Chattanooga Football Club, in partnership with the Chattanooga Sports Committee and Finley Stadium, announced on Wednesday that the US Women’s National Soccer team will come to Chattanooga this August, to face Costa Rica on Finley Stadium’s Davenport Field. The U.S. Women’s National Team will play its first two post-Women’s World Cup matches on
Sunday, Aug. 16, and
Wednesday, Aug.
19, facing Costa Rica at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh (
1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1) followed by a match at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga (
6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2).
"The World Cup will be over, but Chattanoogans will get one more chance to see America’s team right here in the Scenic City,” said Chattanooga FC board member Tim Kelly. “Hands down, we have the best soccer fans in the region. Bringing this game to Chattanooga is our way of thanking our fans, and this amazing city, for making the Chattanooga FC the envy of clubs around the country.”
The bid to bring the US Women’s team to Chattanooga was made possible by Davenport Field’s newly-installed turf. According to Paul Smith, executive director of Finley Stadium and Davenport Field, “This is an immediate return on the investment to build a world class facility for world class soccer in Chattanooga.”
Asked about the game’s impact on the city, Tim Morgan, head of the Chattanooga Sports Committee, said, “This game is what we’re built for. That the US Women’s National Team is coming to Chattanooga says everything about our efforts to promote the scenic city as a premiere soccer destination, and that’s a big win.”
The game is going to be streamed by ESPN-2.
Bill Nuttall, the former general manager for the U.S. National Teams from 1991 to 1994 was present. He said three of the largest components that attracted the national team were the new clean field which can be cleared of extraneous lines, the capability to host big jets in the local airport, and the engaged community which would support such an event. He said, "Everything lines up for Chattanooga."
Tickets for the Chattanooga game go on sale to the public Wednesday, July 1, at 12 p.m. ET through ussoccer.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000. [Note: Tickets are not sold at either stadium except on the day of the event.] Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages that include a premium ticket, a custom-made official U.S. National Team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com. There will be four local sponsorships available for $25,000 each for the match. For information on local VIP sponsorships, contact Tim Kelly attim@chattanoogafc.com.
The US Women’s team has visited Chattanooga once before. In 1997 the U.S. Women defeated Sweden 3-1 in front of a crowd of 12,000 fans. Asked how many fans to expect for the 2015 Match vs. Costa Rica, Chattanooga FC General Manager Sean McDaniel responded simply, “How many fans will Finley Stadium hold?” Mr. McDaniel said, “This game is just the beginning of a long-term relationship with US Soccer—we’re planning to bring many more international matches to Chattanooga in the coming years. I can’t think of a better ending to another great season of world class soccer right here in the Scenic City.”
When asked about whether officials expect to be able to fill Finley Stadium for the event, Mr. McDaniel said they fully expect the event to sell out. "If there's something Chattanooga does well, it's support things that make the city look great."