WASHINGTON, DC (July 23, 2002) – The US National Soccer Team Players Association today announced the launch of its web site at www.ussoccerplayers.com. The site was “soft-launched” in May of 2002 and provided fans with a weekly internet radio show, hosted by noted soccer broadcaster Dave Johnson, leading up to the team’s highly-successful participation in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

The full web site launched today with the mission of “Supporting the sport of soccer in the United States and the US Soccer Community.” The site will provide player information, articles, games, playing tips, coaching tips, ideas for youth players, soccer parents and coaches, and interactive features, such as message boards, polls, and player mailbags. The site was designed and developed by RMG3, a leading soccer and new media professional services firm.

According to RMG3 Senior Vice President of Business Development Jennifer Rottenberg, “We are honored that the Players have selected RMG3 to assist them in both their online and off field marketing efforts. We intend to provide them with the highest quality web site design and content. And, we expect to be able to announce several online partnerships shortly.”

In a unique arrangement, the site will also serve as a soccer news hub. The Players have taken over the operation of the largest (averaging 5.6 million page impressions per month over the past year) “pure play” soccer news web site, www.internetsoccer.com, and incorporated them into ussoccerplayers.com.

According to Brad Friedel, U.S. National Team Goalkeeper during the recent World Cup and one of the five officers of the Players Association, “Our goals include unifying the U.S. Soccer community, providing news and information and other services to that community, and increasing awareness of and interest in the U.S National Team and its players. Rather than making the soccer community find us, we are out there trying to communicate with them and the tens of thousands of people who frequent internetsoccer.com were a great place to start. We want to continue to provide the news that made internetsoccer.com famous, while enhancing the site dramatically in ways that serve and support the entire soccer community.”

About the USNSTPA
Organized in 1995, the US National Soccer Team Players Association represents all the members of the United States National Soccer Team. The current officers of the Association are Jeff Agoos, Chris Armas, Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, and Brian McBride. The Association negotiated the agreement with the US Soccer Federation under which members of the team participated in the recent FIFA World Cup in South Korea. The current and former members of the Association are the players who have been behind the dramatic improvement and great successes in international performance of the United States soccer team over the past fourteen years, and the players are committed to playing a major role in the continued promotion and expansion of soccer in the United States. The Association’s new website is a central part of its overall program to serve and support the United States soccer community, with a primary focus on young players, soccer parents, and youth soccer coaches. The Association also works to generate exposure and promotional opportunities for the National Team Players and to create sponsorship and marketing opportunities for the organization. The Association recently announced a major new relationship with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the players will be an integral part of the Society’s school and youth programs.

About RMG3
RMG3 is a full-service Media, Marketing and Merchandising agency, providing such services as web site development, ecommerce consultation, and sponsorship solicitation. RMG3 provides web site customers with its proprietary 1Touch™ Content Management Tool for self-publishing. RMG3 is a privately held corporation with its US headquarters in Charlotte, NC, and branch offices in Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA. A selection from RMG3’s client list includes: Alltel; Amoco; Carter-Wallace; FIFA; Ford; FoxSports.com; M&M;/Mars Corp.; MSNBC; Time Inc. (SI for Women); the West Coast Conference; and the WUSA. For more information about RMG3 please visit www.rmg3.com or email info@rmg3.com.