In Southern Ontario (Toronto, London, Hamilton would be the Southern Ontario cities most likely to host in such an event) Summer temperatures are much warmer than that. In July and August afternoon temperatures will usually be between 90-100. During the World Lacrosse Championships in London last summer other than the odd morning drizzle and one afternoon of heavy rain the humidex was above 100 for virtually the entire two weeks. I got sunburnt so bad the skin on my arms actually started bubbling. I was sitting next to a dermatologist from Philadelphia during the Ireland-Scotland game and she told me to see a doctor about that as soon as possible. I'll get around to it eventually.
Also, if places like Miami and New York are only going to get 20,000 people out why not just go places like Columbus, Dallas, Chicago or Denver that have 20-30K Soccer Specific Stadiums? Granted the Gold Cup falls during the MLS season, but if one of those stadiums hosted opening round group the stadium would only be used for a week. That translates into a 1 game road-trip, nothing like the 6 game trek that Toronto FC is making for the U-20 World Cup.
Because MLS doesn't run the Gold Cup CONCACAF does and they think NY and Miami will pull in bigger crowds then those other citites.
But it's been proven they don't really draw much better. From a purely aesthetic view, a packed 20K seat stadium will look a lot better on TV than a football stadium that is 2/3 empty. It also creates a different atmosphere because of the noise. During TFC games at BMO Field the TV announcers have to yell into their mircrophones to be heard over the Red Patch Boys and U-Sector.
NY had a crowd of over 60,000 and Miami had one of 25,000. Do you think 25,000 people would show up in Colombus or Dallas for the group that was in Miami?
Yep, like I mentioned a few posts previous to this. In Southern Ontario in the Summer the daytime temperatures are usually in the 90-100 F range (35 C and higher).
Montreal has shyte weather for like 11 months of the year. I was there a few years back in July and it was awful: hot, muggy, miserable. And I *like* humidity.
The Attendance for the US-Canada game was a disgrace. I mean, it was the semifinals. I just can't believe that a city like Chicago wouldn't come out to support the NT. The last time I checked, Chicago did have a population of at least 7 million........What an embarrasement! It was the freaking semifinals. God knows how bad a US-Guadalupe game would've been. Soccer has a long way to go still in this country, that's for sure
First of all, tickets were sold for the doubleheader - well over 50,000 total in a 61,000 seat stadium - and the final has been sold out before it was known Mexico would be playing the US in the final. When I tried to purchase tickets for the semi-final, only upper deck seats in the upper section were available - the entire lower sections were sold out (at $60-$70 a pop no less). The US always draws well in Chicago, it just so happens that a) the game started at 6 on a week day in downtown Chicago, do you have any idea how bad traffic is in the city? and b) a double header that would require most fans to be in the stadium for 5 hours. May seem like a no brainer to you that true soccer fans will stay the entire time, but since many have jobs and are likely going to the final, missing the 1st half was not a big deal. Finally, from what I could see on tv, the fans were scattered throughout the stadium, so it is easy to assume that at least 20,000 to 25,000 were in their seats by the start of the game.
There were over 50,000 people there last night at Soldier Field for the DH. But the USMNT doesn't draw well in Chicago for the same reason the Fire no longer draw well: They've got embarassingly few Hispanic players. Moreover, that's a huge reason for why the USMNT plays visitor in much of America's largest cities. Pablo Maestroeni is the only player or coach on the current senior team who's Latino. What a disgrace. Even Canada is doing a better job at tapping into it's demographic reality -- the swift kick of Caribbean and African players infused into their lineup has made them watchable for the first time ever.
I guess they don't draw well in Chicago. It's a shame that our own national team can't get the support it deserves when it's time to play a game in a big competition. Where's the national pride in this country? I guess our sport hasn't made that big of a stride in the minds of americans.
Montreal has great weather ( for football) from June to September. Temperatures will vary between about 70 and 90 +. It is however very humid which can be uncomfortable.
Thats not the average for southern Ontario. You'll have days where its 90-100 but thats far from the average. The average is more around 80 ( 26 celcius) for the months of summer ( june to august) Just like in southern Quebec, you'll have days where its 90+ but the average is around 78 ( 25 celcius). Still more comfortable summer weather than southern US.
75 is the real average for major Canadian cities. Southern Ontario and Southern Quebec will be closer to 80 average. It's usually very hot during the day but cools down considerably at night. Those temperatures are more comfortable for football than in most southern US cities like Miami and Dallas.
Where I live in Southern Ontario, about 45 KM north of London, only about 3 or 4 days in the past month have had daytime high's lower than 30.
Because most Chicagoans couldn't give a rats ass about the MNT. They usually support their country of origin. Likewise when the American fan tools start shouting dumb racist crap it makes me an American, root for the other team. Although I am American, I will be rooting for Mexico tomorrow. They're just cooler people.