RIVERSIDE, Mo. \u2014 The City of Riverside, Missouri, may have a population of just 4,500 people, but this week it\u2019s preparing for a crowd bigger than any in its history.<\/p>\n
Team Netherlands arrives at Kansas City\u2019s downtown airport Tuesday for World Cup <\/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\u2019s training facility in Riverside.<\/p>\n Hours later, Riverside\u2019s 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 \u201cIt\u2019s a huge moment that we are excited to have and we don\u2019t take it for granted,\u201d said Shannon Rousseau with the City of Riverside. \u201cWe worked really hard to get to this point and we hope to keep building on that momentum.\u201d<\/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 \u201cI\u2019ve lived here for over 30 years and to see how this city has progressed in the last 30 years and where we\u2019ve come from, it\u2019s amazing,\u201d 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\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n World Cup ref denied entry to the US was about to make history for Somalia <\/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\u2019s first sold-out show. The expected crowd for Rufus Du Sol will be more than three times the city\u2019s population.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t wait and we\u2019re excited,\u201d said Parson.<\/p>\n Residents say the surge of positive attention is a welcome change.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything is going on in Riverside right now,\u201d said resident Sharon Curd. \u201cIt\u2019s great. We can always use it. It\u2019s good publicity for all of us. With all the crap going on, this is a highlight.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of the region\u2019s 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 \u201cIt\u2019s for whoever wants to utilize that system who lives up in the Northland who might not have a way to get to Fan Fest,\u201d Rousseau said.<\/p>\n Despite the large crowds expected on Wednesday, city officials say they do not anticipate road closures.<\/p>\n