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MLS welcomes Women's World Cup

Commissioner Logan: "Attention to this game helps us all."

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Posted: Tuesday June 15, 1999 07:06 PM

San Jose's July 4 match vs. DC United will shift to Stanford Stadium for a doubleheader with Women's World Cup. Tony Quinn/Allsport

NEW YORK (AP) -- Figuring soccer is soccer, no matter who's playing, Major League Soccer commissioner Doug Logan says the Women's World Cup can only help the U.S. men's league.

"I don't see [the Women's World Cup] necessarily eroding anything, certainly not our attendance," Logan said Tuesday during the league's weekly conference call with reporters. "Attention to soccer, and to this game, helps us all.

"We're of the belief this attention will be good to us in the long run."

The 32-game Women's World Cup kicks off Saturday with four matches, two in Giants Stadium -- home of the New York-New Jersey MetroStars -- and two more in Spartan Stadium -- home of the San Jose Clash.

The doubleheader in Giants Stadium outside New York City, featuring the United States-Denmark game, already has sold more than 70,000 tickets and is close to a sellout.

MLS has been promoting the Women's World Cup with touchline signboard advertisements and print ads in its gameday program.

It will even play two of its league games as doubleheaders in conjunction with the Women's World Cup semifinals July 4: the MetroStars vs. the New England Revolution in Foxboro, Massachusetts, and DC United vs. the San Jose Clash, which will move from Spartan Stadium to Stanford Stadium for the twin bill.

Playing an April-October schedule, MLS battled for publicity in each of its three years with major events: the Olympics in its inaugural year in 1996, World Cup qualifying in 1997 and the World Cup finals in 1998. This year it tangles with the Women's World Cup in midseason.

"I think it's unrealistic and naive that we, or any sport, will have an uninterrupted season in this day and age," Logan said. "I don't think it happens anymore. But the Women's World Cup is complementary."

 

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