Bandwagon continues to fill up

President among giant crowd at U.S. quarterfinal match

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Posted: Thursday July 01, 1999 10:27 PM

Late arriving fans missed Brandi Chastain's early mistake, but saw her redeem herself with a second-half goal. AP

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- President Clinton wasn't the only fan who missed the national anthems.

The unexpected surge of popularity in the Women's World Cup led to a 20-mile backup and thousands of high-priced empty seats when the United States and Germany kicked off Thursday night.

"It took three hours to get here from 25 miles away," said Jan Sorensen, rushing toward the gate just before halftime with three young children.

When Jack Kent Cooke Stadium was awarded a quarterfinal doubleheader that would likely feature the United States, organizers figured a downsized capacity of 41,000 in the 80,000-seat stadium would be enough to satisfy the demand.

Then the United States drew NFL-size crowds for first-round games at East Rutherford, N.J., Chicago and Foxboro, Mass. After 5,000 tickets were sold in 24 hours for Thursday's games at Cooke Stadium, organizers decided to make an extra 14,000 upper-deck seats available.

The attendance for the doubleheader, which included Brazil vs. Nigeria in the second game, was announced at 54,642. It was a response to an unprecedented frenzy never before seen for a women's-only sporting event in a country that usually revels in linebackers beating up quarterbacks.

"I think about it, and honestly it bring tears to my eyes," said Robert Cantelon, who drove from Ann Arbor, Mich., with his 8-year-old daughter after buying tickets by phone Tuesday. "Because in America there is almost a spiritual experience to sports, especially if you're male and you've grown up that way.

"I don't know if it's the sociology of sports in America, but part of being here is knowing there's something there for my daughter."

Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, was there, too, along with two of her friends. The president, also accompanied by his wife and Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, arrived by motorcade just before halftime and watched the second half from a luxury box. There were scattered boos when Clinton was shown on the stadium's large video screens.

After the game, won 3-2 the United States, Clinton met with the American players in their locker room. They chanted "Clinton!" as he posed for a group picture and invited him to the championship game later this month.

"He told us what an inspiration the team was, coming from behind," midfielder Julie Foudy said. "I told him thanks for coming, it makes a ton of difference for this team."

Clinton was tardy simply because he was late leaving the White House. Other fans, without the benefit of a police escort, endured a backup that stretched halfway around the Capital Beltway. There were more than 5,000 empty seats in the sold-out lower bowl of the stadium for much of the first half.

"It's pretty amazing that this many people show up for a game," said Mike Dooley, a non-soccer fan from Santa Cruz, Calif., who was coerced into coming with some local friends. "It's semi-unusual."

Public transportation wasn't a better option. Susan Cunningham, from Arlington, Va., and three friends waited 30 minutes for a bus at the subway station.

 

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