I another thread, the question of possible venues was discussed for the USMNT games. With the possible large increase in games, most against smaller teams, where should the USSF host these games? Here are some thoughts of mine. 1. Lavell Edwards Stadium (Provo, UT). This was one of the many places that tried to host the WC in 94. It is beautifull, and provides an alternate to a high altitude stadium than Denver. Utah is full of Soccer families and a game should do well there. The USWNT is playing a game in SLC, and could be used as a Baramoter for future games. http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/utah/provo_edwards.shtml 2. Blackbaud Stadium (Charleston, SC) For a game against a smaller team, ie the Bahamas. The Battery fans have done a good job of coming out for the games and should support despite the low attendence for the U-20 qualfiers. 3. Lincon Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA) New Stadium that will be opened with a soccer game. This would provide an alternate to either RFK/Giants Stadium. It still would be in relative proximity to allow the fans from the NE Cooridor who wanted to travel that luxury. http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...tates/pennsylvania/philadelphia_lincoln.shtml 4. Yale Bowl (New Haven, CT) It is a good venue for watching soccer. Plus with the huge ethnic populations in the area, this could even sell-out for smaller teams. http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...nited_states/connecticut/new_haven_yale.shtml 5. Skelly Stadium/UCO Stadium (Tulsa/Edmond, OK) Give the heartland a chance if the MLS preseason games draw well there. I am not sure about the width and length of Skelly Staduim, that may eliminate them. http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...ica/united_states/oklahoma/tulsa_skelly.shtml 6. Reliant Stadium/Roberts Stadium (Houston, TX) I do not remember the last time this city got a game. It has the second highest tv raitings for MLS and don't have a team. Let them have a chance. http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...ica/united_states/texas/houston_reliant.shtml http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...a/united_states/texas/houston_robertson.shtml 7. Robert R. Hermann Stadium (SL, MO) It is about time that SL gets a game. http://slubillikens.ocsn.com/trads/stlo-facilities.html 8. Vanderbilt Stadium (Nashville, TN) Another possible market. This stadium is the best suited in TN for soccer, of the larger ones. http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...d_states/tennessee/nashville_vanderbilt.shtml 9. North Carolina. Greenville, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, or Durahm it does not matter. This state should have a presence. http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...north_carolina/greenville_dowdy_ficklen.shtml http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...tes/north_carolina/winston_salem_groves.shtml http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...es/north_carolina/raleigh_carter_finley.shtml http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadiu...ates/north_carolina/durham_wallace_wade.shtml
Lavell Edwards Stadium would limit a lot of the tailgating that Sams Army and the like do, seeing as though the Mormon religion doesn't really appreciate the use of alcohol, especially on grounds owned by or affiliated with the church.
I would love to take a road trip to a USMNT match. But as much as I would enjoy the soccer, I would also want to make a short vacation out of it, too. Simply put, I'd want to get hammered, and maybe hit a stripper bar or two. I'm not normally a pervert-row type of guy, but vacation is vacation, right? Not only that, but there is something else that a lot of soccer fans who I know enjoy a lot, but it is something that Utah's puritanical attitudes and relative dearth of 24-hour diners would render untenable.
Orlando or Jacksonville. Not before other cities in the country though. I mean we just had one in Miami.
Orlando or Jacksonville. Not before other cities in the country though. I mean we just had on in Miami.
No Skelly or Vanderbilt unless they've gotten rid of the carpets on concrete. No soccer match should be played on that, ever. I agree that OK should get a match somewhere sometime. Houston is rumored/near confirmed/depends on who you talk to for US-Mex on April 29. Even if I can't go, I can't wait to see soccer in Reliant. Charleston IMHO will get one of the two 1st/minnow round matches if the US has to play 3 qual. rounds. The bigger cities aren't going to want those to be honest. If you can get a wide enough pitch with a bit of irragation, Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium could work for a friendly. If Minny had a bigger stadium than Blaine, they'd be a shoo in.
that would be a *narrow* field... are the blue things in the corners permanent? if so, insanely short as well too small, add several thousand seats and come back to us... as it is, nice for youth national games and women's national games this is the one for the man-ure tour? if it is, fine for national games... they are putting in grass... right? too short and too narrow... that field is only as wide as the football field at the endzones currently, i think this field is the size of naperville's... which means nope... that and it's fieldturf this place will probably get some games at some point... (be it the new stadium or where the galaxatives played a friendly) st. louis has no place for the national team to play... hermann field is tiny when it comes to the number of fans it can seat... it's perfectly fine for women's and youth national games... insanely narrow groves is way too narrow, wallace wade is *beyond* narrow, carter is narrow, and dowdy ficklen might be ok... might be too narrow as well
they got close to 30k for a meaningless friendly, you'll see another game there in the future there are quite a few games that are almost entirely about the money
Heck yeah. While friendlies are nice (and I will take every one we can get) I think we are ready to have a WCQ bestowed upon us. With uninteresting teams (Tunisia & Ecuador) we've outdrawn bigger cities with better/more popular teams. We are getting a women's Nats game in May (England) so we are definately high on the USSF's radar for a mid-sized city.
30k versus Argentina, in my book, almost guarantees they won't get anymore games. That is a crummy draw for a team of that caliber. There are, at least, 10 places that could have gotten a better draw than that. If US is looking for smaller venues for qualifiers, I'd throw in Hershey PA (had Olympics qualifiers), Portland (WCQ vs CR), and Richmond (WCQ vs TNT?).
I think a lot of people didn't go because both rosters were packed with newbies. That being said, I was at that match and it was a good time. There didn't seem to be any hostility between fans and Miami is an awesome place to go visit (if not a bit out of the way for 99% of the country.)
Lincon Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA) they are putting down this stuff that isn't grass, its suppose to be better. The Seahawks field in Seattle has it because the players on the team demanded it becasue they had such a good expierence playing on it at the University of Washington while their stadium was being built. Its made out of crushed rubber or something like that. It is better for the knees and ankles, gives more of a boost to home team for having more expeirence and it doens't get ripped up due to a combination of rain and usage. i think this stuff is also going up in Gaints Stadium and a few other places. This is a link to a company that makes the turf, don't know if its the one being used for Lincoln Financial: http://www.fieldturf.com/nav.cfm?page=product
I think this is the same stuff the Chicago Fire uses and there hasn't been anything but complaints. I've played on the stuff and I like it. However, it plays too fast and, from complaints I've heard, it gets very hot in the summer.
Tech. it's different stuff. 2 different companies..however I'm not sure exactly how different the two are. I'm told field turf is apparently better. Who knows On a side note...I've played on Field Turf, It's good. Nothing is like grass, but this comes the closest so far. Still runs a little too fast if you know what i mean. Bounces are more true though.