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Columbus Crew SC

Columbus Crew Stadium Turns Seven Years Old Today

May 15, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio (Monday, May 15, 2006) - On May 15, 1999, one of the most important events in U.S. soccer history took place when Columbus Crew Stadium opened as the first Major League Stadium built specifically for soccer in the United States.

That day, The Crew downed the New England Revolution, 2-0, before an overflow crowd of 24,741 in the 22,555-seat stadium. Crew Stadium celebrates its seventh birthday today.

Over the course of the past seven years Crew Stadium has not only hosted some of the country's biggest and most important soccer matches, but has also laid the framework for the construction of more soccer-specific stadiums in MLS. Crew Stadium's opening will forever impact the landscape of soccer in the United States and will continue to shape soccer in this country.

But Crew Stadium wouldn't be a reality if it wasn't for the commitment and vision of Crew Founder Lamar Hunt and his family. Hunt took the risk to build Crew Stadium and the sport of soccer, its fans and the central Ohio region have benefited. Below are some of the highlights and events from Crew Stadium's first seven years:

- Named the 2000 Foremost Sports Facility of the Year by the International Sports Summit

- Hosted its first U.S. Soccer event on May 22, 1999 when the U.S. U-17 Men's National Team faced El Salvador's U-17 National Team in a World Youth Championship qualifier

- Hosted the 1999 and 2002 U.S. Open Cup Finals

- Hosted the 1999 Nike U.S. Women's Cup opening doubleheader in October 1999, attended by a sellout crowd of 23,101

- Hosted the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Soccer Finals every year since opening in 1999

- Hosted the 2000 MLS All-Star Game on July 29, which drew a sellout crowd of 23,495

- Hosted World Cup qualifying match between U.S. and Costa Rica on Oct. 11, 2000, before an overflow crowd of 24,430

- Hosted first game of the U.S. Women's National Team's 2000 Glory Tour on Nov. 11, 2000

- Hosted a final-round World Cup qualifying match between the U.S. and Mexico on Feb. 28, 2001, which attracted an overflow crowd of 24,624

- Hosted MLS Cup 2001

- Hosted World Cup Viewing Parties for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, attended by over 24,000

- Hosted 2001 and 2003 NCAA Men's College Cup

- One of the venues for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted six matches and drew a sellout crowd of 22,828 for a first-round doubleheader featuring the U.S. vs. North Korea

- Hosted World Cup qualifying match between the U.S. and Grenada on June 13, 2004

- Hosted World Cup qualifying match between the U.S. and Jamaica on Nov. 17, 2004

- Hosted the 2005 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game on July 30, which drew a sellout crowd of 23,309

- Hosted a final-round World Cup qualifying match between the U.S. and Mexico on Sept. 3, 2005, which attracted an overflow crowd of 24,685

- Hosted 108 Crew regular season games, six Crew playoff matches, 11 Crew U.S. Open Cup matches, seven Crew international exhibitions and three Crew CONCACAF competitions

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