color me shocked http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2012/12/gulati-tells-fox-sports-denver-candidate-hexagonal
Wonder how much "money" it costs to host one of these? Other then Mexico, it could be* a huge advantage with altitude here. * some studies show that effects are minimal to an "in shape" professional player (NFL Lineman not withstanding)
Maybe i missed it, but all i heard Gulati say was that Denver had been a good place to host in the past. Now, the fact that he mentioned us could be taken as a sign that we are a possible candidate for the future, but unless I missed something in that interview, the headline is very deceptive.
USMNT players will not come in acclimatized to altitude so no possible advantage can accrue. Also, anyone wanna bet on a Hex match being played in Denver. Rapids & International match poor attendance will assure other sites. As a Christmas treat, I am offering 2:1 odds on Hex in Denver bets confirmed in 2012!
I won't bet, but I am thinking if we get one it will be the Oct. 11 game against Jamaica. Not exactly a large Jamaica or even Caribbean population around here, so it will be a home game attendance demographics wise (unless all the hippies decide to root for Jamaica because of Bob). It might be chilly which the Jamaicans might find less than ideal. (Although guys like Omar obviously wouldn't mind.) Plus the USWNT game was around the same time this last year and was a quick sell-out, so why not for the USMNT. For all of those reasons, I think that game is the most likely if it is going to happen.
The good news is that we're even in the discussion. I disagree with Marx's comment regarding previous International matches being a deterrent in bringing WCQ to Denver. The last USMNT match we had in Denver was a farce, and probably won't be held against us. Rapids attendance was up last year, in a REALLY bad year for the team, and Denver remains a desired destination for traveling US supporters. That said, I'm not holding my breath that it comes to fruition.
Regardless of past or recent attendance at Rapids games I think a Hex game is an easy sell-out. Given the interest in the WNT this Fall and the WC in 2014, I think there is little doubt DSP would do quite well for a home crowd for MNT. Portland sells out their regular season games and they could not fill seats for WNT, so you have an opposite situation to CO. Point being, a whole new set of fans is added to national team games here in CO. Given all that, I am not convinced CO will be in the final venues holding a hex match. I'd buy tickets to KC though.
Its hard for any place not on East Coast to get into these games. Logistically its hard to get europe players our here for games, even if its just one more aditional flight for them. Its nice that he tossed us a bone that we are included, but think other places even with turf would get them before us.
It's easier for players to get here than to get to KC. DIA doesn't have a ton of flights that fly directly in from Europe, but still probably more than KC, and I fully expect KC to get one of the games.
Judging from the 2010 and 2014 cycles, it looks like it's more the reverse case: it's hard for a place not in flyover country to get a WCQ: List of WCQ locations for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups: 2010 2nd round: Carson, CA (Home Depot Center) 2010 3rd round: Bridgview/Chicago (Toyota Park) Washington DC (RFK) Commerce City, CO (DSGP) 2010 Hex: Columbus, OH (Crew Stadium) Nashville, TN (LP Field) Chicago (Soldier Field) Sandy, UT (Rio Tinto) Washington DC (RFK) 2014 3rd round: Tampa, FL (Raymond James) Columbus, OH (Crew Stadium) Kansas City KS (Livestrong)
WNT was an early sell-out. I see no reason to spread the games out as much as possible to let US fan base from accross the country feel included (ha, sure they don't care what I think). Perhaps there is a financial advantage to holding multiple games at fewer venues? Flying logistics seem unlikely a major reason for not coming to Denver for the Hex given the teams are coming from more or less the US longitude. What exactly are the deciding criteria? Good venue: check. Large population: check. Sell-out crowd: likely. MLS home team attendance: should not be an issue since Columbus is worse than Denver. Hex politics: no idea.
More support that DSG is in mix 2) And which MLS stadia will earn Hex hosting honors? Over the next week or two, US Soccer will announce the venue for the Yanks’ qualifying home against Costa Rica on March 22, with RSL’s Rio Tinto Stadium and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado looking like hot contenders. The other four match locations will be revealed later, with several league hotbeds looking to reel in the most important US games of the season. Also, has a write up on Omar trade being a "steal" for Houston http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/12/28/starting-xi-usmnt-draft-among-weekends-hot-topics
I like how it says "cut rate," it's too funny. Too much, those cut rate cap hindrances. Reading the angles of all this spin is like playing ping pong.
Wow. This is great "news". My Costa Rican neighbor is gonna go nuts if this turns out to be confirmed.
