Eddie Pope: Play Qualifiers in Alaska

[Thomas Flannigan]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-0506030326jun03,1,3639829.story

The venue for qualifers has been discussed many, many times in this forum. Some time ago my suggestion that we play games in Alaska was ridiculed by some mean-spririted people. One fellow, I think it was Jimmyjameseak, was kind enough to post a photo of one of the soccer stadiums in Anchorage. Since, then, Alaska has gotten many more Mexican residents. I just got back from Alaska and so many places are serving salmon tacos! I guess it was a good idea whose time came and went quickly!
In the same article, Coach Arena offers his opinion on the USSF decision to place qualifers in RFK. This was hotly debated 4 years ago with some, including myself, claiming it was a terrible mistake, and others writing that DC was the best place for qualifers:

"We found that that was a big mistake," (Arena) said.

[Aquarius21]

Despite US soccer's attempts to get a pro-american crowd, any international games held at RFK are no pro-american. But this isn't just RFK's problem, and the entire country's problem. Wherever games are held, there are always going to be fans from other countries outnumbering US supporters, and IMO it has to do with the culture. Other countries raise their children on soccer so they're passionate about going to every game possible, even it means travelling a great distance. Yes, our supporters are growing in number, but every stadium is going to have a challenge of getting a pro-american crowd. It's getting better, and hopefully Utah will make it a first.

[appoo]

I doesn't really bother me too much. This America, and diversity is our hallmark.

[appoo]

Despite US soccer's attempts to get a pro-american crowd, any international games held at RFK are no pro-american. But this isn't just RFK's problem, and the entire country's problem. Wherever games are held, there are always going to be fans from other countries outnumbering US supporters, and IMO it has to do with the culture. Other countries raise their children on soccer so they're passionate about going to every game possible, even it means travelling a great distance. Yes, our supporters are growing in number, but every stadium is going to have a challenge of getting a pro-american crowd. It's getting better, and hopefully Utah will make it a first.

Mexico in Columbus 4 years ago was DEFINALTY pro-USA

[Aquarius21]

Mexico in Columbus 4 years ago was DEFINALTY pro-USA

OK, maybe Utah will make it a second. My point is it's extremely difficult to get a pro-american crowd in any stadium, not just RFK, when this country has football, basketball and baseball as priorities over soccer.

And you're right, Mexico was a pro-american game but I think it's sad when we have to play in Colubmus in February in order to get a pro-american crowd. Why can't it happen all the time?

[Thomas Flannigan]

I doesn't really bother me too much. This America, and diversity is our hallmark.
Who made that rule? It sure seems to bother the national team and coaching staff. It is one thing to have diversity, another to get to the point where there is not a single city where our national team can play without facing a hostile crowd. It almost cost us a trip to the World Cup last time. It may well do so in the future. Let somebody else "celebrate diversity." Let's try to win some games and have a home field advantage.

[NBlue]

I think some on these boards Eddie Pope play the upcoming two qualifiers in Alaska.

[appoo]

Who made that rule? It sure seems to bother the national team and coaching staff. It is one thing to have diversity, another to get to the point where there is not a single city where our national team can play without facing a hostile crowd. It almost cost us a trip to the World Cup last time. It may well do so in the future. Let somebody else "celebrate diversity." Let's try to win some games and have a home field advantage.

has it truly hurt us? I don't blame the crowd for USA losing to Hondurus 4 years ago. I blame the the fact that we played like ********. Its not like we constantly lose home matches

[Serie Zed]

Mexico in Columbus 4 years ago was DEFINALTY pro-USA

But still 30-35% Mexican supporters.

The only places I remember a truly pro-US crowd were Portland, Oregon and Birmingham, AL. I expect Salt Lake will be similar.

[Davids26]

I seem to remember that US-Costa Rica in KC was a pretty good US crowd as well?

[Thomas Flannigan]

has it truly hurt us? I don't blame the crowd for USA losing to Hondurus 4 years ago. I blame the the fact that we played like ********. Its not like we constantly lose home matches

Of course it has hurt us. Listen to what Coach Arena and the players have to say. The Jamaica game at RFK and the Honduras game in RFK are two examples of bad results in qualifiers in front of hostile crowds. We got so lucky when jamaica was eliminated before the 2001 game in Foxboro, or that would have been a fiasco too. Going into RFK we had not lost a home qualifer in something like 20 years. Look what happened.
Another way it hurts us is at Nielsen ratings and the box office. The casual fan is not attracted to to the Azteca North ambience the USSF seems to strive for.

[appoo]

But still 30-35% Mexican supporters.

The only places I remember a truly pro-US crowd were Portland, Oregon and Birmingham, AL. I expect Salt Lake will be similar.

but why does this matter? Its not going to change, and its part of who we are. This is the USMNT. Not the National Team for only those who have lived in America for 200 years.

[GenXer]

Thomas Flanigan: "Let somebody else "celebrate diversity." Let's try to win some games and have a home field advantage."

Not sure why people of color make you so angry TF, but let's remember that there are more than a few who are instrument to 'our' world cup aspirations.

If you read that great article about how Dempsey learned the game as a kid (I don't have the source, but I believe it was from a Boston paper and I know you're well read on the US Nats), he wasn't playing with white suburbanites, but shoeless with Latinos.

So, maybe 'we' should 'celebrate diversity'!!

[ugaaccountant]

I think some on these boards Eddie Pope play the upcoming two qualifiers in Alaska.

I agree send Pope to Alaska to get him out of town while we sneak in the real qualifier in salt lake city.

Also I think we should play our qualifiers without worrying about what ethnic mix shows up to the games. I'd rather have a full stadium with a semi-hostile crowd so that our players get used to the pressure.

[appoo]

Another way it hurts us is at Nielsen ratings and the box office. The casual fan is not attracted to to the Azteca North ambience the USSF seems to strive for.

then screw em

[appoo]

honest truth, I thought the stories coming out of Birmingham, of the Gautemalans getting the very rare chance to celebrate their heritage, of poor families driving 1000s of miles just to attend the match, and then seeing all that blue, was very cool. Some things are bigger than soccer, and our diversity is one of them.

[Colonial717]

Yeah, but it is the national team for the people that want the US to win. I don't mind have millions of immigrants, I like them, they help the economy and make the US different. I do wish that they would support our team. I understand why they don't, I wouldn't support any team that was playing the US no matter where I moved to or eventually settled. But at the same time you have to see it as a problem if they are vocal supporters for a team that is not the USMNT. It doesn't matter if its "thier" home team or not, what matters is who they root for.

[Keeper 77]

then screw em

I agree with appooOnu, screw 'em. As, I'm sure we won't have too many pro-US crowds in Germany, in stadiums that will hold 60,000.

[sidefootsitter]

I doesn't really bother me too much. This America, and diversity is our hallmark. I like it because indirectly the foreign teams fans pay the US players salaries. Getting extra $50-100K per year for someone like Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey must be pretty sweet.

Oh, and the US should wallop every Latin American team that has a decent US fan base except Mexico and it should beat Mexico at home as well.

[ursula]

And now I'm hungry for some fish tacos. Can't wait till lunchtime!