2012 Carolina Challenge Cup speculation

The Battery posted on FB that they will have an announcement on Thursday about the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup.

Who would you like to see?

New York, while Henry is still playing...

Would like to see Henry not sure the Irish boys would like to see him though....

Officially announced today, DC United will be back to defend the Carolina Cup along with the Coffee Pot. The Tourney starts February 25th and end March 3rd.

DC is the first team announced for the Carolina Challenge Cup.

http://www.charlestonbattery.com/news.asp?y=2011&page=1&id=654

Dates will be Feb 25 - March 3.

looking at the calendar for MLS teams LA, Toronto and Seattle are playing the first league of the CCL March 5-6 so doubtful any of them will participate (although word is TFC will play in the WDW during the same week as the CCC)

The Walt Disney World Pro Classic will be at the same time in Orlando so far it will be Sporting KC, Toronto and Orlando but will feature 8 teams leaving 5 more teams to be announced. no word if all the remaining teams will be MLS teams

remaining teams to be announce later.

Brrr....starting in February. Wonder why the early schedule? Wonder if that was to suit a particular team? The Regiment ought to have a pile of long sleeve tees for sale.....always a crowd pleaser when your nuts have retreated into your body cavity.....

MLS is starting the second week of March in 2012 and the CCC ends the weekend prior to the season starting.

Definitely need to look into some long sleeve t's again and maybe a new Regiment scarf!

Heard somewhere after the DC announcement that the Chicago Fire would be back this year as well.

@seaside I've heard Chicago as well from outside the Battery organization. I also heard someone hint at Columbus from outside the area as well.

yeah it is the same week this year. Do you have link for the NY plans? Not that I doubt you just trying to use deduction to figure out some of the candidates for the CCC. Keeps me busy in the off-season!

more speculation at:

http://www.noquartersoccer.com/2011/11/battery-announce-dc-as-first-team-in.html

Colorado Rapids out they play in Hawaii at the same time
http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2011/07/rapids-play-hawaii-february-2012

here is the only thing I can find about the Desert Cup. its dated Sept 29 and looks to be covering about 10 days, but other than location and dates nothing new.

http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/092911_desert_cup/mls-firms-up-plans-desert-cup/

missed the dates the first time I looked, they are on the right column, under the photo

I am on it.

I would very much like for it to be Union. Heaven knows they could use the matches.

I am dreaming here, I know...

Battery saying via FB that they will make another announcement about the CCC tomorrow (wednesday)

Chicago Fire added to the tournament

http://www.charlestonbattery.com/news.asp?y=2011&page=1&id=655

Nice!

So far, all teams with some red in their jerseys .... hmmmmmm, most likely a coincidence

Battery tweeting they will announce the final team on Monday.

Is it February yet?

I haven't heard anything about the Tuscon teams.

But take away Colorado (Hawaii) Sporting KC, (confirmed for Orlando) Toronto FC (supposedly in Orlando) Philly (supposedly part of their contract with Bimbo to preseason in Orlando until 2014)

I would take the CCL teams out of the equation (Seattle, LA and TFC) too.


that leaves quite a few choices and I haven't heard much. there are a few I think are more likely than others for various reason but at this point I would just be guessing really.

actually it was late and for some reason my keyboard space bar is messed up and I have to hit it in the one place my thumb doesnt hit naturally. Annoying to say the lest!

On a different laptop now so my thinking goes like this.

The Battery obviously is spacing out the announcments for more exposure locally in the media. With that in mind I would leave the last team as the one with the biggest profile. Nationally that would be LA and NYRB with their big name players.

I don't think LA will travel to SC so close to their CCL matches So NYRB would be one of my top guesses.

A two other "big" profile clubs would be Seattle and Columbus. mainly beacuse both have former Battery players that were well liked with and popular with local fans before they made the jump to MLS. Again Seattle has the CCL that would leave Columbus as another one of my guesses.

my last theory would be a club that they have had a relationship in the past whether via USL (Portland, Vancouver, or Montreal) or former participants (Houston, San Jose, RSL) of those I would eliminate Montreal as even though the Battery has had preseason matches with Carolina and the NASL, I don't think there is any love loss with Saputo. If it was Houston, I think they would hold the announcement ntil after the Cup to take advantage of the any hype that would come from that, so that would be put Houston and Montreal low on the list.

My final theory would be one of the clubs that wanted to come last year but wasn't one of the selected teams. (there were eight teams wanted to come but I dont know who the five were that were not selected)

Those are my theroies. Not sure if they will stand up but I know they work hard to bring in teams and it something they work on throughout the season.

REding that post I realize I have much time on my hands and spend too much time thinking about these type of things....

I think you can count on it not being LA or NY. They have huge appearance fees, but LA might be losing one of their star attractions, if the rumors about Beckham going to France are true.