“This game will give us a good idea of how far we’ve progressed in coming together as a team,” said Scorpions Head Coach Tim Hankinson. “Since organizing in 2003, Dorados has won two Primera División A championships, so we will be facing a very strong opponent. We should learn a lot from this exhibition and we look forward to the competition.” The matchup against the Dorados will be a tune-up for North American Soccer League (NASL) competition beginning in April. The Scorpions’ first NASL game will be against the Atlanta Silverbacks on April 7, while the team’s home opener is set for 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Heroes Stadium against the Puerto Rico Islanders.
When the Scorpions take to the field, it will mark the first time in pro sports history that a team has been organized for the expressed purpose of benefiting a non-profit, namely Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first ultra-accessible theme park designed with special-needs individuals in mind yet built for everyone to enjoy.
In conjunction with the Scorpions’ first home game, team President Michael Hitchcock announced that all reserved seats on the west side of Heroes Stadium have been sold. As for the stadium’s east side, both reserved seats and general-admission seats are available, he added. For more information and seat reservations, fans can visit www.SanAntonioScorpions.com. “The Scorpions will compete for a community that’s really eager to see soccer played at a high level and for Morgan’s Wonderland,” Hitchcock said. “We’ve seen tremendous interest in season-ticket sales and new sponsorships as the 2012 NASL season gets closer and closer.”
About Morgan’s Wonderland, Soccer For A Cause, & Scorpions Stadium
San Antonio philanthropist Gordon Hartman led the effort to create Morgan’s Wonderland in Northeast San Antonio so people of all ages with and without disabilities could come together in a safe, colorful, totally-wheelchair-accessible park for fun and understanding. Soon to begin its third year of operation, Morgan’s Wonderland features more than 25 rides, playscapes and attractions spread out over 25 acres in what once was a limestone quarry. Because anyone with a physical or cognitive special need is admitted free to Morgan’s Wonderland, Hartman sought other revenue streams to help the park meet its financial obligations. Morgan’s Wonderland opened in spring 2010 along with STAR Soccer, which conveys profits from the operation of 13 first-class playing fields to the theme park.
Sensing an opportunity to benefit Morgan’s Wonderland for the long run, Hartman in fall 2010 secured an NASL franchise – one rung below MLS – and immediately launched Soccer for a Cause, a campaign to build community support for the new team. This included a name-the-team contest, a logo-design competition and an online vote of fans to select the Scorpions’ jersey. Meanwhile, Nike became the first to sign up as a team sponsor.
Hartman also is moving forward with plans for a privately funded, 6,100-seat playing facility (that can be expanded to 18,000 seats) on land near STAR Soccer and ready for the 2013 season. In the interim, the Scorpions will play 2012 NASL home games in North East Independent School District’s 11,000-seat Heroes Stadium across Thousand Oaks Drive from Morgan’s Wonderland. Key goals for the Scorpions include heightening interest in soccer, promoting physical fitness and boosting tourism, in addition to the primary goal of generating profits for Morgan’s Wonderland, Hartman said.
“Morgan’s Wonderland continues to exceed expectations, profoundly touching the lives of special-needs children and adults, their families and friends,” Hartman said. “Thus far, we’ve welcomed more than 200,000 guests from all 50 states and more than 30 other countries. This level of activity requires substantial financial support in order to attract more guests and provide more services and programs to the special-needs community at no charge. “Each and every day we continue to draw inspiration from all those with special needs who must deal with hard-to-imagine physical and cognitive challenges.”
More information about the San Antonio Scorpions FC is available at www.SanAntonioScorpions.com,http://www.Facebook.com/SanAntonioScorpions or http://www.Twitter.com/SAScorpions. Additional Morgan’s Wonderland information can be found at www.MorgansWonderland.com or by calling (210) 495-5888 .
About the NASL
The North American Soccer League℠ is the Division 2 men’s outdoor professional soccer league in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The NASL member teams are: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, FC Tampa Bay, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, NSC Minnesota Stars, Puerto Rico Islanders and the San Antonio Scorpions FC. For more information about the NASL, visit www.NASL.com or on Facebook athttp://www.Facebook.com/NASL.fans.
