The historic final of the NWSL premieres in ‘prime time’

Portland Thorns and Kansas City Current played the title. From 30 to 350 dollars to see the final. Audi Field will be packed: 20,000 spectators. CBS will broadcast the game in prime time from Sunday to Monday (2:00 am CEST, -2 GMT).

Football will be the star Washington after a time with many lights, but also with dark shadows. The Thorns are one of the teams hardest hit by a scandal of systematic abuse of NWSL players revealed by a league investigation. Merritt Paulson, the owner of the Portland franchise, resigned as the team’s CEO after his name surfaced among managers who committed disgraceful acts against players.

Amidst the difficulties, the Thorns are the stars of a great season and will play for the title against the Current in the best possible showcase. Audi Field is expected to be completely full, confirming the trend seen in these ‘playoffs’, where each game exceeds 20,000 fans in the stands. The most expensive tickets for the last sale for more than $300.

Without Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, who were eliminated with their respective teams in the semifinals, the winners between the Thorns and Current would be the most decorated franchise in the NWSL, with three titles in ten years.

SYNERGY BETWEEN NWSL, ALLY FINANCIAL AND CBS

Initially scheduled for twelve o’clock Eastern time, the NWSL signed a synergy with its sponsor ‘Ally Financial’, a marketing company that contributed to an economic offer, which details were not disclosed, convincing ‘CBS’ to prioritize the final about college football.

The American network registers large numbers in the transmission of university sports and has obligations to broadcast the matches, but more than 500,000 viewers registered for the last NWSL final and the growth seen this season is made it possible for a new big step for soccer’.

Last season, the NWSL Finals were originally scheduled to take place in Portland at 9:00 am PST, airing at 12:00 pm Eastern. That plan caused some serious controversy, and the game was moved to Louisville, starting at 3:00 pm ET.

THE ‘PLAYOFFS’ BREAK RECORDS

The 20,000 Audi Field is expected to be packed this Saturday, despite the fact that fans have a long way to go to join their players on their date with the title. More than 4,500 kilometers separate Portland from Washington and Kansas City is more than 1,700 kilometers away.

However, the stadium aims for a full house, with tickets sold between 30 and 350 dollars, which proves a great trend that can be seen in these ‘playoffs’.

Each postseason game registered more than 20,000 fans in the stands, with the San Diego Wave setting a new record with their 26,000+ registered spectators in the quarterfinals against the Chicago Red Stars.

THE EQUAL PAY SIGNATURE

The stage of the final is the same stage that, in September, hosted the signing of the collective agreement establishing equal pay between the United States women’s and men’s teams.

It’s a historic moment for soccer, with players formalizing an agreement reached in May with the American Players Association (USMNTPA) that provides equal pay and benefits for both teams.

Players of the women’s team, a massive international soccer and winners of the last two World Cups, will also have support during and after pregnancy, as well as medical, dental, vision insurance, and access to psychologists for in their mental health.