http://www.detnews.com/article/2010...host-first-round-matches-of-CONCACAF-Gold-Cup Teams will be announced in February... let's hope for the Nats
I will be hoping for the USMNT, but either way I will be there. I know Central America still has to determine its participants, but I can't remember from two years ago when they announce the groups? Is it shortly after the Copa Centroamericana?
Game schedules were announced: March 7, 2007 April 2, 2009 I didn't go back and look further than that.
Yeah if I had to guess I'd agree with us getting Canada, since the Ford Field matches are the first day of Group C's play. Since the US are hosts I'd say they go group A. Fingers crossed though. Hopefully they announce seed the groups on like the 1st of Feb, since the copa centroamericana ends on the 23rd of Jan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_CONCACAF_Gold_Cup#Group_C also, if you go online to fordfield.org, they have tickets already for sale. I assume these are advance tickets, since they only have 5 sections for sale and they don't get closer than row 20. You guys think that the rest of the tickets will be that expensive ($108 for an upper tier seat)?
That website is NOT directly linked to either Ford Field or the Detroit Lions. Those are resale prices from a broker. Personally, I don't trust those kinds of deals. We'll wait and see just how much the ACTUAL prices are, and if we can get some sort of deal for the supporters group, whether it be Motor City Supporters or AO Detroit (all depends on if the US is coming).
Exactly why I didn't bother to buy them. The real ford field site is linked through the lions website and that .org site is incredibly generic.
I had checked the concacaf website just about every day this month but no luck. So I dug a bit in the other threads on this site and found this: http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2011/02/gold-cup-draw-postponed-until-march.html Looks like they're pushing the draw back to March for some reason, at least according to that site.
In case you missed this Gold Cup news from Steve Goff - Washington Post: "The Gold Cup groups and pairings won't be set by CONCACAF for at least another week or two, but it appears the United States' route will go from Detroit's Ford Field to Tampa's Raymond James Stadium and then to Kansas City's new soccer-specific arena in the first round" http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/ Great news, if it is true. Paul.
If that is true (and maybe even if it's not), the games at Ford Field could be a turning point for MLS in Detroit. If the place sells out, with a large, vocal presence by the MCS, it could provide the final impetus for expansion. Hell, selling out the Silverdome for the World Cup 17 years ago still resonates around here, a sellout for the CONCACAF Gold Cup would show beyond doubt that there is a strong interest for soccer in Detroit.
well assuming UMich gives me that job, I'm in. I was at the game in 94, and can't wait to see soccer in Detroit again.
Gold Cup games rarely sell extremely well. Let's set expectations on a reasonable turnout. A sold out lower bowl with mezzanine overflow would be a successful event in my book.
If the USA plays there, anything short of a sellout would be a disappointment. Some random Haiti/El Salvador or Trinidad/Cuba match, not so much.
Here's the thing, though. The US hasn't sold out group stage matches in previous Gold Cups. 2009 Seattle - 15,387 RFK - 26,079 Foxboro - 24,137 2007 LA (HDC) - 21,334 HDC - 27,000 (sellout) Foxboro - 26,523 2005 Seattle - 15,831 Seattle - 15,109 Foxboro - 15,211 For Detroit to be successful, 30K would suffice. For Detroit to make ANOTHER statement, sell out the joint.
Here's the thing, though: All of those places have regular top-flight soccer, Detroit does not. I still think that if AC Milan and Panathinaikos can draw 30,000, the United States of America in a meaningful, competitive match can and should draw twice that.
Will the U.S. be playing at Ford Field? We will find out officially this Tuesday, 3/8 at 12PM when the Gold Cup schedule is announced by CONCACAF.
Not only the USA, but Canada also? No excuse for not selling out the joint. In fact, the biggest priority for the MCS now is getting enough USA supporters in there to keep from having Ford Field be a home game for Canada.
Totally. *edit* I've got to get a block of good seats for me and my footie pals or else I won't be able to live with myself. - Tickets go onsale on Ticketmaster to the General Public March 16. For other details, CONCACAF says to call the box office of the Ford Field