COSMOS COPA 2012 FINAL TO BE HELD AT MACOMBS DAM PARK

May 22nd, 2012 - The finals of Cosmos Copa will be held at Macombs Dam Park across the street from the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. This historic setting will further connect Cosmos Copa with the rich sporting fabric of New York City. The final match will take place on July 28th, 2012 at 3:30 PM and will feature the two best national soccer teams in New York City playing for the title of New York City champion and the right to hoist the Cosmos Cup. 

Macombs Dam Park, originally opened in 1914, became a famous home for sport in the city when Yankee Stadium opened across the street in 1923. The park was majorly renovated in 2010 as part of the construction of the new Yankee Stadium. The Cosmos Copa final will be played at the new Joseph Yancy Track and Field which features a world-class playing surface and grandstand with a capacity of 600 along with one-of-a-kind views of the world famous Yankee Stadium. The field is named after Joseph James Yancy Jr. a member of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, who co-founded the New York Pioneers Track and Field Club in 1936. The Pioneer track team was the first interracial track team in the United States and provided athletes to over five Olympic games. 

The History of the Cosmos in Yankee Stadium

"The House That Ruth Built" has been the locations of some of the New York Cosmos most memorable moments. When the Cosmos were founded in 1971, the owners chose Yankee Stadium as the team's first home. On May 5th, 1971, the New York Cosmos played their first ever home game at Yankee Stadium in front of 3,746 fans in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Darts. The team finished their inagural season at Yankee Stadium before moving to Hofstra Stadium in Long Island for the next two years. 

In 1975, the Cosmos shocked the world when they signed the greatest soccer player ever, Pelé. The following season, Cosmos owner, Steve Ross, wanted his team to play in a stadium fitting for an icon such as Pelé. Therefore the Cosmos returned to play the 1976 season in the newly renovated Yankee Stadium. Despite a disappointing season in the historic stadium, 1976 provided some famous moments for the New York Cosmos. On May 17th, 1976, the brash Italian striker, Giorgio Chinaglia made his debut for the Cosmos at Yankee Stadium and scored two goals in a resounding 6-0 win over the Los Angeles Aztecs in front of over 20,000 fans. Later that summer, Chinaglia scored an all-time North American Soccer League record five goals in a single game. Yankee Stadium was also where Pelé scored his iconic bicylce kick goal that would go on to feature on the cover of both the movie and book "Once in a Lifetime". After the 1976 season, Ross moved the Cosmos across the river to the newly built Giants Stadium where the team would play for the next seven seasons. 

The tentative 2012 Cosmos Copa Tournament Dates are as follows (dates subject to change):

• Official Draw Party: June 25th at Scandanavia House, Park Ave and 38th Street
• Group Stage: July 14th and 15th at Pier 40 and Randall's Island
• Quarterfinals: July 21st at Octagon Field on Roosevelt Island
• Semi-­‐finals: July 22nd at Flushing Meadows Park, Queens
• Finals: July 28th at Macomb’s Dam Park in the Bronx

For more information, go to www.cosmoscopa.com or follow the tournament on Twitter at @CosmosCopa or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cosmoscopa.