The spring of 2001 may bring professional sports to campus, as the Boston Breakers of the newly created Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) are strongly considering using Tufts' Zimman Field for home games.
The main competition for Breakers' games is Foxboro Stadium, which currently hosts the New England Patriots of the NFL and the Revolution of MLS. But for the team to play at Tufts, Zimman Field might have to undergo major changes, such as expanding the seating capability so that it could support a professional sporting event.
While Tufts may be willing to make such changes, the city of Somerville must also approve the plan. Parking and traffic issues must be considered by the city before the team can declare Zimman Field its home. Despite these reservations, it Tufts is one of the front-runners for landing Breakers games, according to the Associated Press.
If the team is not able to play at Tufts next season, it will settle for Foxboro Stadium. Playing at Foxboro would create the possibility of men's and women's soccer doubleheaders, featuring the Breakers and Revolution.
Where the Breakers will play is one of the many unfinished details about their season: the roster and schedule remain unfinished as well. But the team does have part of its roster settled.
Superstars such as Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm will be members of the new league. Chastain will be playing for the San Francisco team, while Hamm will be donning a Washington uniform. The Breakers will feature German Olympic Bronze medallist Bettina Wiegmann and Maren Meinert, who were selected in Monday's foreign allocation draft. Both are considered strong and versatile players.
Jay Hoffman has been appointed as the Breakers head coach for next season. Hoffman enters the league with a good deal of experience that he gained serving as the assistant coach for the US Women's National Team from 1998-2000. In 1999, he helped lead the team to the World Cup Championship. Most recently, Hoffman has served as a scout for the 2000 men's Olympic team.
The performance of the women's national team has led to a rising American interest in the sport. As a result, an investment group headed by John S. Hendricks, chairman and CEO of Discovery Communications Inc., decided to form the WUSA. The league will initially feature eight teams, located in Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Boston's team name was decided by a "name the team" contest which brought in over 1200 entries. The contest was open to all, and a board voted on the entries. In the end, 15-year-old Laura DeDanato's choice of Breakers garnered the most votes. The women's soccer team will not be the first Breakers in Boston. In 1983, the Boston Breakers were the area's USFL football team. But, unable to secure a better stadium within the city, the team owner opted to move them to New Orleans.
Boston fans hope that the new version of the Breakers finds a permanent home in the Boston area, possibly Tufts, unlike their USFL predecessors.
