The US has hosted every Gold Cup for the past 2 decades. It's time to see if aother country can successfully hose this tournament. At first glance Mexico seems like the logical choice. They have an ample number of stadiums, and the infrastructure to host a world class event. They have a soccer mad population, and a decent sized middle class. The problem with Mexico (in my opinion) is that I can't see them successfully marketing non Mexico matches. How good would Costa Rica vs El Salvador draw in Mexico? My question for Mexican fans is this....Can the FMF successfully market those games? Canada seems to be a better choice to me. They have stadia of the proper size and quality. They are a 1st world country so you know that their infrastructure is good enough. Like the US they have a large immigrant population which would come out to support their home nations. You have groups in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa or Edmonton. I don't think it would possible for a Central American nation to successfully host this tournament. Even with two nations hosting in a joint bid. Note to Mods: I know that there is a Gold Cup sub forum. I chose to post this here because that forum gets very little traffic, and I would like to get the input of people from a wide variety of nations. In particular Canada and Mexico.
It can stay Infrastructure and organization - Canada and Mexico. Attendance - Central America. Travel within Central America isn´t too much of a hassle (at least for Central Americans. Costa Rica and Panama are already huge tourist destinations, and every Central American country outside of El Salvador has a sizable Caribbean population. We have three decent stadiums (other Central American countries are lucky to have two) which still aren´t anything like Mexico and the US, and visiting teams might have a problem with a synthetic turf. Our fans can be ugly at times too.
A US vs Mexico match in Central America would be a very intriguing match up. Who do you think the crowd would support? Who do they hate less? Saprissa could always install temporary grass if need be.
It's the Gold Cup, not the World Cup. The infrastructure is obviously inferior to the US or Canada, but good enough to host this kind of tournament. Unless you were talking about external issues, I don't see how it wouldn't be able to host the Gold Cup. The ideal host however is the US. An El Salvador vs. Guatemala matchup would almost be a sell out in some US cities. In Torreon, Guadalajara, and Mexico City, not so much.
They could and they have, the issue is profits, what makes concacaf more money, I think that the answer is the USA.
Mexico can host it, but the games would be played with empty stadiums. Even Mexico's would only draw a few thousands in all games but the final. The only way it might move is if the US wins like 4 or 5 in a row, then other countries might begin to complaint about it not being fair, currently is not a fair competition but no one complaining yet.
Mexico can host it, but the way things are going down there it would hinder ¨potential¨ attendance. Even though we all know some matches would be empty at least their would be some visitors. Right now not so much.
Absolutely Mexico can host it. All you need really to host it is like 3 or 4 stadiums. Its very likely that most games would be in empty stadiums in Mexico but If Mexico or Canada or whoever markets the competition correctly who knows you never know until you try. And Concacaf doesn´t even try And thats why the Gold Cup is shit not the shit, just shit
Well, Mexico has hosted, co-hosting as recently as 2003 with the US. Since then, they've put up some beautiful stadia (too bad Chivas put in turf, ruining that beautiful new one). The only question would be attendance, and some safety concerns. I like the idea of co-hosting. GC is only 12 teams (three, four team groups). Why not have the top seed in each group host. USA and Mexico could host their groups, and Honduras/Costa Rica/Canada can host the third one. The idea here is to the grow the sport. Central America has the passion, but not the infrastructure. Let's try to give them some $$ so they can build that up and have at least 3 Gold Cup quality stadiums (15-20k) with good grass fields. Costa Rica is there already, and Honduras is probably close. Then go for Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Nicaragua last. Once that is done, then start with the Island nations (Jamaica, T&T, Haiti, Cuba) and Suriname & Belize. Point being, spreading it around will benefit those smaller nations. I'm not so sure that happens when the Cup is in the US, I get a feeling that there are sticky fingers at CONCACAF. If the games are IN a certain country, then that country will get some benefits (visiting fans, dollars, exposure) that they can't grab like the gate from Miami.
Mexico can't host the gold cup. All you have to do to realize that is see the attendance of the Brazil-Honduras game in Azteca in the gold up in 2003. And that game had Brazil playing. I don't see Mexican fans going to see El Salvador- Guadaloupe if they paid them to go watch it.
Not really, just the most logical place to host it for several reasons. The Cup can´t be legit so long as the same nation keeps hosting it.
