2005 Gold Cup Venues Announced

[MiamiSoccer72]

http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=2936


2005 CONCACAF GOLD CUP™ SCHEDULE

ROUND 1, GROUP A
WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY
Match 1 Orange Bowl – Miami, Florida
Match 2 Orange Bowl – Miami, Florida

SATURDAY, 9 JULY
Match 9 Orange Bowl – Miami, Florida
Match 10 Orange Bowl – Miami, Florida

MONDAY, 11 JULY
Match 13 Orange Bowl – Miami, Florida
Match 14 Orange Bowl – Miami, Florida

ROUND 1, GROUP B
THURSDAY, 7 JULY
Match 3 Qwest Field – Seattle, Washington
Match 4 Qwest Field – Seattle, Washington

SATURDAY, 9 JULY
Match 7 Qwest Field – Seattle, Washington
Match 8 Qwest Field – Seattle, Washington

TUESDAY, 12 JULY
Match 15 Gillette Stadium – Foxboro, Massachusetts
Match 16 Gillette Stadium – Foxboro, Massachusetts

ROUND 1, GROUP C
FRIDAY, 8 JULY
Match 5 Home Depot Center – Carson, California
Match 6 Home Depot Center – Carson, California

SUNDAY, 10 JULY
Match 11 L.A. Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles, California
Match 12 L.A. Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles, California

WEDNESDAY, 13 JULY
Match 17 Reliant Stadium – Houston, Texas
Match 18 Reliant Stadium – Houston, Texas

QUARTERFINALS

SATURDAY, 16 JULY
Quarterfinal 1 Gillette Stadium – Foxboro, Massachusetts
Quarterfinal 2 Gillette Stadium – Foxboro, Massachusetts

SUNDAY, 17 JULY
Quarterfinal 3 Reliant Stadium – Houston, Texas
Quarterfinal 4 Reliant Stadium – Houston, Texas

SEMIFINALS
THURSDAY, 21 JULY
Semifinal 1 Giants Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey
Semifinal 2 Giants Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey

FINAL
SUNDAY, 24 JULY
Final Giants Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey

[IASocFan]

Looks like the schedule was made up by the US Travel Association to promote travel! :D :eek:

[beachesl]

So, doubleheaders for all except the Final match at Giants Stadium.

If the report that Foxboro is to get the US group is true (there were also rumours also that Seattle was to get the US), hopefully they break precedent and put Canada into Group B so that they can play in Foxboro and Seattle too, close for Canada supporters. With Mexico probably given the LA and Texas -venued Group C, if we don't get into Group B we would be stuck in Miami in July for the Group matches!

Watch for a team like Colombia or Venezuela to be the headliner in Miami, where they would get massive crowds. Also, there will be some provision for the US to have their QF in Foxboro no matter what, with a similiar guarantee for Mexico to be in Houston for the QF.

No Columbus for you Southern Ontario set I'm afraid.

If Canada makes it into group B, there will be only one Group match in Foxboro (a double header), and the first two matches are inTseattle. Two in Foxboro if they have a QF there, and then possibly two in Giants if they advance to the final. Could be a good road trip if you have the cajones.

Note that they haven't announced how the Group qualifiers advance yet (in terms of venue). I expect that if Canada is in group C, they would have any QF in Foxboro unless they (or the US) qualified through the third place rule.

I expect the QF spots would be something like:

QF1 (Foxboro) B1 v. C3(unless Mexico)/thenA3
QF2 (Foxboro) B2 (or B3 if US) v. A2
QF3 (Houston) C1 v. B3/thenA3 (or B2 if B3 US)
QF4 (Houston) C2 (or C3 if Mexico) v. A1

My bet (and hope) is that they break precedent because of the groups of 4, and put the US and Canada in the same Group B. I also expect they wil lwant South Africa in the same Group as the US for publicity and the experience for the US team.

Wild Predictions for Groups (there will be no "draw"):

Group A (Miami)

Colombia/Venezuela (not Brazil, as they'll have just finished Confederations Cup and still WCQ)
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Trinidad (that's 2 Carribeans in the same Group, but that's business)

Group B (Seattle and Foxboro)

USA
Canada
South Africa
Guatemala (less expats from here in US, as opposed to others)

Group C (LA, Carson and Houston)

Mexico
Cuba (keep them away from trouble in Miami)
Honduras
Panama/ElSalvador

[BorrachoNJ]

holyshyte, GS ?!?

usa v mexico, 80,000

mexes = 55,000
usa = 25,000

[efren95]

holyshyte, GS ?!?

usa v mexico, 80,000

mexes = 55,000
usa = 25,000

With a little bit of sobriety we could hope for the other way around...could we?

