I have also seen Jamaica once in the USA with very little support... but I've read on BigSoccer, frankly, about that 1997 match in RFK. For example: I think it's worth being at least a little cautious about the possibility of Jamaica fans coming out in force for their first actual hexagonal WCQ in the USA since 2001. I'm also, by the way, not saying that we should play Costa Rica in Torrance, California, with Costa Rican heritage celebrations at halftime. But I take it for granted that we've come a long way since 1985.
I think as long as you avoid Florida and the Eastern Seaboard with Jamaica there isn't much to worry about. I really would love to see us use Houston's brand new beauty of a stadium for that game.
Seattle only sells around 40,000 tickets in an NFL stadium and they have the best atmosphere in the league.
Keep in mind they cover unsold seats so it makes it look better plus they have that half roof that reflects all the noise. You can tell how much the roof comes into play with that noise level there.
Good data. Although a bit incomplete, in that the above numbers only include the "foreign-born" population. Many of these fans (of other/foreign NTs) coming to US home soccer matches but cheering for the away team are not 1st generation immigrants. There are significant numbers of folks who still prefer their parents' (or their grandparents' or beyond) homeland team to the NT of their place of birth (the USA). Although, the "foreign-born population" would be a good indicator of the relative size of the (potential) fanbase for each CONCACAF national team. In many ways, most of the US Soccer fanbase are immigrants themselves (or going back some number of family generations) -- and the USMNT might honestly be their "second favorite" or "tied first first favorite" national team (except when their playing my family's "homeland" team). But US Soccer is doing a very decent (if incrementally sluggish) job of growing the US Soccer fanbase -- and of course continued success on the field (such as qualifying for the WC and advancing some distance through it) helps to push the US Soccer team to be more fans' "team of choice."
Other than the "we are all immigrants" refrain, I wouldn't say most US fans are immigrants or children of recent immigrants. The biggest demographic skew that is obvious is that the fanbase is overwhelming young.
Yes. And many of the fans of the game (yet fans foremost of other NTs) are immigrants or children of recent immigrants (or not-all-that-recent immigrants). Agreed. Although, I'd guess that (possibly significantly) more than half of US soccer fans also have (potentially strong) ties to (and some level of fandom for) some foreign national team(s) (and in many cases that additional/other fandom is an inherited fandom in some sense).
I was at the WCQ in Washington DC, USA-Costa Rica. I suspect the crowd was pro-USA enough for anyone...
I don't want to discount that there is plenty of support for the US team from immigrants and their children. It's just that from casual observation they do not seem to make up most (ie 50+%) of the US team fanbase. I would categorize the US fan base as generally younger and well educated. Most fans have been abroad or lived abroad in some capacity and had experience with the rest of the world. That in part can account for additional fandom of foreign national teams. I for example lived in Ukraine for a significant period of time and spent plenty of time with fans watching the national team there. I'd consider it my second favorite national team despite having zero genetic connection to the country. A significant portion of the US fanbase is certainly from the 1st or 2nd generation immigrant group, there is no doubt about that. I just doubt they exceed 50%. I could be completely off by this as it's only based on what I've observed.
Agreed, with the note that I was additionally talking 3rd and 4th generation "immigrant" status, and beyond as well, when I earlier wrote "going back some number of family generations."
Its funny, I grew up on the east coast and I never observed what you wrote about. There were a couple USMNT fans, but non of them had significant ties to other countries. Most of them had traveled abroad on vacation, but those experiences had nothing to do with their interest in US soccer. Being aware of the rest of the world was just valued in that culture. It was part of school and it was part of home life. Part of that world awareness was knowing about international soccer. However, when I moved to Wisconsin, I noticed exactly what you are talking about. Almost everyone I know here that likes US Soccer has lived abroad, had recent ancestry from another country, or had an "international soccer experience" while in another country. The focus here is the packers. Why would you care about anything else?
I'd have to disagree. You remember that much of our country don't have passports. I used to live 20 miles from the Canadian border and many Americans there had never been to Canada. Traveling abroad is exactly what I'm talking about.
So the coach Jorge Pinto pointed out today that USA have a very hard time playing at Saprissa Stadium... so guess where the US will be playing Costa Rica on their away fixture?? Thats right.. Estadio Saprissa.
If we're doing one in SLC(and i hope so), i would say the jamaica one would have the most pro usa crowd.
OK, well I grew up in Boston metro west where the average household income is $200k a year. I didn't know one kid without a passport. Almost every person I knew had been to Mexico, the Carribian, Canada, and Europe. Many of them had gone to Asia as well.
And that is not very typical of the entire country. Those are the kind of people I am talking about who would likely be soccer fans.
I'm not too surprised with this I mean why would Costa Rica change stadiums when we have never won at Saprissa ever? Klinnsy's in for a rude awakening when we head to Costa Rica for a away Hex, believe me those fans are going to make his life a living hell.