View Full Version : Bruce on Rentschler Field
Father Ted
10 Aug 2005, 09:21 AM
From The Hartford Courant:
http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-socfeat0810.artaug10,0,5946534.story?coll=hc-headlines-sports
"When Rentschler Field became a reality, I went on its website and I thought it looked outstanding," said Arena, the U.S. men's national team coach since 1998. "I asked U.S. Soccer to look at the possibility of hosting a game there because I thought the size, quality and location makes it perfect for us."
...
One of the keys for U.S. Soccer in picking venues is to create a pro-U.S. crowd. Arena said it was a mistake in 2001 to play Honduras at RFK in Washington in a qualifier as Hondurans filled the stadium. Salt Lake worked well, he said. Hartford now gets its chance to become a frequent host in the future.
Also....
U.S. Soccer press officer Michael Kammarman said about 15,000 tickets had been sold as of Monday. The capacity for soccer is 38,000.
Justin Z
10 Aug 2005, 10:16 AM
(of the Hartford Courant) U.S. Soccer press officer Michael Kammarman said about 15,000 tickets had been sold as of Monday. The capacity for soccer is 38,000.
Hopefully there's a pretty big walkup contingent then, that's a weak figure with only a week to go.
~Justin
appoo
10 Aug 2005, 10:18 AM
its a midweek match against weak competition. I was hoping for about 20K to be honest
blech
10 Aug 2005, 10:24 AM
i agree with appoo that this is what should have been expected given midweek and opponent, and with mexico on the horizon and people saving $ for that trip. that said, it is still disappointing that this is what our expectations are and that we're not going to pack the house. if this is really a tryout for the Rent, it will be interesting to see if it is graded against these expectations or against Salt Lake.
Heathens '87
10 Aug 2005, 10:25 AM
its a midweek match against weak competition. I was hoping for about 20K to be honest
The Guatemala game in Birmingham was a Wednesday evening as well, and it drew 31,000. I was shocked as how many Chapines were there, and I think the USSF was as well. Without a lot of supporters of Trinidad and Tobago coming out, 20,000 - 25,000 is probably about right for a mid-week game...
geordienation
10 Aug 2005, 10:28 AM
The Guatemala game in Birmingham was a Wednesday evening as well, and it drew 31,000.
First home qualifier.
NBlue
10 Aug 2005, 10:35 AM
The Guatemala game in Birmingham was a Wednesday evening as well, and it drew 31,000. I was shocked as how many Chapines were there, and I think the USSF was as well. Without a lot of supporters of Trinidad and Tobago coming out, 20,000 - 25,000 is probably about right for a mid-week game...
I was there in Birmingham. I say it was pretty evenly split -- so only about 15-16k US supporters came out.
metroflip73
10 Aug 2005, 11:20 AM
We'll be fine. As long as the USA fans in the home end make themselves heard, I could care less how many fans from Brooklyn watch Trinidad play.
They'll bring 10000 fans from Brooklyn alone!
They'll bring 10000 fans from Brooklyn alone!
They'll bring 10000 fans from Brooklyn alone!
Cuz the Trinis are a massive side
sidefootsitter
10 Aug 2005, 11:24 AM
The US really really needs a quality Upper East Coast field in order for its Euro based players not to have to travel across the US for the mid-week friendlies and the qualifiers. A 6-7 hour flight to NYC or Boston would be ideal.
But, at the same time, as the article said, it doesn't want to play in major cities either since that would allow the opponent's fans to overwhelm the US contingent.
So, this can be a big step for Connecticut, though I feel that the US no longer needs to worry about having a preponderance of Honduran fans in the audience.
the Next Level
10 Aug 2005, 12:14 PM
So, this can be a big step for Connecticut, though I feel that the US no longer needs to worry about having a preponderance of Honduran fans in the audience.
Dunno. I think we are just getting into the point where we will have to start worrying about the crowds - considering we are training the competition right here in our own league.
zcgf02
10 Aug 2005, 01:11 PM
I'm doing my part: flying in from Houston and bringing 5 soccer fans (who have never attended a USMNT game) from Long Island with me.
sidefootsitter
10 Aug 2005, 01:15 PM
Dunno. I think we are just getting into the point where we will have to start worrying about the crowds - considering we are training the competition right here in our own league. A couple of players from each nation. Meanwhile, the Jamaicans have half-a-dozen guys in the EPL/Colaship, Hondurans in Serie A&B and so forth.
soccrplayr21
11 Aug 2005, 04:23 AM
I was there in Birmingham. I say it was pretty evenly split -- so only about 15-16k US supporters came out.
i was there too, and there wasn't but about 10,000 guatemalans there, so that would leave about 21,000 americans. the guatemalans were just a lot more visual with their jerseys and flags.
RevsRule
11 Aug 2005, 07:37 AM
So, this can be a big step for Connecticut, though I feel that the US no longer needs to worry about having a preponderance of Honduran fans in the audience.
New England is so small that there is little difference between Boston (i.e. Foxboro) and Conneticut. It's a 1 hour vs a 2 hour trip for many. I think that there is little interest in seeing TnT play, no matter where you locate it. If it were Mexico in Foxboro, there would be a very large crowd.
Chowderhead
11 Aug 2005, 07:50 AM
New England is so small that there is little difference between Boston (i.e. Foxboro) and Conneticut. It's a 1 hour vs a 2 hour trip for many. I think that there is little interest in seeing TnT play, no matter where you locate it. If it were Mexico in Foxboro, there would be a very large crowd.
You mean southern New England. It would still be a haul from Presque Isle, Maine. But I get your point.
What makes E. Hartford ideal is not so much its proximity to significant New England population centers as its proximity to New York and New Jersey. Long term this venue will prove to be ideal. Ideal.
And I hate UConn.
The Magpie
11 Aug 2005, 07:59 AM
And I hate UConn.
Rep from a UMass-Amherst alum for that ;)
The Magpie
drew_VT_6
11 Aug 2005, 08:00 AM
What makes E. Hartford ideal is not so much its proximity to significant New England population centers as its proximity to New York and New Jersey. Long term this venue will prove to be ideal. Ideal.
Absolutely, until the Harrison Stadium is built, this is the best midsize stadium near the NYC metro area.
Chowderhead
11 Aug 2005, 10:33 AM
Connecticut is a good little soccer state, as well. And while many New Englanders like to dump on CT for so many different reasons (vapidity,sad attempts at asserting identity, a laughable superior complex, etc.), it is quintessentially New England for it is has that perfect mix of Yankee order and civilization and a little thing called juice. I have to admit that.
Magpie, I've learned to transcend my hatred of BC and Holy Cross (being Irish-Catholic helps) but I draw the line at UConn. I just can't feel the love for those clowns.
But they have a great stadium. Even if it is a day's drive from their campus.
Father Ted
11 Aug 2005, 10:35 AM
But they have a great stadium. Even if it is a day's drive from their campus.
Built by the taxpayers of Connecticut I might add. Not that we had much choice in the matter.
cleansheetbsc
11 Aug 2005, 10:41 AM
Built by the taxpayers of Connecticut I might add. Not that we had much choice in the matter.
and said stadium is operated by the just as evil Dolan Family/Cablevision/MSG folks. Damn people are poison to everything they touch.