[Various Styles]

With a little bit of sobriety we could hope for the other way around...could we?

25,000 is too many yanks.. a more realistic number would be 5k :)

[IASocFan]

I would expect the QF spots would be something like:

QF1 (Foxboro) B1 v. C3 or A3
QF2 (Foxboro) B2 v. A2
QF3 (Houston) C1 v. B3 or A3
QF4 (Houston) C2 v. A1

The Semis will be QF1 v. QF4 and QF2 v. QF3

Wild Predictions for Groups (there may be a draw for CA and Carib teams):

Group A (Miami)
Costa Rica
South Africa
Central America team
Caribean team

Group B (Seattle and Foxboro)
USA
Canada
Central America team
Caribean team

Group C (LA, Carson and Houston)
Mexico
Colombia
Central America team
Caribean team

[Various Styles]

I would expect the QF spots would be something like:

Group C (LA, Carson and Houston)
Mexico
Colombia
Central America team
Caribean team

Why are you pairing up Mexico with Colombia, which will most likely play in Miami..

[IASocFan]

Why are you pairing up Mexico with Colombia, which will most likely play in Miami..

Because South Africa is closer to Miami; and Canada, Colombia, and South Africa will be in different groups. This will also put Colombia and Mexico in different semi-finals. Basically, just a guess.

[JG]

Guatemala (less expats from here in US, as opposed to others)


Guatemalans are the second-largest group of Central Americans in the US, behind Salvadorans. Costa Ricans and Panamanians are the smallest groups.

[sidspaceman]

Why do people expect that Colombia will be invited? So far nobody in the Colombian press has even suggested that they will be invited.

[beachesl]

No expectations, Sid, just trying to guess. Colombia, Venezuela or some other Latin name is a logical choice to fill the Miami niche and draw the crowds (Canadians are all cleared out of there by May, they'd all melt). I have heard no substantiated rumours whatsoever. Who knows, it might even be Germany, even tho they would have to issue strict exit-ramp information!!

[Flyin Ryan]

In the past when the Cuban soccer team has come to the U.S., have there been defection problems?

[sidspaceman]

No expectations, Sid, just trying to guess. Colombia, Venezuela or some other Latin name is a logical choice to fill the Miami niche and draw the crowds (Canadians are all cleared out of there by May, they'd all melt). I have heard no substantiated rumours whatsoever. Who knows, it might even be Germany, even tho they would have to issue strict exit-ramp information!!

O.K. thanks I was just curious since I've seen a few threads were it seems like a forgone conclusion that Colombia will be playing in the Gold Cup.

[Shaydee]

In the past when the Cuban soccer team has come to the U.S., have there been defection problems?


Yes, the two Cubans that were with the Colorado Rapids (Delgado & Martinez??) last year defected during the Gold Cup a few years ago.

[guamster]

In the past when the Cuban soccer team has come to the U.S., have there been defection problems?

Most recently:

Rey Angel Martinez (http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/players/bio.jsp?team=cor&player=martinez_r&playerId=mar661895) 24, made headlines back in February 2002 when he and teammate Alberto Delgado (http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/players/bio.jsp?team=cor&player=delgado_a&playerId=del231308) defected from the Cuban National Team during the team’s stay in Los Angeles for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

I don't recall any other defections but I am not sure if Cuba ever played in the Gold Cup in the US prior to 2002.

[Shaydee]

25,000 is too many yanks.. a more realistic number would be 5k :)


I'll be there so 5,001 :)

[sidspaceman]

In the past when the Cuban soccer team has come to the U.S., have there been defection problems?


Yes, a couple years ago at least 2 guys defected.

[Ismitje]

This sets my plans for July 6-10 in Seattle - with this scenario it sure makes most sense to put the USA in group B.

[socluis90]

if Concacaf wants to make money or have high attendacen on the games i think itll have to look something like this(with Group C being the big money maker)
Group A
Cuba
Colombia(if invited)
Haiti
Costa Rica

Group B
USA
Canada
South Africa
Honduras

Group C
Mexico
Guatemala
El Salvador
T&Tobago