True, but why would you expect (or be satisfied with) such low attendance at a tournament the magnitude and quality of a 16-team Copa America? You're going to have just as many quality teams as at any 16-team European Championships, and the tournament should be just as prestigious. My impression is that the CONMEBOL administration really doesn't care about the Copa America all that much, which is why there's been very little effort to market the tournament outside of South America. Compare that to the Euros, which are televised all over the world, and which are considered to be the soccer event second only to the World Cup in most countries. Or to put it another way, why is it that every match of Euro 2012 was televised live in China, but coverage of the 2015 Copa America was non-existent (I was living in China at the time of both tournaments). Why are the Euros on ESPN, but not the 2015 Copa America? It's because CONMEBOL is not ambitious enough. You've got two of the most famous footballing nations on earth, after all, as well as two of the three most famous players in the world.
The marketing for Copa could perhaps be better, but there are a number of other factors at work here. Firstly, with regards to your China example its quite easy to explain: the most popular football leagues over there are the EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga, etc. Even more popular than their own domestic league. Lol So naturally they can relate better to England, Italy, Germany national teams because they are familiar with their players. Chile’s players, for e.g. are scattered all over the world. So even if Chile may be as good or better than England, people in Asia are probably only familiar with a few of their players while every player on England is a household name. Also its far easier to travel within Europe so Europeans can easily get to the Euro host venues. OTOH, if you live in South America and want to get to a Copa America venue, it may involve a train that moves at 20 mph and/or a bus where people bring chickens on board. The distances are larger in South America too, and (western) Europe is pretty much just one country so no border crossings to deal with.
Host sites (listed by the largest cities in the metropolitan area): Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle. http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...e-us-selected-to-host-copa-america-centenario
metropolitan areas and respective stadiums are: Bay Area (Levi's Stadium), Boston (Gillette Stadium), Chicago (Soldier Field), Houston (NRG Stadium), Los Angeles (Rose Bowl), New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium), Orlando (Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), Phoenix (University of Phoenix Stadium), and Seattle (CenturyLink Field). Similar to the FIFA World Cup, each venue will host matches on multiple days through the tournament. Just confirming from the email I got
I'm not surprised by the 10 venues chosen. Maybe a bit surprised by Phoenix. Geographically, I would have thought Denver for the West and maybe Nashville for the South. But I don't think it's that important to have a geographic spread as most fans have to fly to a host city anyway. I'm disappointed but definitely not surprised my home city San Diego didn't get one. We're too close to LA and our stadium is a near 50 old crumbling relic lacking luxury boxes and other modern amenities. It would be interesting to see the financial numbers for each of the bids. Like what each city/venue gave them in good deals and perks and the costs involved. That's an important factor that we don't get to see (unless someone knows where those numbers are published). Anyway, my enthusiasm is still cautiously high for the tournament, despite some of the negativity around here. It seems that most of the fans on other forums are more positive about it too. I can't wait for the schedule and the draw to come out so I can start some planning, then the excitement will really start to ratchet up.
Also surprised with Phoenix (what's temps like there in mid June?) and no kc venue. Stoked for 2 venues in California, 1 seattle, 1 Phoenix. 4 venues within a 2 hr flight.
Btw, how are things going on in Arizona, related to their infamous SB 1070 law ?. One sure thing, as I have very black hair, my skin is kind of dark and have a very typical chilean-latino look on my face (besides, my english pronunciation really sucks). Most of we chileans unfortunately have faces that look as if we were some sort of criminals, but deep inside we are very good people (just take a look at Vidal's, Medel's or Jara's faces, which are typical chilean faces and looks, to see what I mean), I would really hate to be subject to racial profiling and afterwards deported from there, due to it, if I were to assist to Phoenix to see my team play there...
Now you've done it. It should be "most of us." Cover. Blown. Sure to be deported now, even if you're a legal! And don't come back 'til you're sporting a Yankees cap and a Cowboys jersey.
Don't worry, the most famous chilean in the US is a respected owner of a fast food chicken chain (Los Pollos Hermanos), and he's highly regarded!
I had mixed felling about this event from the start, now that it is clear that there is as much corruption surrounding Copa centenary as Qatar WC I wish they just scrap this mickey mouse cup... And I'm sorry but adding US and Mexico does not raise the profile of the tournament around the world just in US and Mexico. Conmebol should market itself in Asia, East Europe, Africa etc (send Bra/Arg Chi/Uru/Col to play friendlies there) in order to raise the region profile. I'm hoping we send a U21 team
Actually, I was checking the calendar and I bet Neymar won't go anyway. Rio Olympics is from August 5 - 21 and Copa Centenario is schedule for July 3 - 26 We never won gold in soccer and we want it really, really bad. So Neymar + 1 will definitely go to the olympics (I'm hopping William or Douglas Costa whom ever is in better form) Brazil without Neymar is very pedestrian. We can't send a U21 team so it should be Brazil B/C team. Can't say if Messi and Suarez will play for the Olympic teams of Arg and Uru, can anyone comment of this? If MSN don't go (and the other SA stars) would anyone still be interested in this money grab cup?!
This tournament should simply be cancelled. To celebrate it would mean turning a blind eye to corruption, not the right way to go IMO.
it's in june actually. Still waiting to see how it shakes out. Will the countries still send their best players despite the US extraditing and prosecuting many of their football associations' current/ former leaders? Half strength teams could be a blessing in disguise for the US and Mexico. One could say victory would not be appreciated by the American public under these circumstances, but a win is a win I guess.
You are right it is June, sorry I agree with you, if Neymar and company don't go it will be a let down for the casual fans but if US/Mexico wins hard core fans will celebrate
Orlando will host 3 Copa America Centenario games in 2016 from a fox news source that can no longer be retrieved lol
It's possible to like a national team without liking its manager or administrators and it's possible to root for CONCACAF or CONMEBOL countries in the World Cup without liking the president of CONCACAF or CONMEBOL. Cancelling the tournament or not watching it due to corruption would punish the players for something out of their control.
I don't think there is any chance of Messi or Suarez going to the Olympics. Suarez didn't even go to the last Olympics. Now he's 4 years older so its even more unlikely. Messi already has an Olympic gold. Zero chance that he would go to Brasil to try to win another.
If you want Qatar to lose the WC hosting rights due to corruption you should fell the same about Copa Centenario. that's all. I am not asking for a boycott of Copa America, Gold Cup or WC. But I want WC 2022 to be hosted by another nation and Copa Centenatio to be scrapped.
If there were a clean revote on the 2022 World Cup host, Qatar would clearly not win. If there were a clean revote on the 2016 Copa América Centenario, I can't imagine any nation other than the USA winning. A significant part of the attraction of the USA as host is all of the money that CONMEBOL will get from USA soccer fans and South American expat fans.
I don't have a problem with US hosting it. US did not bribe to get the Cup. IMHO without CONMEBOL corruption there wouldn't be a copa centenario... This creation is a product of corruption. If you want to celebrate 100 years of Copa America you should have invited Concacaf to Chile, or ask if US would like to host a real Copa America and invite Concacaf teams. There is no real reason (besides corruption) to create another regional comp