4,700 ft why play at Salt Lake City? (new)

[sublogik]

After all the excuses and complaining about the altitude at Azteca as the reason we played so poorly, why schedule a home qualifier at Salt Lake City which sits almost a mile above sea level? Granted, 4,700 feet isn't 7,300 like Azteca but it doesn't make any sense to me to play a qualifier here especially against Costa Rica, who 4 years ago became the only visiting team to ever win at Azteca. I understand they want to promote soccer in a new MLS expansion city but this just seems like an idiotic idea. And I certainly don't want to hear anything about being out of breath or tired or unable to run as excuses if we don't win this match.

[kylesoccer]

the federation must be assuming we will qualify no matter what. Therefore they are promoting the sport rather than giving our national team the best chance to win. I agree with you completely.

[Bonji]

US Soccer is helping the new MLS city by giving them a soccer event that will generate excitement in the market.

[Adam Zebrowski]

the mls factor is surely the primary reason...

also, albuqurque was at altitude too, and we could add denver to the mix...

still, 7300 down to 4700 is a significant drop-off, and the added factor of tico fans travelling in numbers to salt lake is more remote than other locals...

stll, I think birminghan and salt lake getting hex matches is a good move...

spreading the wealth for those who can't travel is nice...

[m vann]

It doesn't take nearly as much time to get adjusted to 4,700 as does 7,000. The quality of air is the biggest difference. As we all know smog is a hugh effect of the quality of air and mixed with the altitude is nearly impossib;e to adjust. If you;ve ever been to SLC the air is clean and refreshing after a short adjustment period.

[Bajoro]

The primary reason, it can now be divulged, is a deal cut between USSoccer and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, or Mormons to most.)

The Mormons spend millions each year to send their young all over the hemisphere looking for souls to save. They finally found a way of getting Central Americans to come -- voluntarily!! -- to SLC, the LDS spiritual home.

[alexdergrosse]

the mls factor is surely the primary reason...

also, albuqurque was at altitude too, and we could add denver to the mix...

still, 7300 down to 4700 is a significant drop-off, and the added factor of tico fans travelling in numbers to salt lake is more remote than other locals...

stll, I think birminghan and salt lake getting hex matches is a good move...

spreading the wealth for those who can't travel is nice...

I'm still perplexed as to why we don't play 50% of our MNT games at the HDC. Regardless of the influx of Latin American fans who would crowd the stadium, it seems to make sense to play a high percentage of games in one place where the players are familiar with the atmosphere. And often enough, half the fans in the stands root for the other team anyway, so what do we have to lose there?

[SteveMcCartney]

alttitude won't be such a problem if we stay in that place a little longer to get used to it and i believe that's what BA plan to do.

[ur_land]

I'm still perplexed as to why we don't play 50% of our MNT games at the HDC. Regardless of the influx of Latin American fans who would crowd the stadium, it seems to make sense to play a high percentage of games in one place where the players are familiar with the atmosphere. And often enough, half the fans in the stands root for the other team anyway, so what do we have to lose there?

Becasue that would suck for the large number of US Soccer fans who don't live in LA.

[Adam Zebrowski]

home depot means the euros need to fly 3 more time zones, and that more jet lagged...

when euros are out of season, then Home depot has a shot...

[Bajoro]

When we play Euros, HDC makes sense.

When we play Mexico or other CA teams... I'll never forget that game in the LA Coliseum with 95k Mexicans and about 4K USAians.

btw, I say give the Utahans their shot. Who knows, it could be the best pro-US crowd ever. There's a lot of patriotism in Utah and who knows, they could have soccer fever by then.

And Birmingham didn't suck.

[SaigonStriker]

100% on point about European based players adding 3-5 hours of travel time to reach the west coast. Just smart planning for them to meet our team somewhere in the East. Also, I like the idea of our team training at altitude whenever possible. It can only help our overall conditioning wherever we end up playing.

[Czar Pazzo]

I'm sure most of you have heard this before, but we had 20,000 or so come to watch a USWNT friendly vs. Ireland a couple years ago. It should be a big, pro-USA crowd.

[Ryan1980]

I'm sure most of you have heard this before, but we had 20,000 or so come to watch a USWNT friendly vs. Ireland a couple years ago. It should be a big, pro-USA crowd.
There also being a ton of soccer fans in the SLC/Provo area. It is even a decent drive from anywhere on the west coast for all those who want to make the drive. (My family is driving in from Portland) and I already hve 20+ friends who are not soccer nuts who want to go.

It will be a good showing, just don't know how many ticos are going to show up.

[Adam Zebrowski]

I suspect with all the mormon missions going on, utah folk would experience the world game a bit more than normal americans, who don't travel as much, hence, a more worldly appreciation for the game.

[mdfc]

Maybe the problem in Azteca isn't so much the altitude but the 11 guys in green we were playing against! That team's not half-bad!

[seahawkdad]

I'm still perplexed as to why we don't play 50% of our MNT games at the HDC. ... How close is New Haven to Hartford? Will you be going to the WCQ there? As others said, more games in LA, fewer games for the rest of us.

[Neubill]

I'm still perplexed as to why we don't play 50% of our MNT games at the HDC.

Live here for a year and you'll understand exactly why. So many things to do in LA and so little time. As far as American sports fans in Los Angeles are concerned, soccer is close to the bottom rung on the ladder of popularity, and people can't be bothered to attend a USNT match, knowing that some opposing fans just might show up. The ones that do are the ones who are true blue, and there aren't many.

I want the USA to have the best chance of taking maximum points at home during the WCQ cycle. Making sure the HDC does not host WCQ's is part of that. It pains me to say that, but sometimes the truth hurts. LA does not deserve any WCQ's until the fanbase changes for the better. We're just not ready.

[Indiana Jones]

Maybe the problem in Azteca isn't so much the altitude but the 11 guys in green we were playing against! That team's not half-bad!

As has previously been noted, not many of the Mexican players were acclimatised at that altitude either. Raphael Marquez plays for Barcelona - last time I went there it was on the Spanish COAST.

[WarrenWallace]

I'm still perplexed as to why we don't play 50% of our MNT games at the HDC.

51% of the USA population lives in the eastern time zone. Games need to be spread out. Salt Lake City will do just fine.