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March 3, 2000
 In
an historic move major corporate financing and media join forces
with top U.S. soccer players to form the first professional women's
soccer league in the USA
Women's
United Soccer Association
Full announcement
today:
Major U.S.
media companies and individual investors have joined forces with
the nation's leading female soccer stars to form Women's United
Soccer Association (WUSA) which will become the top women's professional
soccer league in the world. The new women's pro league is scheduled
to launch in spring 2001.
Both the investors
and players have executed preliminary agreements and are working
to finalize the first round of financing which is scheduled to close
by April 1, 2000. A minimum of $40 million is scheduled to be provided
by the investors to fund a minimum of eight teams plus the league
administration during the first five years of WUSA operations. The
league may expand to as many as 12 teams during the first five years
of operation. To finance teams beyond the initial eight teams, the
WUSA investment group may be expanded to include other investors.
The investment group was organized by John S. Hendricks, Chairman
and CEO of Discovery Communications, Inc., the parent company of
Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and other cable network
services. Mr. Hendricks will serve as Chairman of WUSA's Board of
Governors. Mr. Hendricks is the Chairman and Managing Member of
Women's Professional Soccer, L.L.C., which is the single entity
through which the WUSA league will be developed.
List of the
WUSA investors and their top executive officers who will serve on
WUSA's Board of Governors:
- John S.
Hendricks
- Mr. Amos
B. Hostetter, Jr.
Former Chairman and CEO, Continental Cablevision, Inc.
- Mr. James
C. Kennedy
Chairman and CEO, Cox Enterprises
- Mr. James
O. Robbins
President and CEO, Cox Communications
- Mr. Brian
L. Roberts
President and CEO, Comcast Corporation
- Ms. Amy
Banse
Vice President of Programming Investments
Comcast Corporation
- Mr. Joseph
J. Collins
Chairman and CEO, Time Warner Cable
- Mr. Fred
M. Dressler
Senior Vice President of Programming
Time Warner Cable
WUSA's
Founding Players:
Michelle Akers, Brandi Chastain, Tracy Ducar, Lorrie Fair, Joy Fawcett,
Danielle Fotopoulos, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Shannon
MacMillan, Tiffeny Milbrett, Carla Overbeck, Cindy Parlow, Christie
Pearce, Tiffany Roberts, Briana Scurry, Kate Sobrero, Tisha Venturini,
Saskia Webber, and Sara Whalen.
WUSA has retained
the services of initial advisors who are assisting in the development
stage of the league. The advisors include Mr. Tony DiCicco, former
coach of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, which won the 1996
Olympics and the 1999 Women's World Cup. Also assisting in the league
formation is Mr. Lee Berke, formerly of SFX/The Marquee Group, who
organized the recent Toys-R-Us Indoor Victory Tour, which featured
the 1999 World Cup Champions in competition with world soccer stars.
In addition to cash investments, each of the WUSA investors will
provide staff and facility resources in combination with considerable
cable television exhibition and promotional power to support WUSA,
its events, and its players. WUSA also plans to cooperate in schedule
development, venue planning and management, and cross-promotion
in markets that will have both men's and women's professional soccer
teams. John Hendricks stated: "WUSA, its investors, and its founding
players all desire to develop the full potential of women's professional
play in a manner that supports and enhances the continued growth
of soccer in America." In considering the potential markets for
hosting the initial WUSA teams, the WUSA investment group is focusing
on cities in which there is the right combination of assets for
success. These assets would include: (1) staff and facility resources
of one or more of the investors; (2) substantial cable television
distribution by one or more of the investors; and (3) an appropriate
event venue such as a stadium with a seating capacity of between
10,000 and 20,000 provided by a municipality, university, or other
venue owner. There are 15 major U.S. cities under active consideration
to host the initial eight WUSA teams. The final determination on
the minimum eight launch markets will be made by October 31, 2000.
The WUSA league will launch with a minimum of eight teams but no
more than ten teams. John Hendricks commented: "All members of the
WUSA investment group were attracted to this venture by the appealing
prospect of combining a business activity with an initiative that
will surely inspire families, their children, and particularly girls,
as women take the national stage in this professional league. The
1999 Women's World Cup competition demonstrated that the inspiring
play, impressive work ethic and competitive spirit of America's
top female soccer stars are values that generate incredible enthusiasm
deep within American society. While we are mindful of the challenges,
the WUSA investment group is confident in the success of this pioneering
effort."
