wants to utilize that system who lives up in the Northland who might not have a way to get to Fan Fest,” Rousseau said.<\/p>\n Despite the large crowds expected on Wednesday, city officials say they do not anticipate road closures.<\/p>\n