Hex locations: Cart before horse?

[Raider Red]

So yesterday's result pretty much ensures advancement to the semis, and we pretty much know the locations for these games:

El Salvador--Foxboro
Panama--probably DC (cough, oversaturation, cough)
Jamaica/Haiti--Columbus

We should beat these chumps and move on to the Hex no problem. My question is, where will those games be played? (I remember we had this discussion a few months ago, but I can't recall the final consensus opinion. If someone wants to dig up that thread and link it, that would be cool.)

Here are my guesses:

Mexico--Columbus for sure
Costa Rica--KC again? maybe Denver?
T&T--DC
El Sal/Panama/Haiti--Foxboro
Canada/Honduras--HDC (I figure one game will be there)

Dallas should have their new stadium in Frisco done sometime next year...if USSoccer blesses us with a Hex game there, who would be the likely opponent(s)? Anybody but the Mexicans and Central Americans?

[onefineesq]

Well, in answer to your question, i think you are certainly putting the cart before the horse in talking about the hex. we have quite a long way to go before that becomes a reality. however, since you are talking about where to have these games, i will throw in an opinion. I would love to see some games out in the northwest ....... say Seattle for instance. and hell ...... if Adu could draw 10,000 + fans as a 13 year old in Minnesota as a warm up game for the u-17 tournament, I would be sure that we could fill a decent sized stadium in the state for a WCQ. I guess that I'm just trying to say that going to Foxboro is getting old. going to Columbus is getting old. and yes, going to DC, where i live, is getting old. There are tons of places in this country where the US could receive a real home field advantage, and we just aren't taking advantage of it. We may sit here and pontificate about how it's all about the money, but if we get a bad result in the next round because we're playing a couple of "home" games in front of a crowd that 60% for the visitors .......... well, you know what i'm trying to say. a lot more money would be lost in the long run. I'm for giving some of these games to other places in the heartland, where we can get some wildly rabid pro US crowds. enough of foxboro .............. please.

[ThreeApples]

If the Panama game is indeed placed at RFK, then by the end of the year, there will have been 12 of the last 13 home qualifiers in the RFK-Foxboro-Columbus Triangle. All 13 will have been in the eastern half of the country. I can't imagine the USSF failing to give each of the Triangle sites at least one game in the hex, leaving 2 matches at most as possibilities for other sites.

[Octavius Agustus]

Columbus should be saved up for the Mexico game. Oversaturation may lead to disinterest and then your worst nightmare will come true.

BTW, wasn't there a US-Mex WCQ game in Foxboro with a heavily pro-US LARGE crowd. I think it was for the 98 World Cup and it drew over 50.000???

[10 fan]

I've seen people use the term "hex" a lot, but I' not sure I know quite what it means. Is it the name of the next round of qualifying? Thanks.

[Dave Brull]

Hex means six as in six teams in the CONCACAF finals.

If we play Canada, should we play the game in Dallas so that the stands won't be overrun with rabid, rioting Canadians?

[SmittyLax6]

Columbus should be saved up for the Mexico game. Oversaturation may lead to disinterest and then your worst nightmare will come true.

BTW, wasn't there a US-Mex WCQ game in Foxboro with a heavily pro-US LARGE crowd. I think it was for the 98 World Cup and it drew over 50.000???

I was at that game and it was not "heavily pro-US." It was maybe 55-45 US and that is pushing it. Lately, Foxboro has done better with the ticket distribution. They are going to continue to use Foxboro as Gillette stadium was built with soccer in mind and they can control who gets the tickets.

[texgator]

Canada for Frisco wouldn't be a bad choice, particularly in late Spring or Early Fall when we still get warm weather. Or any of the Carribean nations wouldn't be a problem for Frisco, there isn't much of an Island population here.

