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In response to the widespread flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston and the surrounding area, the NWSL has moved Seattle Reign FC’s weekend match against the Houston Dash to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The game will take place on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. PT.
The match, presented by the FC Dallas Foundation, will still be available live on the go90 and NWSL apps and websites.
Field is holding up fine, but our focus is on the safety of our neighbors, our community, our fans & our staff. Please stay safe, everyone! pic.twitter.com/uyyjcsgBZC
— BBVA Compass Stadium (@BBVACompassStdm) August 29, 2017
The FC Dallas Foundation is hoping to not only put on a good show for fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but also do some good to help people affected by Hurricane Harvey. Proceeds from the match will benefit the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Tickets will cost $20 and can be purchased at FCDallas.com/Tickets. Fans can also text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10.
"Given the impact of Hurricane Harvey and the current circumstances in the greater Houston area, it was necessary to find a solution for this game that prioritized the safety of the players, staff and fans during this challenging time,” said NWSL Managing Director of Operations Amanda Duffy. “We are grateful to the FC Dallas Foundation for providing their support for this game and helping to benefit the American Red Cross."
In addition to the Red Cross fundraiser at the match, Houston Dash midfielder Janine Beckie created a GoFundMe campaign called the Houston Dash Harvey Relief Fund. All proceeds from this fundraising effort will go to organizations emphasizing basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. Once the target of $10,000 is reached, the Houston Dash will write checks to the soon-to-be-identified organizations.
Dash players have taken many different routes to escape or survive the storm. Some stayed in Houston and braved the storm, while others like Carli Lloyd escaped to their families outside the storm-struck region. The team will now gather in Frisco to train at Toyota Soccer Center on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and then at MoneyGram Soccer Park on Saturday ahead of the game.
It’s a relief knowing that all of the players and staff from the Dash are safe. Here’s hoping the match in Frisco can raise a lot of money to support Houston residents left stranded from the storm.