World Cup Fever Sweeps Pasadena with Trio of Newsworthy Events

Monday night the Rose Bowl’s Board unanimously approved finalizing negotiations for the launch in Pasadena of the Women’s World Cup championship U.S. team’s national victory tour on August 3 — and that development is only some of the week’s top women’s soccer news here this week.

Today, an inspiring first-ever Women’s Empowerment Symposium will take place at the stadium. Then on Wednesday, a bronze statue commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Women’s World Cup win in the Rose Bowl will be unveiled in a special ceremony which will reportedly bring Brandi Chastain and several teammates back the scene of their victory.

“I think the whole country has been caught up in the excitement the team has brought,” said Darryl Dunn, Rose Bowl CEO and General Manager. “For us to be involved and have them here and to be part of that excitement will be wonderful for us, particularly given our history. Our history is going to be center stage.”

“On Wednesday it will be the 20th anniversary of the famous 1999 match when the U.S. Women’s World Cup team beat China,” he said. “We will be unveiling a beautiful statue of Brandi Chastain and the team. It’s going to be a new landmark brought to the Rose Bowl.”

Each attendee of today’s symposium will be invited to return Wednesday to attend the dedication of the new monument honoring the 1999 Team USA Women’s World Cup Champions.

The symposium is intended to help develop strong women leaders within the Southern California region. Since the win occurred in 1999, 99 high school seniors and 99 college students have been invited to attend.

“I can speak on behalf of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation Board of Directors when I state how proud we are to carry forward the vision of the City of Pasadena and its residents, as we continue to protect and enhance the future of the Rose Bowl Stadium as a National Historic Landmark,” said Dr. Betty Uribe, Legacy Board Member. “Gender equality and fairness has long been a topic of discussion, however, the societal climate that exists today has taken the narrative to renewed, important heights.”

The sessions will provide inspirational, educational and networking resources

The statue being dedicated at 11 a.m. Wednesday also will serve to inspire and motivate generations to come. The 1999 USA Women’s World Cup Championship team will be celebrated for the historic match that forever changed the prism of female athletics in the United States.

Members of the team, including Brandi Chastain, are expected to help dedicate the statue, which will stand as a point of inspiration as it will be situated in the forefront of the iconic Stadium marquee on the northwesternmost tip of Area H. The area hosts youth athletic events for thousands of children each year including youth soccer.

“It’s going to be placed in front of the Rose Bowl where it borders the big grass Area 8 where thousands of kids play soccer on the weekends. The back of the statue will be facing the Rose Bowl,” Dunn said. “It will be hard to miss.”

The dedication will be hosted by Hall of Famer and UCLA alum, Ann Meyers Drysdale and is open and free to the general public.

Earlier this week Chastain weighed in on the women’s current world cup team.

“I love what this team embodies, the spirit they have,” she told ABC news. “There are players that I have embraced. Even though I think they’re controversial, I think what they’re trying to do is for the greater good.”