[Kryptonite]

El Salvador--Foxboro
Panama--probably DC (cough, oversaturation, cough)
Jamaica/Haiti--Columbus

Mexico--Columbus for sure
Costa Rica--KC again? maybe Denver?
T&T--DC
El Sal/Panama/Haiti--Foxboro
Canada/Honduras--HDC (I figure one game will be there)


I wonder what the population of people from T&T, El Sal, Panama is like in DC.

Maybe that game should be a west coast game??

[ZeekLTK]

I'd be nice if they gave Detroit a game. We did a good job hosting the 1994 World Cup...

[dfb547490]

Depends on who qualifies for the Hex. I say have a specific venue planned for each team with a realistic chance of going thru:

Jamaica - Denver
El Salvador - Columbus
Haiti - Denver or Seattle
Costa Rica - Foxboro, RFK, or LA
Canada - RFK or LA
Guatemala - Kansas City or Columbus
Honduras - Foxboro
Mexico - Columbus
Trinidad - Denver, LA, or Foxboro

It's pretty much a given that RFK, Columbus, Foxboro, and LA will all get at least 1 game each, which only leaves 1 game open. The main things to take into consideration are the time of year we're playing the games, and the exact group of teams that have qualified. The time of year is important because we should put all home games in cold-weather months against teams other than Canada in cold-weather venues (Foxboro, Columbus, or to a lesser extent Denver). The grouping of teams is important mainly because it allows us to put the LA game where it will do the least damage. The only teams I'd be really comfortable putting in LA are Canada or a Carribean team, and I think we should put the strongest Carribean team who qualifies for the Hex (which will be either Jamaica, Haiti, or Trinidad) in Denver to take advantage of the altitude. Thus, we ideally want Canada to qualify for the Hex because that's a natural fit for an LA game. If all else fails I think we could get away with putting Costa Rica there, but if Canada doesn't qualify and we're playing Costa Rica and the Carribean teams in cold-weather months, then I think LA has to get shut out, as unthinkable as it is.

The other concern is which team we will play in RFK. It's a safer venue than LA, but still not entirely safe. The teams we definitely can't play here are Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, and possibly Haiti. Safe bets are Canada, Costa Rica, and Trinidad. RFK will get one of those 3 games (it'd take a near-miracle for none of them to make the Hex, but if Trinidad gets knocked off it will be by a minnow who can be safely placed in DC). Columbus has Mexico sealed up, and if everything shakes out the way I expect it will I'd be very surprised to see Honduras anywhere other than Foxboro. It's not an ideal fit, but with Carribean teams earmarked for Denver (where we can take advantage of the altitude), LA, and DC, Honduras is the best option for Foxboro (who are certain to get a game). The only other sure bet for a city SHOULD be Jamaica, who are the best Carribean team by far--if they make it to the Hex, they should be put in Denver (they have serious problems with altitude--they once lost 5-0 to a Mexican Second Division club at altitude), no questions asked. Particularly if it's a cold-weather game to boot.

The Hex is always tough, but if we avoid large immigrant populations of the opposition as best as possible, and take advantage of our natural resources such as weather, geography, and altitude in cities like Denver, then we can make it much easier on ourselves.

[Raider Red]

Thanks a lot, dfb...exactly what I was looking for!

[SABuffalo786]

I'd put the Ticos in KC. Worked last time.

[geordienation]

Canada for Frisco wouldn't be a bad choice, particularly in late Spring or Early Fall when we still get warm weather. Or any of the Carribean nations wouldn't be a problem for Frisco, there isn't much of an Island population here.


97 qualifier was played there against Canada. 29K attendence.

[tkgunn]

I was thinking about this same thing on my 9 hour drive back from columbus. And I wouldn't be suprised to see Philly's Lincoln Financial Field get a game since they have grass in there. They are pretty close to right in the middle of NYC and DC, brand new facility, etc.

