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Atlanta Awarded 2002 WUSA Founders Cup II Championship Match

April 3, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


Atlanta (Wednesday, April 3, 2002) -- The Atlanta Beat, Atlanta's women's professional soccer team, today announced that Herndon Stadium, the Beat's new home, has been selected to host the 2002 WUSA Championship match, Founders Cup II. Herndon Stadium, home to the Olympic Field Hockey competition during the 1996 Games, was selected by the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) over Washington's RFK Stadium and San Jose's Spartan Stadium.

Last year's inaugural Founders Cup, played at Foxboro Stadium, matched the WUSA's regular season champions, Atlanta Beat, versus the San Jose CyberRays in a "game for the ages." In front of a crowd of more than 21,000 fans, the Beat and CyberRays battled to a 3-3 tie through regulation and overtime. The CyberRays eventually took the title in penalty kicks 4-2 over the Beat.

"The fact that Herndon Stadium was selected to host this year's championship game before we've played our first game there, demonstrates that it truly is one of the best soccer venues in the country," said Atlanta Beat General Manager Eddie Rockwell. "An equally important factor in our selection is our fans. Their never-ending support for the Beat sent a clear message to the WUSA that they would be just as passionate and supportive of hosting the league championship game."

Herndon Stadium currently serves as home to the Morris Brown College Fighting Wolverines Football Team (NCAA--Division I-AA). With a seating capacity of 15,011, and a newly converted natural grass field, the Beat's new home is the third largest venue in the WUSA behind San Jose's Spartan Stadium (26,000) and Washington's RFK Stadium (56,000). The stadium's intimate size is considered perfect for soccer audiences because of its close proximity to the action on the field, where fans can be just feet from the players, where they can see the sweat and determination on their faces.

"Atlanta has a long-standing tradition of hosting world-class sporting events and the WUSA Founders Cup will continue in that tradition," said WUSA President and CEO Lynn Morgan. "Atlanta's Herndon Stadium combines all the elements we were looking for in a host venue for the game - it's a modern facility that's convenient, accessible and extremely fan-friendly."

Immediate Availability of Founders Cup II Tickets Founders Cup II tickets are currently only available to Atlanta Beat full and partial season ticket holders. These 2002 Beat ticket packages are the only way to guarantee a seat for the Beat's regular season as well as the Founders Cup Championship game. Additionally, Full Season Ticket holders are guaranteed their exact seats for the regular season through the Founders Cup Championship game, if they purchase before the tickets for the general public go on sale this summer.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for our fans to be the first to secure their seats for this year's championship game, in our hometown," said Rockwell. "Once tickets go on sale to the general public, because of various league commitments, there will be no guarantees of ticket availability."

Full 11-game Atlanta Beat Season Tickets start at only $88 (youth 12 & under) / $165 (adult) and 5-game Mini-Packs start at only $60. For additional information about ticket packages or to purchase tickets visit www.theatlantabeat.com or call 1-877-SOCCER-1.

Individual Founders Cup II tickets will go on sale this Summer for $45, $30 and $15. The Atlanta Beat is one of eight professional women's soccer teams that make up the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the world's premier women's soccer league. In the inaugural 2001 WUSA season, the Beat finished as champions of the regular season and runner-up in the league's championship game, Founders Cup. For more information about the Atlanta Beat visit www.theatlantabeat.com.

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