Soccer Spotlight: MISL Championship Series Finals Awarded to Milwaukee for May 14th and St. Louis for May 21st Thursday, March 24, 2005 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communitions The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced today that the 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals has been reformatted as a two-game, “golden goal” set of matches with Championship Game One awarded to the Milwaukee and scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at U.S. Cellular Arena at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time and Game Two awarded to St. Louis and slated for Saturday, May 21 at Savvis Center at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time, according to MISL Commissioner Steve Ryan. “Milwaukee and St. Louis are two great sports cities with knowledgeable and enthusiastic sports fans,” stated Commissioner Ryan. “Each city has an extraordinarily rich history on all levels of soccer and each is a perfect host for the MISL Championship Series Finals. “Bringing the excitement and frenzied atmosphere of the revised two-game format to Milwaukee and St. Louis enhances the marketability of the Championship Finals for national television and positions our Finals to be consistent with our Semifinal Round.” Tickets for the 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals are available for purchase beginning Friday, March 25. Tickets for Championship Game One in Milwaukee may be purchased through the Milwaukee Wave Box Office, online through TicketMaster, or by phone at 414-224-9283. Tickets for Championship Game Two in St. Louis may be purchased through the St. Louis Steamers Box Office, online through TicketMaster, or by phone at 314-241-1888. “We are thrilled to bring the crowned jewel of indoor soccer to the Brew City,” said Milwaukee Wave chief operating officer Mike Lafferty. “Hosting Game One of the Championship Series Finals in a championship city is a matter of pride for Milwaukee and the Wave organization. Milwaukee has a strong soccer tradition and I know our loyal and passionate fans will create a dynamic and electric atmosphere at ‘The Cell’ on May 14.” “Bringing the Championship Series Finals to St. Louis reaffirms our commitment to return indoor soccer to downtown St. Louis and to providing a first-class sports entertainment experience to the St. Louis community,” said St. Louis Steamers President and CEO Michael Hetelson. "It is a big honor for the Steamers and the City of St. Louis to be hosting a championship game in a showcase arena like Savvis Center.” The 2004-05 regular season concludes on Sunday, April 24. The 2005 MISL Championship Series is scheduled to begin with the Semifinal Round on the weekend of April 29-May 1. The Championship Series consists of four teams. The MISL Regular Season Champion receives an automatic bid to postseason play and earns the No. 1 seed as determined by regular season win percentage. The other postseason spots are allotted to the three teams with the next best regular season win percentage, determining the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 seeds. Home field advantage is awarded to the higher seeded team for the Semifinal Round. The Major Indoor Soccer League is a single-entity organization featuring a coast-to-coast presence with seven teams located across the United States. The MISL is the single major league of indoor soccer. In February of 2004, the League announced an expansion team in Stockton, CA, that will begin play in 2005-06. On May 4, 2004, the League announced plans for an expansion team in Newark, NJ, that will begin play in 2007-08. The 2004-05 regular season concludes on Sunday, April 24. The top four teams in the standings qualify for the 2005 MISL Championship Series, which commences with the Semifinal Round on the weekend of April 29-May 1. The 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals are scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee (Game One) and Saturday, May 21 at Savvis Center in St. Louis (Game Two). For more information on the MISL, visit the League’s website at www.MISL.net.