Grant Wahl @GrantWahl Source: USSF aiming for home WCQ venues June 11 (PAN) Seattle; June 18 (HON) Salt Lake; Sept 10 (MEX) Columbus; Oct 11 (JAM) Kansas City. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/02/11/report-seattle-salt-lake-columbus-kc-targeted-wcqs That is sounding look good news, and if true I will be very happy to say I was wrong about the chances of SLC getting a game after Denver was announced, but... I dont want to get too excited until it actually is confirmed - Wahl tweeted out that he had the starting line-up for the Honduras game last week and completely flubbed it, only to follow up with an apology saying he got bad info.
I find it interesting that you don't see Chicago, DC, NY, etc. All of these are central to west locations.
Most of the cities you mentioned have significant populations of Hondurans, Jamaicans, Costa Ricans, etc. The way US Soccer chooses venues is by looking for places where they're going to get mostly pro-American crowds (hence the reason Columbus, with its low Mexican population, get the U.S./Mexico game over places like Salt Lake or L.A.). I think that the melting pot nature of America's largest cities is a detractor when it comes to qualifying...they want places that are not as internationally diverse - places like Seattle, Columbus, and SLC.
I would be happy with another 2-0 this time around at Columbus. Not sure exactly what the temperature was at kickoff but it was 80 degrees F that day/an hour or two before that game on September 3 ,2005.
A caveat: in previous WCQ cycles, there has been a stated preference for more eastern locales to lessen travel impacts on the European based players. One game in the west on the back of an away trip was common enough. But multiples? Uncommon. And internationally diverse is fine - Seattle is quite a cosmopolitan place - just not diverse in terms of the citizenry or emigrants of the opponent country.
It would/will be quite incredible to be here in WA for a game at Seattle on the 11th, then in Utah for a game in Sandy on the 18th.
Same basic design model isn't it? Ours badly (for the East siders) needs more sun screening architecture. Toyota looks great on TV. Want to visit some day.
Bill Riley @espn700bill BREAKING NEWS: I have confirmed that Rio Tinto Stadium will host a World Cup Qualifier June 18th between the #USMNT and Honduras SWEET
Very good news. Bill also tweeted that the GC teams will be announced tomorrow, and it is rumored that RioT will host the USMNT and Costa Rica. Bill Riley (@espn700bill) 3/12/13, 9:53 AM Gold Cup squads will be announced tomorrow, the #USMNT will be 1 of the teams at Rio Tinto Stadium & its believed Costa Rica will be another
I thought somebody mentioned that management of the WCQ matches is entirely different from RSL. Hope I'm wrong. I'd be happy to use up one of the freebies on the Reserve game at the Riot if we get a WCQ ticket as well.
I'd love to see it too - but unfortunately you're 100% right that the USMNT and USWNT tickets (and stadium rules) are entirely separate from MLS. Therefore no WCQ or Gold Cup in our mythical STH packages. Speaking of STH, I'm feeling like 2013 STH tickets are kin to Bigfoot - widely rumored, no proof of them yet. Anyone get them yet this week?
Wow, if we were to get both? Home run. Prepare for Fear and Loathing in Big Soccer as fans in other locales rage against both our alleged good fortunate and our alleged provinciality.
Yeah it was purely speculation...if they could swing it, then they would win...with this whole season ticket debacle, they could blame their tardiness on this and they would make out like heroes...I can dream, can't I?
I saw on RSL's facebook page that at least one person has recieved them and that they look really cool. Other than that no word yet, but i'm not worried, it's not like they wont let us into the game
I had season tickets for the last WCQ (El Salvador in 2009). We didn't get the tickets with the STH package, but we got first right of refusal to our seat. I think we also got the advanced sales deal.
US v cuba, and costa rica v belize for gold cup games http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/55992212-77/host-cup-lake-salt.html.csp edit - july 13