WOMEN'S SPORTS IN FOCUS: In Louisville, Rick Bozich
reports that yesterday's U.S.-Costa Rica Women's Gold Cup
soccer game drew 7,043 fans to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
U.S. team member Shannon MacMillan, on the attendance: "It's
not really surprising. We're still in a situation where we
have to promote and expose our sport to as many people as
possible." Bozich, noting the "minimum" tickets cost $17
for children and $20 for adults, suggests "a cut in ticket
prices" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/26). In Boston,
George Kimball writes that the attendance is due partly to
"the decidedly uncompetitive nature of the fare U.S. Soccer
has offered up so far. ... Part of the problem also may be
overexposure" (BOSTON HERALD, 6/26)....LPGA Tour
Commissioner Ty Votaw, on the state of the Tour: "We're not
going into quick-fix. We're not going to go into a sex-
appeal approach to marketing. We're going to focus on the
game. ... I wouldn't say we're comfortable with where we
are. I'd say we should be given all the credit that's due
us, but we're certainly not going to say we've arrived"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/26)....Tracy Austin, on equal
pay for men's and women's tennis players: "When the WTA
circuit is different and the ATP circuit is different, then
it's a business. You try to get as many sponsors as you
can, you try to get as many people in the seats. But, I
think when you come to a Grand Slam, women's tennis is so
strong right now and the ratings for television have been so
strong right now, that I really do think that the [women
deserve] ... to be paid equally" ("Last Word," FSN, 6/23).
NOTES: The National Rookie League played its inaugural
games yesterday at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD.
In DC, Heather Dinich reports that about 500 fans attended
the Baltimore Blaze-Washington Justice game (WASHINGTON
POST, 6/26). In Philadelphia, Kevin Tatum reports that
"only" 300 fans attended the Philadelphia Force-Gotham City
Knights game, but called the game "thoroughly entertaining"
in a "fan-friendly atmosphere" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER,
6/26)....In N.Y., Alan Maimon reports that 35,860 fans
attended yesterday's NFL Europe World Bowl at Frankfurt's
Waldstadion, featuring the Rhein Fire against the Scottish
Claymores. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Cowboys
Owner Jerry Jones were in attendance (N.Y. TIMES, 6/26).
....The Panthers will host the 2001 NHL Draft on June 23-24
at the National Car Rental Center. The NHL estimates that
the economic impact on the South Florida economy from the
event could get as high as $5-7M (Panthers).
