(SD Spirit Press Release) 2003 WUSA Championship Game Will Take Place at Torero Stadium on August 24 FOUNDERS CUP III AWARDED TO SAN DIEGO ATLANTA (Wednesday, March 26, 2003) - After two seasons of hosting the league's championship game on the East Coast, the two best teams in the WUSA will battle for the league title in Southern California, as Founders Cup III will be played at San Diego's Torero Stadium on August 24 at 4:00 pm ET. Torero Stadium, the home of the WUSA's San Diego Spirit located on the campus of the University of San Diego, is one America's best soccer venues. The cozy confines of Torero Stadium provide some of the best sight lines for soccer in the United States as fans are nearly on top of the field. WUSA officials are reviewing options to increase the 7,035-seat venue for Founders Cup III. "We're pleased to bring the WUSA's championship to San Diego and the passionate soccer fans in Southern California," said WUSA President & CEO Lynn Morgan. "The first two Founders Cups were two of the most exciting games in league history. We look forward to continuing this trend in 2003." Founders Cup III continues San Diego's tradition of world-class sporting events. Dubbed "America's Finest City," San Diego has hosted the NFL Super Bowl, the America's Cup, Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the Major League Soccer All-Star Game. On the soccer front, international matches are regularly held in San Diego, including the recent U.S. women's national team match against Japan in January 2003. The San Diego Sockers are indoor soccer's most decorated franchise, having won 10 championships in the 1980s and 90s. Also, San Diego was the host of Soccer Bowl '82, the NASL's championship game that saw the New York Cosmos defeat the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on a goal by the legendary Giorgio Chinaglia. Founders Cup III weekend will feature numerous events throughout the city of San Diego, including receptions and parties, player/coach functions, as well as several other exciting endeavors which celebrate the sport of soccer and showcase the women's game. The first two WUSA Founders Cups featured two thrilling matches. Foxboro Stadium in New England was host to the inaugural Founders Cup on August 25, 2001. The Bay Area (now San Jose) CyberRays became the first team in league history to hoist the Founders Cup after defeating the Atlanta Beat 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 3-3 tie in regulation. The Carolina Courage defeated the Washington Freedom 3-2 at Founders Cup II on August 24, 2002 at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta. Complete details on Founders Cup III such as ticket information, the official logo and national television network will be announced in the near future. _ WUSA FOUNDERS CUP III FACT FILE WHAT: WUSA Founders Cup III Championship Match WHEN: Sunday, August 24 Time: 4:00 p.m. ET WHERE: Torero Stadium - San Diego, California WHO: The WUSA's two best teams _ 2003 WUSA PLAYOFF FORMAT Similar to the 2001 and 2002 seasons, the WUSA's third campaign will feature the top four teams advancing to the WUSA Playoffs. The four clubs that accumulate the highest point totals during the 21-game regular season will qualify for the postseason. The WUSA regular season champion will receive the number one seed with the second place club seeded number two. The top two seeds will host the third and fourth seeded clubs for a one-game playoff semifinal during the weekend of August 16-17. WUSA Playoff Semifinal winners advance to Founders Cup III on August 24 in San Diego. Featuring the best women's soccer players in the world, WUSA athletes include Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Tiffeny Milbrett, Briana Scurry, Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy and dozens of international stars. Approximately 50 WUSA players will compete in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in China in September and October. The eight WUSA teams are the Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Carolina Courage, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spirit, San Jose CyberRays and the Washington Freedom. The league will kick off its third season April 5, 2003.
I'm surprised that the game would be held in SD, the capacity at Torero seems to me to be too low for a championship game. I would have bet that any game held on the west coast would be at Spartan. Hmmm. I wonder if us season ticket holders will get first crack at seats...
In the press release it says that there is a possibility of expanding the number of seats for FC3. How big can Torero go? Even though I kinda disagree with the venue choice (I too *thought* it was going to be in Spartan)..I have the utmost faith in the lab99's, and nordby1's, and Tsunami's of SoCal to put on one hell of a bash for the BS'ers that will be traveling to sunny San Diego for that weekend. I've only been to San Diego/Torero once in the first season but IMNSHO it's the best WUSA town. Great location. Great weather. Great city. Great shark exhibit at Sea World.
Sucks to be me... Of course the year they have the cup in CA is the year I move from CA..haha, luck of the draw I suppose. Actually, no, I am really really bummed about this. But excited for those of you who get to go.
Goes without saying you'll get the first shot, then everyone else. The following doesn't matter if the smallest stadia in the WUSA is here, Philly or Timbuktu. This is the wrong place to hold FC3. If you wanted to have it out west, Spartan or the Home Depot Center in LA. It makes the league look low-rent, and I can't imagine ESPN2 is happy with the choice. For the third consecutive year, the league's showpiece game will have fewer fans watching it live than the year before. If the Charge do make it, I'll be there, don't get me wrong. But the league shot itself in the foot today. You don't hold your championship game in the smallest place possible just to save a few dollars. Paul
7k???? On tv, it looked so much bigger, I mean much bigger than Carolina's 7k seater. Well, I hope they can at least double it b/c those seats are going to be out too fast. Well, I guess 7k is the lucky number this year-just like how Carolina got to host the All Star game
And here is the North County article on the game, with a bit of a different view... http://www.nctimes.net/news/2003/20030327/61322.html