Skip to main content

Orlando Pride shine before record crowd, auguring well for women's game

By
An NWSL-record crowd of 23,403 turned up for the expansion Orlando Pride’s inaugural home match, a sign the women’s game is discovering real traction
Orlando Pride supporters march to the stadium prior to Saturday’s maiden match

 The future of women’s soccer was on view in Orlando on Saturday night as a record 23,403 fans flocked to the Citrus Bowl for the inaugural home outing of the Orlando Pride in a part of Florida that is rapidly becoming synonymous with the beautiful game.

 It was the future of a league, of a new team, of fans new to the sport and even of a possible matrimonial tie-up as one of the men’s team’s most recognizable supporters was joined by a female counterpart in a development that is sure to please unicorn-lovers everywhere.

 The key feature was the highest attendance in the short history of the National Women’s Soccer League, as the crowd topped the previous best of 21,144 for the Portland-Seattle game last July. All week, the Pride – backed by the formidable marketing machine that is Orlando City SC – had flirted with the idea of a record turnout, and it was duly confirmed by press release almost three hours before kick-off with the sale of the 21,145th ticket.

 Simon Veness at the Citrus Bowl

 Published By - Theguardian.com - Sports New, LifeStyle News, Politics news, UK and world political comment and analysis: Sunday 24 April 2016 04.03 BST
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My three dads – my first loves

By
Most of us have one father but Sophie Ellis had three, who were life-giving and life-affirming in different ways. She pays tribute to the wonderful men who made her I turn 30 in June. Among the list of things I feel I can boast about – running a marathon, raising a healthy, happy baby girl, mastering shorthand – the fact that I’ve had three dads feels like a particular privilege. The fact that I’ve lost three dads, less so. Let me explain. My biological father, Derek, had ginger hair and drank cherry cola. He liked British pubs and American baseball. I’m not so sure he wanted children, but he got one anyway and I’m told he liked me very much. Continue....... Published By - Theguardian.com - LifeStyle News, Politics news, UK and world political comment and analysis: Saturday 16 April 2016 06.14
Post a Comment
Read more

Twitter's appointment of new chief in China incenses rights activists

By
Kathy Chen criticised by pro-democracy activists for her government and military background as she joins social media site still blocked by Beijing China’s Communist party-controlled media has criticised “narrow-minded” and “prejudiced” online activists who are questioning Twitter’s decision to appoint as its first regional chief a former member of the People’s Liberation Army who once had ties to the country’s security services. Kathy Chen – a former Microsoft manager whose Twitter handle describes her as a “curious explorer” – was named as the social network’s managing director for mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan last week. Chen’s appointment has incensed Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong who use Twitter, a service that has been blocked in mainland China since mid-2009 . Continue...  Published By - Theguardian.com - Sports New, LifeStyle News, Politics news, UK and world political comment and analysis: Wednesday 20 April 2016 07.53 BST
Post a Comment
Read more

Sally Faulkner's former husband claims he took children to Lebanon due to her 'relationships'

By
Ali al-Amin’s claim comes as Channel Nine defends involvement in ‘story profoundly in public interest’ The estranged husband of Brisbane woman Sally Faulkner says he took their two children to  Lebanon  because he “just wasn’t OK” with her new partner being prominent in their lives. Ali al-Amin has been speaking to  Australian media  as Channel Nine explicitly defended its involvement in “a story that not only is profoundly in the public interest but also one the public is interested in”. Nine also announced it would fully investigate how four of its staff came to be arrested in Beirut, charged with kidnapping and finally released on Wednesday,  apparently in exchange for compensation . Amin claimed on the Kyle and Jackie O Kiis radio show on Thursday that he decided to take the former couple’s two children, 5-year-old Lahela and Noah, 3, after he “saw a few things happening in regards to Sal’s parenting or relationships”. Published By -Theguardian.com - LifeSty...
Post a Comment
Read more