Crew Stadium, World Cup Headquarters June 9, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew announced today that Crew Stadium will once again serve as "Cup Headquarters" and host viewing parties for all 64 games of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany that will be televised live on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.

Admission to "Cup Headquarters" will be free and complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase, including tournament specials. The games will be shown in the Stadium Club tent located just west of the stadium.

Crew Stadium hosted the largest viewing parties in the United States for the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan and had over 25,000 people attend the 64 matches that were televised at the stadium, despite the games being televised in the middle of the night and early morning. Over 7,500 were in attendance for the U.S-Germany quarterfinal match. Germany is six hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone.

Cup Headquarters will feature wireless internet for people who would like to bring their work to Crew Stadium and watch the games. There will be special prizes given away each day and a grand-prize will be raffled off at the conclusion of the tournament. The Crew Soccer Tour will be set up just north of the Stadium Club tent and will provide interactive games, while the "Cup Information Center" will have all the current scores, standings, statistics, news articles and press releases related to the World Cup.

Official Website: http://columbus.crew.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060517&content_id=59441&vkey=pr_coc&fext=.jsp&team=coc