[geordienation]

Depends on who qualifies for the Hex. I say have a specific venue planned for each team with a realistic chance of going thru:

Jamaica - Denver
El Salvador - Columbus
Haiti - Denver or Seattle
Costa Rica - Foxboro, RFK, or LA
Canada - RFK or LA
Guatemala - Kansas City or Columbus
Honduras - Foxboro
Mexico - Columbus
Trinidad - Denver, LA, or Foxboro

It's pretty much a given that RFK, Columbus, Foxboro, and LA will all get at least 1 game each, which only leaves 1 game open. The main things to take into consideration are the time of year we're playing the games, and the exact group of teams that have qualified. The time of year is important because we should put all home games in cold-weather months against teams other than Canada in cold-weather venues (Foxboro, Columbus, or to a lesser extent Denver). The grouping of teams is important mainly because it allows us to put the LA game where it will do the least damage. The only teams I'd be really comfortable putting in LA are Canada or a Carribean team, and I think we should put the strongest Carribean team who qualifies for the Hex (which will be either Jamaica, Haiti, or Trinidad) in Denver to take advantage of the altitude. Thus, we ideally want Canada to qualify for the Hex because that's a natural fit for an LA game. If all else fails I think we could get away with putting Costa Rica there, but if Canada doesn't qualify and we're playing Costa Rica and the Carribean teams in cold-weather months, then I think LA has to get shut out, as unthinkable as it is.

The other concern is which team we will play in RFK. It's a safer venue than LA, but still not entirely safe. The teams we definitely can't play here are Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, and possibly Haiti. Safe bets are Canada, Costa Rica, and Trinidad. RFK will get one of those 3 games (it'd take a near-miracle for none of them to make the Hex, but if Trinidad gets knocked off it will be by a minnow who can be safely placed in DC). Columbus has Mexico sealed up, and if everything shakes out the way I expect it will I'd be very surprised to see Honduras anywhere other than Foxboro. It's not an ideal fit, but with Carribean teams earmarked for Denver (where we can take advantage of the altitude), LA, and DC, Honduras is the best option for Foxboro (who are certain to get a game). The only other sure bet for a city SHOULD be Jamaica, who are the best Carribean team by far--if they make it to the Hex, they should be put in Denver (they have serious problems with altitude--they once lost 5-0 to a Mexican Second Division club at altitude), no questions asked. Particularly if it's a cold-weather game to boot.

The Hex is always tough, but if we avoid large immigrant populations of the opposition as best as possible, and take advantage of our natural resources such as weather, geography, and altitude in cities like Denver, then we can make it much easier on ourselves.


Well thought out.

A second consideration is the European season. You don't want to make Euro players schlep to Denver or LA and add 4-6 hours of travel time.

[ThreeApples]

97 qualifier was played there against Canada. 29K attendence.

That was at Stanford, California, not Frisco, Texas.

[ThreeApples]

I was thinking about this same thing on my 9 hour drive back from columbus. And I wouldn't be suprised to see Philly's Lincoln Financial Field get a game since they have grass in there. They are pretty close to right in the middle of NYC and DC, brand new facility, etc.

Too bad they modeled the width of the field after Spartan Stadium.

[FabFiveFigo]

[QUOTE=dfb547490]The only other sure bet for a city SHOULD be Jamaica, who are the best Carribean team by far--if they make it to the Hex, they should be put in Denver (they have serious problems with altitude--they once lost 5-0 to a Mexican Second Division club at altitude), no questions asked. Particularly if it's a cold-weather game to boot.

QUOTE]
I realy hope Jamaica, or which ever carribean team playing in Denver is in February or something. I love the thought of those guys having to play in snow.

For this same reason, I'm hoping that Canada makes the Hex and gets to schedule one of the central american "powerhouses" in some converted outdoor hockey rink in Saskatchewan somewere.

[Sachsen]

AR-ROW-HEAD! AR-ROW-HEAD! AR-ROW-HEAD!

(No, I'm not biased.)

Let's play Canada in LA or Dallas.
Let's play Mexico in Anchorage.
And the rest in Kansas City. Thank you.