Sunday's stop of the U.S. women's national soccer
teams' Toys 'R' Us Victory Tour at Continental Arena in East
Rutherford, NJ, drew 14,525 fans, the "biggest crowd" of the
tour "so far" (Tara Sullivan, Bergen RECORD, 11/15). U.S.
team member Michelle Akers, on the tour: "Part of the tour
is to involve more of the corporate sponsors and to keep the
team and women's soccer in the view of the public in the
hopes of building this professional league." The crowds
attending the matches "have mostly" ranged from 7,000-
10,000, which promoters call "good showings for indoor
events on a tour that would have been unthinkable for the
team two years ago" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/15). Saturday's match
at the First Union Spectrum drew 11,544 fans and in
Philadelphia, Kevin Mulligan reported NPSL Kixx Owner Ed
Tepper was "so impressed" that "after the game, he said he
plans to pursue the possibility of signing one or two of the
women." Tepper: "I'm more than curious now. I wasn't sure
what I'd see from these girls indoors, but I thought it was
great soccer" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 11/15).
ACCOLADES: Glamour magazine has named the U.S. women's
soccer team among its '99 Women of the Year (Glamour).
