View Full Version : Birmingham, AL: USA vs. Guatemala WCQ Questions & Answers thread
nicodemus
20 Dec 2004, 05:59 PM
I lived in Birmingham all my life until I moved five months ago. I'm obviously incredibly familiar with the area, and will be happy to answer any questions anyone may have about the city. I can recommend hotels, restaurants, things to do, etc. Just fire away with the questions and I will find you an answer. I will be back in town for the game for several days and teaming up with all of my Birmingham friends to get together a big tailgate/party from the Birmingham folk to welcome you all with fine southern hospitality!
My first recommendation is this: Don't stay anywhere within walking distance of the stadium. It is in a really crappy part of town.
Eliezar
20 Dec 2004, 06:11 PM
Okay...so what areas of Birmingham would you recommend? If I come in I will most likely drive there the day of (10 hours) and just stay that one night though.
I lived in Birmingham all my life until I moved five months ago. I'm obviously incredibly familiar with the area, and will be happy to answer any questions anyone may have about the city. I can recommend hotels, restaurants, things to do, etc. Just fire away with the questions and I will find you an answer. I will be back in town for the game for several days and teaming up with all of my Birmingham friends to get together a big tailgate/party from the Birmingham folk to welcome you all with fine southern hospitality!
My first recommendation is this: Don't stay anywhere within walking distance of the stadium. It is in a really crappy part of town.
beat me to the punch on starting this thread.
nicodemus
20 Dec 2004, 06:28 PM
Okay...so what areas of Birmingham would you recommend? If I come in I will most likely drive there the day of (10 hours) and just stay that one night though.
I would recommend the 5 Points South area. Make SURE it's Five Points SOUTH though, because there's a Five Points West, and you don't want to stay there.
I would recommend the following hotels:
Pickwick Place Hotel: 800-255-7304 or 205-933-9555 http://www.pickwickhotel.com
Radisson Birmingham: 205-933-9000
If you fly in (I know you said you're driving, but this is for everyone) you can stay at either of those and have a million restaurants/bars to choose from. There's everything down there: Thai, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, pizza, high end stuff, the chain stuff, etc.
(There's some complete shithole dive across from the Radisson that's really cheap that I can't think of the name of that one of folks still living there would have to find out. That's for the people that don't mind staying in a bare mimimum kind of place.)
It's not that far from the stadium and would be easy to find by car and would be a fairly inexpensive cab ride.
for a bit cheaper if you have a car,
Best Western on University Blvd:
It's still close to 5 Points South, but you'd want a car to get to all the restaurants and stuff.
I looked that up in the phone book, but didn't see it listed. Pvan4, is that still a Best Western by UAB West Campus Fields?
He'll have to check that one for you. It's where all the visiting teams that play UAB Soccer stay.
sarabella
20 Dec 2004, 06:29 PM
I'll be there. Can't wait to meet you guys. :D
I'll be there. Can't wait to meet you guys. :D
the feeling is mutual.
Mikeymike15
20 Dec 2004, 06:39 PM
I'll be there....driving from Atlanta...looking for people to tail gate with!!!
Any takers...(i'm unaware of the local fan club if there is one, so I'd be happy to organize or help organize)
fidlerre
20 Dec 2004, 06:40 PM
This means I finally have to meet Nico's dumbass brother ehh? Bummer ;)
I'm finding a way to make it to this one, time to start checking flights...
nicodemus
20 Dec 2004, 06:41 PM
Here's some photos from the 5 Points South area:
http://www.pickwickhotel.com/horsbugy.jpg
http://www.crankreport.org/BigWinterTrip/images/StillMorePhotos/Storyteller5PointsSouthBham2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/silouan92/southside3.jpg
http://www.traveljourno.com/SI/P/268_1.jpg
afgrijselijkheid
20 Dec 2004, 06:43 PM
all visitors to birmingham are required to 1)get a slice of johnny ray's lemon icebox pie & 2)hate auburn
hoover is another decent area with lots of hotel rooms, 10 minutes from the stadium area
nicodemus
20 Dec 2004, 06:43 PM
I'll be there....driving from Atlanta...looking for people to tail gate with!!!
Any takers...(i'm unaware of the local fan club if there is one, so I'd be happy to organize or help organize)
We'll be organizing. Believe me.
Thomas Flannigan
20 Dec 2004, 06:44 PM
We will be in good hands with Nicodedemus and other Alabamans organizing fan support!
Yankee_Blue
20 Dec 2004, 06:46 PM
Was there for US-Ecuador. And I'll be back for this one. Finally, a game within 3-4 hours drive from my house...
Mikeymike15
20 Dec 2004, 06:46 PM
We'll be organizing. Believe me.
In the immortal words of Eric Cartman.....
Schweeeeeeettt :D
This means I finally have to meet Nico's dumbass brother ehh? Bummer ;)
and I get to meet the mighty Fid. I'm jumping for joy.
:rolleyes:
nicodemus
20 Dec 2004, 06:48 PM
Was there for US-Ecuador. And I'll be back for this one. Finally, a game within 3-4 hours drive from my house...
If you make it from NO to B'ham in 3 hours, you're a true speed demon :D
asdf2
20 Dec 2004, 06:49 PM
How big is the stadium?
How many people will be there?
What % US crowd?
nicodemus
20 Dec 2004, 06:50 PM
hoover is another decent area with lots of hotel rooms, 10 minutes from the stadium area True. Homewood is good too.
However, Southside/5 Points South is where you're best dining/entertainment options will be.
How many people will be there?
What % US crowd?
If I knew the answers to these questions, I'd also tell you who is gonna win.
;)
nicodemus
20 Dec 2004, 06:53 PM
How big is the stadium?
72,000. It was 81,000, but 9,000 upper deck seats were recently deemed unusable due to structural problems.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/silouan92/UAB_Legion_Field1.gif
How many people will be there?
Obviously, it's impossible to predict but for previous matches:
Ecuador (friendly) in 2002: 24,000
Tunisia (friendly) in 2000: 21,000
Then there's the totally unrealistic for this game Olympic numbers from '96:
Argentina: 81,000
Tunisia: 50,000+
What % US crowd?Overwhelming majority for the US. I'd say over 90% in every case.