This article by Mark Zeigler was on the front page of today's U-T sports section: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/wed/sports/news_1s26wusa.html
He also thinks the first final was played at RFK, so who knows if he has any idea... If they do pick Torero, it will be the last wave of the white flag for WUSA - playing a title game in a 7,000 seat stadium?
I'd guess it's an economic decision. I believe the league invested in the expansion of Torero (such as it was). I bet the rental costs per game are far lower than they'd be at Spartan or RFK. The Spirit also have been really successful in penetrating the SD media markets. So you get extensive promotion for a match in a small venue. That makes for a really hot ticket. On tv, you just see a packed stadium. The fact that it's small doesn't really register. I imagine there's also the gamble that the Spirit will make the Founder's Cup this year. But even if they don't, filling 7,000 seats won't be a problem. On the bright side, San Diego weather in August is guaranteed to be a heck of a lot less humid than anywhere on the East coast.
(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.
FC4 TO BE HELD AT THE GERMANTOWN SOCCERPLEX In a surprise announcement, the WUSA stated that the 2004 championship match would be held at the 3,000-seat Germantown Soccerplex, near Washington, DC. CEO Lynn Morgan stated, "It's a good stadium for soccer, very cosy with great sight lines. Most importantly, it's cheap and is absolutely guaranteed to sell out."
i also agree...dealing with espn for a while (i work for a HS all star game company that buys time on ESPN) i know that they are more concerned with a full staidum than a large staidum...as much as the NCAA refuses to admit it, thats why the womens bball tourney had that unfair gaurenteed host to predetermined sites rule instated...ESPN wants packed houses every game they cover, or at least enough ppl to work cameras so it looks like a packed house. Back to de woosa...i dont think this is a problem at all...as small as it is Torrero is the jewel of the WUSA staidums (with SAS coming in a close 2nd) and always has been, why not showcase your best staidums...im sure temp seats can bring the number closer to 10k and you know what i really dont see that as much of a problem anymore given the WUSA's other problems right now.
So where do I buy my tickets? I'll be there. This is one way of guaranteeing a sell-out when neither of the left coast teams make the final.
Well, FC II was only able to draw something over 8,000, so a 7,000 seat stadium with possible expansion of perhaps a couple thousand more wouldn't be bad. It really is a beautiful stadium and I wouldn't mind going there for the final. When do tickets go on sale?? N~
The game in Atlanta nearly sold out Herndon, somewhere around 15K. Foxboro had 21K for the first. The West Coast was due a game of some magnitude (first two finals and inaugural were all east), but I would have said San Jose if this year, or Victoria Street if next. I thought Atlanta was too small, Torero is ridiculous. I'm not the pessimist some on these boards are, but I'm starting to see the league on its way out...
Here's an idea. Find a 8,000-10,000 stadium in St. Louis or Kansas City, both cities with good soccer traditions and smack dab in the middle of the country. Or even Blaine. I know it must be in a WUSA City but still one coast to another will affect attendence. What if both teams this year from the East Coast? Sure the fervant fans will go. But still we need to think about the country as a whole and to bring in more people from outside of the reach of the teams in the league.
i take it you havent seen our mod who has been campainging for a WUSA st louis game at hermann staidum since i first arrived on the boards
Nope. Generally, don't pay attention to campaigns of the sort but I was just suggesting it as a means of logistics. Blaine is a good place. Also it won't be too hot at that time of year. Hopefully, there will be a breeze in San Diego. The semi at Villanova was played under too hot conditions.
I'm here. Hermann Stadium is very nice. Actually, I've been campaigning for a team, not just one lousy game.
The average high in SD on 8/24 is 82, with fairly low humidity Hot but doesn't San Diego get good breezes. I thought that I read that somewhere.
Guess weather is relative. 82 degrees sounds like a dream to me in late August! Especially with low humidity. We had about 82 a few days ago and the humidity was not low. Looking forward to the nice weather in San Diego a few times this summer especially in late August. And yes, they do have nice breezes. At night, the breezes coming off the ocean can be quite chilly -- at least to a Southern girl.
Yes. Well, we'll never have 82 with low humidity. Sticky is what we get. But anyway, still Blaine would be better.
FYI --- I just heard from the fine folks at www.SoccerVacations.com and they will be finalizing a FC3 package soon. Once it becomes official I will post more info on it.
Antonio is very good for soccer. In fact, he coaches a girls high school team in Miami. I have no complaints using him for Korea last year.
Having non-Woosa sites host the finals is a kooky idea. The Woosa sites are having enough problems filling the stands. Hosting the finals on a non-Woosa site erodes the fan base. Exhibitions & all-star games are perfect for the non-Woosa sites. They create goodwill & promote the league, without taking anything away from a league city. On a related note, the league should expand the semi-finals to a home-and-home series, to be decided by aggregate goals, with away-goals as a tie-breaker. There's nothing more exciting than a home-and-home series. And surely, a home-and-home series is a guaranteed money-maker for both clubs.
that's too fair... and too worldly for this outcast nation of football... we gotta do it our way..... but I agree 100% with the Home and Home... Lower seed gets the 1st match, and we go OT in the 2nd match if needed, followed by PKs, if needed