The WCQ at Rio Tinto Speculation Thread

With the hexygonal draw for the final round of WCQ taking place on saturday there is alot of speculation that SLC will get to host a game again as was the case in 2005. We drew well when we hosted the game @ RES vs. Costa Rica, and with the great new stadium and attendance this year we could be a lock.

Maybe Costa Rica again, or maybe Honduras?

Would it be a double header again, or a stand alone game?

The thought that we could have hosted the western conference final, and be hosting a WCQ and the MLS All-Star Game all w/in 1 year is pretty cool.

Re: WCQ at Rio Tinto?

Well we do have THE BEST soccer specific stadium in the country so I dont see a reason why not

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cRapids fans are pathetic. To not sell out the final game against us was pathetic, but to not sell out the USA mens qualifier was just plain offensive. They should NEVER host another one.

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I am pretty confident that we will see a WCQ game at the Rio next year.

- Brand new stadium.
- Great attendance last WCQ (however, it was a double-header).
- I live here.

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I heard SLC was going to host a WCQ for this cycle. NOW it's a rumor!

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It would certainly make sense for Rio Tinto to host one. And god how pathetic can the cRapids fans get?

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It was a game 'for pride' as the Yanks were already qualified for the hexagonal and it was during midweek but still the attendance was very poor, especially considering it was the first (and likely last for a long time) qualifier in Denver.

Yeah, our qualifier in 2005 was meaningful and was on a weekend, but we packed a 45000 seat stadium. Wondering if the US draws a home game in February if they might put that match in Salt Lake to provide a wintery home advantage.

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Yes, I know Colorado can make excuses, but still, RSL gets more people than that out for a mid-week Open Cup match against a lower division team where all the reserves are starting. It was yet another truly pathetic showing for those people on the on the plains.

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The schedule has been announced. Here are the US home dates.

Wed Feb 11th- Mexico
Wed April 1st- Trinidad & Tobago
Sat June 6th- Hondurus
Sat Sept 5th- El Salvador
Wed Oct 14th- Costa Rica

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Interesting draw for the US. No back to back home matches and June will be quite busy. June 3 at Costa Rica, June 6 Home v Honduras followed with a match on June 10 in South Africa for the Confeds Cup. My original thought would be the June 6 Honduras match would be one that might come to SLC, but with travelling back from CR then on to SA right after, playing the June 6 match on the East Coast or SE may make more sense for travelling purposes.

I'm also still going with Columbus getting the Mexico match on Feb 11....anyone else interested in making a little trip???

EDIT: I was wrong with the June 10 match date in SA, that tourney runs from the 14-28.

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I hope we get one of the Saturday ones so we can have another double header.

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Really? You would think that Columbus would have the same type of problems with weather that Sandy would, except less snow. I don't know much about the history of these type of things though....

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We kicked off the final round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup in Columbus, in February, against Mexico. Won 2-0. It was the first time we played a meaningful home game against Mexico where we actually had home field advantage, and the match was played in the cold in Ohio specifically to generate that advantage.

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I have 6 seats in the front row of section 36, and would like to exchange them with someone else that has 6 front row seats.

Yes, there is a reason.

Send me a PM or something if you are interested.

My other option is to sell the seats, at cost. I can break them up, in a pack of 2 and a pack of 4.

Sin2r@yahoo.com
__________________

Re: WCQ at Rio Tinto?

I say we play the Mexico match at the RIo. The Mexicans use the Azteca to their advantage against us, so lets use the blistering cold of the Rockies in Feb to our advantage. Ok I just really want to see a US-Mexico match in person, I mean who wouldn't besides Larry H Miller?

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Didn't we have around 40,000 at the last WCQ? Would the Rio have enough seats at 20,008 or a WCQ considering the last one had twice the attendance? Would they actually consider having it at Rice-Eccles or even the LaVell for more seating? Obviously the Rio is the best place to watch a soccer match, but I see the seating as a potential problem (especially if we got lucky and had the Mexico game here (could you imagine the LaVell packed with 65,000 for a game in Feb.?)).

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Levell stadium is out of the question. When Real Madrid came there was the possibility of playing there but it was taken out of an option beacuse of the cost to removing the Stairway pillers to allow for an approriate size pitch. Rice Eccles has the expense of Grass.
I think playing a team like Hondurus and selling out the Rio (even if you could have sold an extra 10-20 thousand tickets is something that US Soccer is fine with. Especilly since the income for the match would help a US soccer team and not a University who could care less about soccer.

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I concur...and I do plan on being where-ever that match is...C-Bus, Rio, LA, NY,etc.. I WILL be there (along with the wife) : )

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I personally, along with pretty much everyone else, would love for that Feb 11th game to be played here but reality says differently.
I am hoping for either the June 6th v Hondurus or the Oct 14 v Costa Rica to be played in the RioT.
However, the game doesnt matter just PLEASE come to the RioT USMNT!

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With our large Mexican population here, it could be more of a home game for El Trey if they played here.

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Agreed. We can easily get a massive home advantage with most of the Concacaf teams, but not with Mexico.