U20 WCQ in Charleston, SC

[Mikey mouse]

Encased you missed it The U20s World Cup Qualifiers will be played in Chalreston, SC at the Battery's home ground Blackbaud Stadium, The first soccer specific stadium in the country. You can get more info here http://www.charlestonbattery.com/news.asp?y=2002&id=33&page=1

Hopefully some of you will make the trip down, see the youngsters play, check out an excellent facility and enjoy your stay.

Mikey

[Scrandal]

I called last week and they indicated tickets had not gone on sale. When they do would someone please post with a schedule, cost, etc best place to stayin the area?

Thanks, RGR

[Mikey mouse]

I'll post any develoopments here. I imagine though that they will come down via the US soccer email first.

As for where to stay here, I think it really depends on what else you want to do while your here. The closest hotel is Hampton Inn on Daniel Island. I'm sure they will be running a deal for the qualifers. (they are a Battery sponsor.)

The stadium is about 15 -20 minutes from the historic downtown where there is alot of nightlife, food, sights, and other things to do, so if you want to be near that type of thing, there are tons of hotels downtown and if you wamt the "Best" place to stay in the area, you would be hard press to fine some nicer hotels than those in downtown Charleston.

Also you can keep an eye out at www.charlestonbattery.com for info. They are very good about updating the website and there is good info about the stadium and the like.

mikey

[Sachin]

Dates are Nov. 13-17 in case anyone forgets.

I plan on making a few matches. I'll be driving down from Central Va. If anyone wants to ride down, let me know.

Sachin

[InnocentBystander]

Do any of you know whether there will be TV coverage - e.g. FSW? Unfortunately, I can't make it to Charleston.

[AndyMead]

Now come rumors that DC/RFK is chasing a Men's National Team game for Sunday the 17th against Brazil or Australia now that the Phoenix game is a no-go.

That would suck. I really would like to cover the U20s, but I'm not going to pass up a MNT game, especially if it is Brazil.

[vince stravino]

For the women's game last January vs Mexico in Charleston, Sam's Army stayed at the Day's Inn Historic District. They were very cool and it is located in the thick of the nightlife. It is a twenty minute hike to the stadium, though. It's not really economy, though.

Man, I wish US soccer would at least indicate what days the US team is slated to play so we could make plans with work and asking off. (This is the crap that drives US fans bonkers!).

I'm with Andy, though. If the USMNT has a game in DC...I'm there with bells on. I'd say that doesn't come off, though.

[AndyMead]

Originally posted by vince stravino
Man, I wish US soccer would at least indicate what days the US team is slated to play

Vince, it has to be doubleheaders on the 13th, 15th, and 17th. This will be a four team group with the group winner advancing to the U20 WC. I'm not sure if the second place team advances to a playoff with the other CONCACAF 2nd place team, but I wouldn't be surprised.

The big question becomes: what time are the games? If the US is a late game on Friday, I can probably sneak out of work in time to make it. If they play in the afternoon, then forget it.

The Wednesday game is out for me.

[JG]

Originally posted by AndyMead


This will be a four team group with the group winner advancing to the U20 WC. I'm not sure if the second place team advances to a playoff with the other CONCACAF 2nd place team, but I wouldn't be surprised.


Unless things have changed this cycle, CONCACAF has four spots in the U-20 WC, so the top two teams will qualify.

[AndyMead]

Originally posted by JG


Unless things have changed this cycle, CONCACAF has four spots in the U-20 WC, so the top two teams will qualify.

But isn't the next U20 WC in Guatemala? I think we only have 3 qualifying spots.

[dheck]

Originally posted by AndyMead
But isn't the next U20 WC in Guatemala? I think we only have 3 qualifying spots.

I thought this was in the United Arab Emirates.
Guatemala is playing in qualifying.

Has something changed or am I mistaken?

[AndyMead]

Originally posted by dheck


I thought this was in the United Arab Emirates.
Guatemala is playing in qualifying.

Has something changed or am I mistaken?

I said I "thought". I guess I thought wrong. It's getting harder and harder to keep all of these tournaments straight. Sigh.

[dheck]

Originally posted by AndyMead
I said I "thought". I guess I thought wrong. It's getting harder and harder to keep all of these tournaments straight. Sigh.

I was saying I "thought" too, but I found confirmationhere (http://www.asian-football.com/scripts/runisa.dll?m2:gp:580702:39913+u20/02/tour).

UAE are playing in AFC qualifying, too, but that is because AFC uses a confederation U-20 championship tournament as its qualifying tournament (like UEFA does for the Olympics).

I kind of wish CONCACAF would establish U-23, U-20, and U-17 championships instead of separate qualifying tournaments. It would give teams a little more to play for. Of course, with the current set up, the US hosts qualifying groups more frequently, so that is kind of nice.

[AndyMead]

Originally posted by dheck
I kind of wish CONCACAF would establish U-23, U-20, and U-17 championships instead of separate qualifying tournaments.

The 2000 Concacaf Olympic qualifying tournament was a U23 championship. Of course the final was more of an afterthought as the important games were the semis. --- Which in my mind points out one of the pitfalls of combining the two.

[Preston North End]

From the 8/19/2002 USSF press release...

Final Round (Top Two Teams In Each Group Advance to 2003 World Youth Championship)

Group A - October 16-20, 2002 (Panama): Panama, Mexico, 1st Place Central America, Winner Caribbean A/D

Group B - November 13-17, 2002 (Charleston, S.C.): United States, Canada, 2nd Place Central America, Winner Caribbean B/C

The U20 World Cup is being held in the United Arab Emirates 3/25 - 4/16/2003.

[dheck]

To update:

Group A - October 16-20, 2002 (Panama): Panama, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba

Group B - November 13-17, 2002 (Charleston, S.C.): United States, Canada, El Salvador, Haiti/Jamaica

[Mikey mouse]

Here's some new info about the U20 WCQ here in Charleston. Tickets and times for the matches are now available and it looks like you can get tickets for all the games for between $20 and $40 or you can buy individual game tickets go for $10 to $20.

Here's a link from US soccer
http://www.ussoccer.com/tickets/more_info.sps?ticketType=u20qual

Mikey

[Mason16]

So who's going? Where is everyone staying? We are thinking of making the trip up to SC for this.

[JBG - Bribe Taker]

Originally posted by InnocentBystander
Do any of you know whether there will be TV coverage - e.g. FSW? Unfortunately, I can't make it to Charleston.

This was in the most recent press release:

"U.S. UNDER-20 QUALIFIERS AVAILABLE ON PAY-PER-VIEW: U.S. Soccer and Innovative Sports Marketing have partnered to make the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team’s three matches at the CONCACAF Under-20 qualifying tournament available on pay-per-view. The three U.S. qualifying matches will be shown live and are available for $19.95 each through DirectTV and Time-Warner cable (in New York City). Additional outlets are expected to be announced soon. For more information on the pay-per-view broadcasts, contact ISM at 201-610-0200 or ismsports.com."

Here's the link: Rongen announces 18 man roster (http://www.charlestonbattery.com/news.asp?id=45)

[CG]

Originally posted by Mason16
So who's going? Where is everyone staying? We are thinking of making the trip up to SC for this.

I'm tentatively going. Looking for a reasonably priced($50-75/night) place to stay. How many does Blackbaud Stadium hold? Bringing at least 2 other people with me.