The Chattahooligans and 9,000+ fans are the reason Chattanooga will host the NPSL National Championship game on Saturday.
photo by Greg Davick
It's Chattanooga FC taking on the New York Cosmos B for the National Premier Soccer League’s national championship and the Scenic City's Finley Stadium is the site Saturday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Thanks to a 9,000 plus crowd at Chattanooga's 3-0 semifinal win against the Indiana Fire, the Tennessee team broke the league’s previous record of 8,878, which was also held by Chattanooga FC.
“We felt that having the match in Chattanooga was best for the league,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone commented. “It will provide us with the maximum exposure. We wish both teams the best of luck as we all look forward to this weekend.”
“The New York Cosmos are happy to support this decision,” Cosmos Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover added. “The NPSL national championship will be a great showcase for the NPSL in front of what we expect to be a record-setting crowd. Cosmos B is about developing young talent for our first team and this will be a great test for our guys.”
Tickets For The Final: Tickets are $10.00 online until Friday, August 7 and $12.00 online and at the gate, Saturday August 8. Please visit www.chattanoogafc.com for further information.
The Cosmos are the top seed in the tournament and had earned the right to host the championship match as the highest seed, while Chattanooga is the No.2 seed.
"As soon as our match was over Saturday, I was on the phone to see how we could make this work with Chattanooga hosting the final,: said McDaniel.
"The willingness of the Cosmos to make the trip here shows they are a class organization," he stated. "Both teams recognize the significance of having a huge crowd and have stepped up to make this happen.”
Finley Stadium is recognized as the best of its kind among Division I-FCS stadiums, and the 20,668-seat state-of-the-art facility is the crown jewel for the Chattanooga’s Southside revitalization.
In 2015, the stadium’s playing surface was replaced with AstroTurf’s state-of-the-art 3D Xtreme product. Along with an UltraBase system underneath the surface, the facility now has one of the best playing surfaces in the country
Besides serving as the home of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Football, Finley Stadium Davenport Field hosted the NCAA Division I Football Championship from 1997 to 2009. It is also host to UTC, international and high school soccer, high school football, national lacrosse tournaments, concerts, and other community festivals.
“Showcasing the NPSL national championship in Chattanooga will definitely put this match and the entire league on a national stage," McDaniel said.