FOXBOROUGH - Today's soccer doubleheader featuring two women's teams (China and Norway) and two men's teams (New England Revolution and New York-New Jersey MetroStars) required some creative planning by Foxboro Stadium officials. The stadium staff divided the Patriots locker room in half for the two World Cup semifinalists.
The prefab walls and empty metal stalls make the locker room area look like a construction site. However, by game time, posters will decorate the walls where Norway and China stay. The two MLS teams will take their usual places.
But here's the catch and the complication: In a move that would make Ally McBeal proud, China and the Revolution will share one bathroom, while Norway and the MetroStars will be connected by another.
One male security guard and one female security guard will stand at the entrance to the bathrooms. If all goes as planned, the MLS teams will shower after the World Cup teams have left to play the first half, and little overlap will occur.
30,000 expected
Ticket sales have reached 28,000 with 30,000 expected by game time. The current figure would rank Norway-China third in attendance at games that did not feature the US team. If sales reach 30,000, the Independence Day crowd would move into the second spot. The largest crowd to attend a non-US game was approximately 32,000 at Chicago's Soldier Field June 26. The double bill featured Ghana-Sweden and Norway-Japan. The second largest crowd was recorded the same day at Giants Stadium for Canada-Russia and China-Australia. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Foxboro Stadium box office, which opens at 1:30 p.m. Prices range from $30-$75.
