COLORADO RAPIDS HOST SUCCESSFUL WORLD CUP VIEWING PARTY AT INVESCO FIELD LUB LEVEL AS TEAM USA COMES UP SHORT IN 1-0 QUARTERFINAL LOSS TO GERMANY

Nearly 1,000 Fans and Media in Attendance to Cheer on Team USA in Historic Match

DENVER (Friday, June 21, 2002) - The Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer this morning hosted a World Cup viewing party at INVESCO Field to support Team USA in its epic World Cup quarterfinal battle with Germany at 5:25 a.m. (MT) live from Ulsan, Korea on ESPN. Approximately 1,000 metro-area fans and media were on hand in the West Side Club Level to witness a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to the three-time World Cup champion, knocking the U.S. out of tournament play after its best-ever showing on the world stage. With the U.S. dominating play for the majority of the first half, Germany got all it would need in the 39th minute when Michael Ballack capitalized on a Christian Ziege free kick, nodding a head ball underneath Brad Freidel for the only tally of the game.

Media members in attendance included news reporters and photographers from 9 News (KUSA), CH. 7 (KMGH), Fox-31 (KDVR), Univision (KCEC-TV 50) and live morning news segments from Denver's WB2 (KWGN). The Rocky Mountain News and various other print media were also on hand.

Stadium doors opened at 5 a.m. and breakfast concessions were available for purchase. Seating was limited, as the club level filled quickly with fans donning the red, white and blue.

A halftime raffle presented by Rapids defender Steve Shak and guest emcee Todd Mansfield (Fox 31) saw several fans win soccer paraphernalia highlighted by an autographed Pablo Mastroeni Team USA World Cup jersey and John Spencer Rapids jersey with all proceeds going to support the Colorado Rapids Community Care Foundation.

Major League Soccer venues across the nation hosted similar parties this morning in support of the event as the U.S. appeared in its first World Cup quarterfinal match since 1930.

Since Team USA's first World Cup 2002 match on June 4 versus Portugal, household television ratings skyrocketed from a 1.19 to a 2.29 rating for the June 17 match versus Mexico, despite the early-morning kickoff times. Final ratings from this morning's match are expected to set an all-time record for soccer viewership in the United States.

The Colorado Rapids anticipate the return of World Cup star Pablo Mastroeni to the midfield for the next home game at INVESCO Field as they take on World Cup members Josh Wolff, DaMarcus Beasley and the rest of the Chicago Fire in a Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza.

Despite an announced ban on fireworks this year in the state of Colorado (because of drought), the Rapids' famed fireworks show will continue as planned, as this ban does not apply to professional shows. The Colorado Rapids annual fireworks extravaganza at INVESCO Field at Mile High has been confirmed with the City/County of Denver and State of Colorado. For more information, please call the Rapids at 303-299-1599.

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