NWSL team execs are "cautiously optimistic" that the U.S. women's national team's World Cup win and the exposure given to its players "will result in a healthier league," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Washington Spirit Sales Dir Rob Bartlett said, "It's been a very busy past couple of days. We usually reserve 50 field-level seats for our games and we've twice already had to release more of those seats for sale." Seattle Reign FC Sales Dir Cameron O'Toole said that the team during the season "usually averaged $1,000 to $2,000 in ticket sales a day, but over the last three days has sold more than $51,000 worth of tickets." Rovell noted the Reign play at home on Saturday, and the game "could very well be a sellout of 6,000, which says a lot for a team that averages roughly 2,300 fans per game, and that includes complimentary tickets." Meanwhile, the Houston Dash "might be in the best position to capitalize, considering that they field Golden Ball winner Carli Lloyd." Dash Managing Dir Brian Ching said that the team since last Thursday has "sold more than 2,700 tickets." He added that for Sunday's game against the Chicago Red Stars, the team, which "usually averages 3,500 to 4,000 fans per game, will open up the upper bowl" of BBVA Compass Stadium. Ching: "We're probably going to have 12,000 fans there. It will be our highest-grossing game in our one and [a] half years in existence" (ESPN.com, 7/7). Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley said, "I hope there will be bumps at the gates for all the teams in the league when all the players come back. I think there certainly will be in Portland." He added that the challenge for women's soccer will be to "find a way to maintain interest after the momentum built through the Women's World Cup begins to fade" (Portland OREGONIAN, 7/8).
HERE TO STAY? USA TODAY's Martin Rogers notes how much of a "lingering effect there is from this extraordinary journey will play out over the coming months and years and is impossible to gauge exactly because of its uniqueness." The U.S. team "has done a fine job of reeling in casual fans, capitalizing on its own likability and a midsummer sweet spot." Now, it must do "even better in getting them to stay." The NWSL is a "solid domestic competition" where virtually the entire squad "plies its trade and could certainly use an injection of interest." But the league is "not exactly front and center on the sports pages" (USA TODAY, 7/8). In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason wrote under the header, "World Cup Ignited Soccer Passions, But Can The Magic Last?" Ideally, the WWC final "would be a jumping off point for the next generation, and perhaps it will unfold precisely that way." However, history suggests there is a better chance soccer "will receive an initial jolt of more fans and increased participation, starting at the youth level, before fading into the backdrop" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 7/7).
BIG APPLE OF MY EYE: In N.Y., Matt Flegenheimer reports the city on Friday "will hold a ticker-tape parade" for the U.S. team, "breaking with decades of precedent to bestow a rare honor upon a group that competes outside the metropolitan area." N.Y. Mayor Bill de Blasio's office said that the players will be "saluted along the Canyon of Heroes in Lower Manhattan" at 11:00am ET. The city "last honored a group of national athletes in 1984, when Olympic medal winners were feted" after the L.A. Games (N.Y. TIMES, 7/8). Meanwhile, in L.A., Alex Shultz reports the team yesterday "stood on stage outside the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live" in front of an estimated 10,000 people during a fan rally. Coach Jill Ellis "kicked things off, thanking supporters and congratulating her squad." Then MF Megan Rapinoe "took the microphone, getting the crowd involved with some boisterous introductions of her teammates." Players on the team "admitted after the rally that they weren't sure what to expect, particularly because the event wasn't fully publicized until Monday." But organizers said that fans "were camped out" as early as 4:30am PT to "catch a glimpse of the new champions" (L.A. TIMES, 7/8). All 23 U.S. players were "wearing black Nike T-shirts with 'World Champions' in glittery gold" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/8). The "biggest roars" came for G Hope Solo, F Alex Morgan and F Abby Wambach (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/8).
