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Events and Attractions

Successful World Cup A Step In The Right Direction For Future Of Women's Soccer

Team USA's win over Japan in yesterday's FIFA Women's World Cup final was "glorious and just," as they were the "best team in the most watched, most successful World Cup staged for women," according to Iain MacIntyre of the VANCOUVER SUN. Canada coach John Herdman said, "Women's soccer in this country is on the cusp of something. I just hope this tournament now is really getting people committed to a professional fan base because what this country needs is a professional entity for women's soccer. People are on board with the women's game. There will be great opportunities coming out of this tournament." MacIntyre: "It was a tremendous tournament" (VANCOUVER SUN, 7/6). In Vancouver, Ed Willes writes in every measurable category, the WWC "was a rousing success." In terms of organization and operations, the organizing committee "could rightly pat themselves on the back -- which, of course, they did." The tournament "set a new attendance record," averaging 25,883 over 52 matches. Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli said, "Our belief is there was flawless execution.” But Willes writes there "was also something lacking in this World Cup." The "blandness" of the on-field product "enveloped the tournament." If new stars emerged, they "weren’t immediately identifiable" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 7/6). Also in Vancouver, Stephanie Ip writes the local tourism industry, residents and soccer-hungry visitors "have been the true winners." Tickets through StubHub were "available for the final as of Saturday," with upper end line tickets beginning at $250 (all figures Canadian) and lower sideline tickets "in the $2,000-$5,000 range" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 7/6).

NOT EVERYTHING WAS GREAT: The AP's Tim Booth wrote the "inequality of how FIFA treats the women's game was on display in real time: Artificial turf fields; competing teams staying in the same hotels; a prize money pool one-third of what their male counterparts had available in Brazil a year ago." The issues "will remain until FIFA gets its next opportunity in four years to show how much it values the Women's World Cup" (AP, 7/4).

GAINING MOMENTUM: Whitecaps co-Owner Jeff Mallett said, "It helps that the Women's World Cup is in Canada. There is some momentum. [New NWSL Commissioner] Jeff Plush is a smart guy. But I would say the jury is still out if it can be a net positive." Mallett believes MLS involvement in a women's pro league -- like the setup in the WNBA -- "is the key to success." In Vancouver, Marc Weber wrote it is "not so hard to imagine the Pacific Northwest being a hotbed of women's soccer, just like it has become in MLS" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 7/5). In N.Y., Wayne Coffey writes, "The playing field gets more level by the day -- Colombia beat France, remember? -- and the quality of play only goes up. Four years from now it heads to France and it’s hard to imagine it won’t be even better" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/6). In Seattle, Percy Allen notes the NWSL Seattle Reign FC "sold out all five of its World Cup viewing parties." Reign Senior Dir of Marketing Brandon Kolp said that the club "expects an uptick in ticket sales" when USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe and G Hope Solo return for Saturday's game against the Western New York Flash (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/6). ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez said, “There's a … league here in the United States -- (not) even sure what it's called exactly. Maybe that sort of, you know, opens up a little bit more and develops a little bit more.” Gutierrez asked, “Is this going to inspire the next group of young girls to play this game?” ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap said, “It would be nice to have another jolt of electricity, which only, I think, a World Cup victory can give women's sports right now” (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN2, 7/5).

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