Philly unlikely to get USMNT games due to the narrowness of the Field " U.S Official"

I really find it ridiculous that they went through all the trouble and spent all that money to build a brand new stadium and they didn't make it wide enough for international soccer.

 

so this should put to rest the Philly expension fantasy

 

At the risk of wandering offtopic, Soldier Field looks beautiful!

 

Well... given the opposition to RFK hosting WCQs, the same problems will hold true for Philly, which after all, is only 2 1/2 hours away.

Sachin

 

Watching the Solider Field Mach II last night, I doubt that pitch would be more than 68 yards wide, either.

Most of these new NFL stadiums still insist on having an oval surface area. Why, I don't know...

 

The people who built the stadium probably don't care if they play USMNT games there. The stadium was built for the Philadelphia Eagles, not for soccer.

 

I could be very wrong, but I seem to recall reading on the Fire board about some retractable seating that can be pulled back to make the field wider. Whether this can be used once NFL season starts (or even if it exists at all) I don't know.

The oval style increases seating capacity and gives better sightlines for NFL games.

 

Since I hate the idea of sharing NFL stadiums with soccer, it's just fine with me. All the more likely there may be a SSS in Philly someday.

 

I figured that, it just that that conflicts with the oft-heard refrain of having international soccer matches at these stadiums.

 

Likely, as in a 2 out of 10,000,000,000 chance instead of 1 out of 10,000,000,000, so yes, the chances have doubled.

 

Then they must have the retractable seats in the corners because I could swear after watching the Packers-Bears game last night that that field wouldn't be more than 65 yards where the soccer end line would be.

 

That's odd. Why would they want to preclude the men playing there, when in all likelihood, if they wanted to do it (say, spring or summer when the Eagles aren't using the field), they'd make good money on it?

 

Perhaps this means that all USMNT home matches will be in two venues: Crew Stadium and Gillette Stadium. If Seattle wants to lay down the natural surface then that would make it three. If the USSF thinks that Chicago could host without attracting too many "away" fans, that would make it four. But no Miami, no Houston, no RFK, no L.A., no Meadowlands and (it seems) no Philly.

 

RFK will not get qualifiers ever again for national team matches. After the Honduran debacle, I don't think USSF will think twice about having matches there. Also, the economic incentives are not as great to play games at RFK. Even though the stadium seats $50,000, the rent is quite expensive. HDC, Crew Stadium and the new stadium in Dallas are much better options for the national team. As more SSS come online, I can almost guarantee that DC will be left out of the cold for qualifiers.

 

Follow the Money

The geniuses at USSF care only about cash, so I think we will see a game in Philly. They might delude themselves into thinking the Eurosnobs who showed up for Man U will support the US, but in actuality, they will be squeezing in more Hondurans/Guatemalans/Salvadorans/or Jamaicans than RFK can hold.

If they have any sense at all, and there is no scientific proof they do, Philly could host Canada or Trinidad without it being an away game for the US. Of course, the crowd would only be 15K, so I'm thinking they will put Jamaica or a Central American team there.

Columbus: Mexico
Gillette: Costa Rica
Casa Depot: Canada
Philly: Honduras (San Pedro Sula Norte)
Chicago: Jamaica or Trinidad (North Kingston)
KC: Guatemala or El Salvador