Womens Sports Fighting for Recognition in Boston :: Athletics Athletes Papers

Womens Sports Fighting for Recognition in capital of MassachusettsCompeting in a city long sidled with a racist reputation, sports teams and organizations in Boston have got long worked toward equality, or at least a percept of it. But in the past few decades, a new playing field has emerged in the sports-mad citys culture war - womens sports. This fresh fight, taken up latterly by a professional soccer organization and Title IX-backed activists at Bostons many colleges, isnt so overmuch against anti-inclusive bigwigs - modern day Yawkeys - but against norms, pecuniary constraints and fan interest.The women dont have to prove they have a right to play. They have to prove they can - and people will watch.WUSA Working to ReorganizeThe Womens join Soccer Association (WUSA) started with big dreams, but thin pocketbooks. Around the period of the 1999 Womens World Cup, plans were being formulated to start the United States first constantly womens professional soccer conference. Wh en the U.S. won the Cup before record crowds and jaw-dropping telecasting figures, it was final. There would be a group discussion, with most of the U.S. Cup roster circle between eight teams, including squads based in Boston, Atlanta, Washingon D.C. and Philadelphia.The WUSA opened its doors in 2001 to much fanfare - and heavy(a) attendance. Bostons entry, the Breakers, drew 8,101 fans a game, and Washington led the league with a 14,421 average.Emotionally, things were great. Financially, things werent. Though investors had put nearly $100 million into inauguration costs, only Hyundai and Johnson & Johnson signed on as major corporate backers. Still, the league survived, but only for a while. A occupancy plan that called for heavy corporate sponsorship didnt pan out, and by the September end of the 2003 season, the circumstances were so dire that WUSA executives announced the league was ceasing operation, effectively immediately. As if to complete its ashes-to-ashes flavor, pr oclamation coincided with the start of the 2003 Womens World Cup. We had some great sponsors, WUSA commissioner Tony DiCicco said. The way our previous business plan worked, we had to reach a certain number for sponsorship. We knew that after tickets and licensing, we undeniable this much in sponsorship, and this much from investors. We werent reaching the number in sponsors, indeed investors had to put in more money.In the leagues three-year run, Boston showed it can put forward a major professional womens soccer team as puff up as any city.