The Women’s United Soccer Association unveiled the team names and logos for its eight initial team markets and the stadiums these teams will play in when the women’s professional soccer league makes its debut in April 2001: Atlanta Beat — Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech — home of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Bobby Dodd Stadium opened in 1913. It is a grass field with a capacity of 46,000 and is named for the late Tech coach Robert Lee Dodd. Grant Field is the stadium’s original name. Boston Breakers — Zimman Field at Tufts University or Foxboro Stadium — the Boston Breakers will initially play their home games at either Zimman Field, a 6,000-seat stadium located on the campus of Tufts University in Medford, Mass., or at Foxboro Stadium, long-time home of the NFL New England Patriots and MLS’s Revolution and site of Women’s World Cup soccer action. Bay Area CyberRays — Spartan Stadium at San Jose State University — Spartan Stadium has fast become the hotbed for soccer in the San Francisco Bay Area and the WUSA is hoping to call it home in April 2001. The stadium seats 26,000 for soccer and will be the home of the new MLS team, the San Jose Earthquakes as well. The utilization of the stadium by both leagues is part of the cooperative agreement between the WUSA and MLS reached in May to jointly promote soccer in the United States. Spartan Stadium has played host to two Women’s World Cup doubleheaders in 1999, and this year hosted the FIFA World All-Stars vs. USA game and hosted three U.S. Women’s National Team friendly games. New York Power — Mitchel Athletic Complex — The New York Power will utilize the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y., as its home field. The complex, run by Nassau County, was renovated for the Goodwill Games in 1998 and has a capacity of 10,000. Carolina Tempest — Fetzer Field at the University of North Carolina — The Carolina Tempest is hoping to utilize Fetzer Field as its home field for its inaugural season. Named for former Tar Heel athletic director and track and field head coach Bob Fetzer. The field has a capacity of 5,700 and is the home to UNC men and women’s soccer. Beginning in 2002 a soccer-specific complex in Cary, N.C., will be completed to house the WUSA franchise. Philadelphia Charge — Villanova Stadium — The WUSA’s Philadelphia Charge will take the field for home games at Villanova Stadium, which seats 12,000. It has hosted football, field hockey, men and women’s lacrosse, men and women’s soccer and track & field. San Diego Spirit — Torero Stadium at University of San Diego — Julie Foudy and her San Diego Spirit teammates will play their home games on the Torero Stadium grass field on the campus of the University of San Diego. The stadium seats 4,000. Washington Freedom — Robert F. Kennedy Stadium — The Washington D.C.-based Freedom team will temporarily make historic RFK Stadium, home of three-time MLS champion D.C. United, for the inaugural season of the WUSA.