To provide
a way for fans across the nation to support the WUSA league and
its players, WUSA announced the creation of "WUSA LEAGUE Mia Hamm:
"The WUSA investment group, which came together over the last three
months, is a dream come true. These investors are committed to an
independent league in which the women's professional game is the
priority. While all of the players will continue to support the
growth of all components of soccer for both genders, we have always
known that the difficult task of developing a women's pro league
would only come about through dedicated, focused energy. This is
a wonderful time for soccer in this country!"
Carla Overbeck:
"The WUSA will no doubt be the best women's soccer league in the
world. Considering the current pool of outstanding American players
and top international stars, the league will set the standard worldwide.
It is so exciting to know we are pioneers for the world's premier
women's professional soccer league."
Julie
Foudy:
"Our
biggest concern as players has always been maintaining our success
on the world stage. With well over 150 American players training
in the WUSA year-round, we can develop a much larger pool of elite
players. Now, instead of just training alongside the best players
in the world, I will have to be chasing them down weekly! The competition
will be fantastic for our development -- all of us vying to become
among the 20 best who will represent their country in international
competition."
Brandi
Chastain:
"We have waited a long time to play in a professional league
in our own country. We all want to send a huge thank you to the
cable and media investors for providing this historic opportunity!
We've learned that they are all soccer dads so we have some special
youth players and youth leagues to thank... and probably soccer
moms like Maureen Hendricks."
Kate
Sobrero:
"Finally many women can make a living playing the sport they love.
The WUSA will provide a wonderful training environment to help ensure
we remain the best soccer team in the world. This is an incredible
start to the new century and I have to pinch myself when I realize
our dream is finally becoming a reality."
Jim
Kennedy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cox Enterprises:
"WUSA is an idea whose time has come. There is an unprecedented
wave of enthusiasm toward women's soccer here in the U.S. and around
the world, and we're proud to be part of an organization that will
not only entertain, but will inspire and empower young Americans."
Amos
B. Hostetter, Jr., Chairman of Pilot House Associates, LLC, :
"Something magic happened last summer that touched the heart of
America. We were all captivated by the determination, competitive
drive, and wholesome appeal of the U.S. women who took on the world
and won. This is a wonderful venture that will add a valuable new
dimension to the sports landscape." Amos Hostetter was the Founder
and Chairman of Continental Cablevision, Inc., which was renamed
MediaOne, and is scheduled to merge into AT&T later this spring.
Joseph
J. Collins, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable:
"At Time Warner Cable we look for opportunities that offer our cable
customers something special. Through our participation in creating
the WUSA league, we will give them not only something special, but
something to cheer about. Last summer, America fell in love with
women's soccer. Here at Time Warner Cable, we intend to keep the
romance alive."
Fred
Dressler, Senior Vice President of Time Warner Cable:
"Michelle versus Mia. Brandi versus Carla. Kr`istine versus Julie.
I know a good programming concept when I see it. Starting a new
sports league is a challenging task but we believe that the right
ingredients for success are coming together for the WUSA league:
adequate investment capital, cable television exhibition, and wonderfully
popular players."
Brian
L. Roberts, President and CEO, Comcast Corporation:
"There is a powerful appetite in America for sports programming
and at Comcast we have been delighted to make investments that provide
our customers with exciting sports entertainment. When we first
imagined Briana Scurry defending her goal against the oncoming charge
of Mia Hamm, we immediately realized the enormous fan appeal of
the WUSA league. We are proud to be in a position to both serve
our viewers and to help create this opportunity for these remarkable
young women who continue to inspire us."
Tony
DiCicco, former coach of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team
"I am delighted for the USA World Champions and all the elite players
we have in America. They finally have a league of their own. I applaud
the initiative and vision of the WUSA Investors. They recognize
what an outstanding entertainment product women's soccer at the
highest level offers. And, I am happy for the families and fans
of soccer because the WUSA will be the best women's league in the
world right from the start."
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