Bay FC, a second-year NWSL expansion team, planned a match at Oracle Park to pursue the league attendance record. The team worked around a collective bargaining agreement restriction on non-soccer venues by coordinating closely with the players association, the league, their own players and the visiting Washington Spirit. Oracle Park, primarily home to the San Francisco Giants, has hosted international friendlies but will host two women's teams for the first time. Bay FC announced sales of more than 35,000 tickets, surpassing the previous record; Oracle Park holds about 40,000 and limited tickets remained. The club emphasized a world-class player and fan experience.
Contrary to the league's fraught history of playing in converted minor-league baseball stadiums, which often featured artificial turf, dirt infields and subpar training facilities, Stewart ensured the experience at Oracle Park will be world-class for players and fans. To have the players play a match at a baseball pitch, you have to be incredibly careful, Stewart said. We had to work with the players association, with our players, with the league and with the Washington Spirit. We looked at every element of the player experience.
The waterfront home of MLB's San Francisco Giants has hosted a handful of international friendlies over the years, but this will be the first time it welcomes two women's teams. And ticket sales so far leads the franchise to believe it will make even more history. The team announced Wednesday that it had sold more than 35,000 tickets, toppling the attendance record set last year by the Chicago Red Stars in a match at Wrigley Field. Oracle Park can hold upward of 40,000 fans, and limited tickets remain available.
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