Akron, Ohio News Release...

WOMEN'S PRO FASTPITCH TEAM COMING TO AKRON

Women's Pro Fastpitch league Chairman John Cowles III and Mayor Don Plusquellic announce that Akron is getting an expansion team in the WPF

(June 30, 1998) Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) softball is coming to Akron in 1999. Mayor Don Plusquellic made the announcement at a morning news conference joined by WPF Chairman of the Board John Cowles III and Interim President and CEO John D. Carroll. The team will begin play at the soon-to-be renovated Firestone Stadium when the WPF season opens next May.

Mayor Plusquellic commented today, "Last year we hosted a WPF exhibition game, this year we're hosting their All-Star game, and next year we'll officially be in the league as the first expansion team in the WPF. We are thrilled to be able to bring another pro sport into our city."

League President, John Carroll said, "The WPF is ready to expand and looking to Akron as its first jump forward on to the national scene. The WPF hopes to have 15-18 teams across the United States in the next three to four years. The league feels that Akron, because of its great affinity for the game, will be one of its anchor markets."

The City of Akron set a goal in 1995 to attract a WPF team to the city. Part of the efforts included bringing the exhibition and All-Star games here to test the waters for support. The WPF was thrilled at the response from Akron's citizens and the city administration, according to Joey Arrietta, chairperson for the 1998 All-Star game. "The WPF is convinced," said Arrietta. "Akron can put fans in the stands and can raise the needed monies through season ticket and corporate sales."

As part of the agreement, on which the two sides continue to negotiate details, the City of Akron will support and assist in a marketing effort to raise $300,000 through a combination of season ticket sales, corporate sales and corporate sponsorship. The City has also committed $1.1 million for the renovation of Firestone Stadium to prepare it for WPF play next summer. The league has agreed to put a staff and team general manager in place in Akron to work with the City on the campaign to raise the funds needed to support the team.

The title sponsor of Women's Pro Fastpitch is AT&T Wireless Service, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T Corp. The league began its second season May 29 of this year with a 66-game regular season schedule. The 1999 season schedule calls for the Akron team to play 33 home games and 33 away games against teams such as the Orlando Wahoos, Tampa Bay FireStix, Georgia Pride, Durham Dragons, Virginia Roadsters and Carolina Diamonds.

This year's All-Star game will be played in Akron at Firestone Stadium July 14 at 7:00p.m. and will feature 30 of the best athletes in the sport of fastpitch. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN 2 and will feature color commentary from Dot Richardson a member of the Gold Medal winning 1996 Olympic Softball Team. The league championship series will be played in September.