I don't know what is the issue with Mexico's football infrastructure. Mexico has some of the best, if not the best football (soccer to the gringos) stadiums in America (North and South American continents for the gringos). the travel infrastructure could be better but it is still pretty good compared to Latin American countries (obviously Canada and the U.S. top that). Furthermore, the ticket prices for games hosted in the U.S. are already the same for league games in some stadiums. Mexico has a large immigrant population from all of concacaf. Particularly Cubans an Central Americans. Central Americans are generally poor, so I'm not sure if they can afford it but maybe they can make the sacrifice to see their teams. Cubans are generally middle class or lower-middle class. Furthermore, traveling to Mexico is generally easier for Central Americans and Caribbeans(at least the ones who qualify). Central Americans who can't enter legally into Mexico will just cross illegally, so I don't think it would be much of a problem. Also, Televisa is the largest Spanish speaking network in the world, I am sure they will make sure the tournament is well promoted.
Mexico's infraestructure is not a problem at all especially for a tournament like the Gold Cup. The problem is that nobody is going to go watch the games. I think you totally overrate the population of central americans in Mexico. Not only are they poor but they aren't that many. Plus the travel thing is suspect since I don't think people from Central America travel to the gold cup like they would in WC qualifiers (which even that is suspect). The gold cup depends on the immigrant population of the US to have fans attend. People in Mexico will think it's beneath them and they will not go to any games that aren't Mexico games. Just look at any game that isn't a Mexico game in any of the youth WC qualifiers that have been placed or better yet the Brazil/Honduras game in Azteca in 2003. And I remember that game was promoted.
Mexico's bus system is one of the best in Latin America and better than the Greyhound (since Americans tend to travel by air over long distances anyways.) Central Americans and other illegals aren't out in the open the way they are in the US. Going to a game with banners and exposing themselves on television would be risky. It could make them targets.
Mexico doesn't take immigration as serious as the U.S. there was a protest in Torreon by illegal immigrants and Mexicans alike to protest the lack of protection for illegal immigrants, and none were targeted. In tamaulipas alone there are a shit load of central Americans. If there is a large colony of Argentinians in Mexico city, I'm sure there is alos a large colony of central Americans, and I don't think they would be in danger, and if they are, I would be seriously disappointed by my paisanos. You are right on the bus system though. It is the preferred method of transportation by Mexicans, and they got routes going to every corner of the country.
Once again you are totally overestimating the population of central americans in Mexico. There are a lot more Argentineans than central americans in Mexico city. Just look at the stats that although they are mostly underrated because of illegals they aren't that big at all. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Estadística_de_la_población_extranjera_(año_2000) Only Guatemala has a significant portion and I bet it's mostly in southern states not in Mexico City. And even so if the US has such a large majority of central americans and even they don't sell out the games, what would make it so in Mexico? Mexico doesn't have the fan support to sucesfully host a Gold Cup. That is the only reason but it is a main one.
They may not take it as seriously, but don't have various civil and human rights groups protecting them the way they do in America. The Mexican population may not be prejudiced against them, but the federal police and (especially) the cartels/coyotes routinely take advantage of them. Regardless there aren't enough of them to make a difference at matches. As has been said, there are huge numbers of Central Americans in the US, but unless their teams perform well, not too many show up at games. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadoran_American http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemalan_American http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduran_American
more people would be willing to travel for the gold cup if it gained more credibility, and that can only be done by hosting it elsewhere, including Mexico, central America and Caribbean, the last two could do it by having two countries hosting it together. Mexicans are known to travel anywhere with the team, and if the tournament is host in Mexico, the Mexican media will know how to hype it up to generate interest no just in Mexico, but in other countries too. Furthermore, its easier to travel to Mexico or the Caribbean than to the U.S., where many people can't get in legally.
I agree, but not in large numbers. Central American and Caribbean fans have come out in large numbers to nearby stadiums when their teams perfomed well, but don't travel much between countries (even to World Cup qualifiers which are taken more seriously). In time that could change if the Gold Cup gains prestige. The Cup needs to start rotating for it to be taken seriously. Imagine Brazil or Argentina hosting the Copa America, or either Italy or Germany hosting the Euros four years, and one of them ending up in the finals every time. Regardless of how good they are the results would be suspect.
I agree. Also, I'm sure u.s. and Mexican fans would travel to central American countries for the gold cup. everywhere Mexico plays there are lots of fans.