Byline: Mike Jensen
PHILADELPHIA _ While the U.S. Soccer Federation works to the 11th hour determining venues for this fall's Women's World Cup, Philadelphia continues its bid to host first-round games.
The federation had hoped to name its sites by Wednesday, and published reports had six sites already being chosen, with Philadelphia out of the mix. But a disagreement between the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority and the NFL's New York Giants over use of Giants Stadium could open the door for Philadelphia _ or another city _ to host games.
One big problem for this city, however, is that the federation's first choice for a doubleheader at Lincoln Financial Field is the afternoon of Sept. 28. That's the same afternoon the Phillies will play their Veterans Stadium finale nearby.
Federation officials have been tight-lipped this week. USSF board member Richard Groff of Doylestown, who has supported the bid, said 'no comment' on Wednesday when asked whether Philadelphia was still in the mix.
But according to another source with knowledge of the talks, 'continuing discussions' have been held all week, not only about the Sept. 28 date but others in late September, and the city's chances of getting games kept rising, falling and rising again, even during the day on Wednesday.
The Eagles are not an obstacle. They, in fact, have been supportive of the bid because they will be off on Sept. 21 and at Buffalo on Sept. 28.
The women's Cup final round was moved from China to the United States because of concerns over the SARS epidemic. Realizing that it needs to begin selling tickets, the federation reportedly wants to lay out the full schedule by the end of next week.
Plans are for the final to be held at the new Home Depot Center outside Los Angeles, with the semifinals in Portland, Ore., which happens to be near the Beaverton headquarters of Nike, the federation's biggest sponsor.
Major League Soccer venues also have been given priority, because the MLS ownership group holds the U.S. television rights to the Women's World Cup as well as the next men's World Cup.
RFK Stadium in Washington and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., are expected to host games, as is Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Apparently, in addition to Philadelphia, Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif., and Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., still were being considered as alternative sites if Giants Stadium isn't available. The federation also could decide to add another smaller, soccer-specific stadium.
The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority said it would put grass down at Giants Stadium to get games.
However, Newsday reported that the Giants claim their lease allows them the right to prohibit other use of the stadium. Meanwhile, authority officials say permission to use the field cannot be 'unreasonably withheld' by the Giants, according to the Newsday report. The two sides apparently are continuing to hash out the issue.
'We're trying to resolve the issue with the Giants,' Tim Hassett, senior vice president and general manager of stadium and arena operations, told the North Jersey Herald News in a story published yesterday. 'We'd like to have the games and (U.S. Soccer) would like to be in our stadium.'
No one from the federation has described Philadelphia as a backup city, but that seems to be the case.
Over the last few weeks, 'as far as we knew,' said the source familiar with the discussions, 'we weren't out of it, but we weren't there.'
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