The NWSL’s Washington Spirit have offered free and discounted tickets to furloughed federal employees for Sunday’s match with the San Diego Wave on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The 200 tickets that were offered via voucher were quickly claimed on Wednesday as the federal government was shut down.
The club will also offer a limited number of $10 tickets to friends and families of the furloughed employees. Sunday’s game is nearly a sell-out at Audi Stadium, which holds 14,900 fans and is the home to the Spirit and the MLS’s DC United.
“This is not a political statement,” team CEO Kim Stone told The Athletic. “This is us saying you’re hurting, we see you, we want to help you. This is about kindness, love, and a sense of community. We’re not trying to be antagonists. On the contrary, we’re trying to be