As per: http://www.ussoccer.com/ Sorry if this has been posted already. On what sort of field (width, length, surface) will this game be played?
I thought I read that it is currently artificial turf and they'll have to bring in a tiled grass field for the game. Anybody else know anything different?
Here's some more info courtesy of Ridge Mahony on Soccernet: The Rice-Eccles field can accomodate a field 73 yards wide. Will cost $200K to bring in the field. Here's the link: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=326453&cc=5901
As much as I hate that the game is not back east, I am glad to see that the game is in SLC. It is a great venue and I hope will be good for RSL as well. Altitude will be a non-factor, as CR has already proven they can win big games at high altitudes...just ask Mexico.
I think we should applaud ussf for the willingness to use NEW venues for the hex... birmingham and salt lake can only make hex matches accessible for MORE usa fans... all too often the foxboro, rfk, columbus venues have been OVER used... the usmnt coming to town should make soccer fans excited about a once in a decade happening.... the OLD venues don't do that at all....
Would it be possible to sell this out? It seats about 45K right? Who's up for predicting attendance numbers?
I concur, even as a fan living in Boston. The 9k against Grenada really did it for me...it was my first trip to Crew Stadium, and I couldn't believe the MLS game the night before outdrew the US game.
I still do think there'll be a hex match in either columbus or rfk or foxboro, although the baseball in rfk poses a playing surface problem... looking at the Gold cup venues, the 3 remaining undisclosed hex matches would be: 3 of 4 possibities dallas kansas city home depot columbus or rfk or foxboro I think I'd take the top 3.... let the markets in boston and dc get a bit more usmnt hungry...
It's about time that the USSF "mixed things up a bit" regarding the venues for WCQ. Birmingham & Salt Lake City are two GREAT choices IMHO & hope to see more of this in the future. I can't make it to B-ham but will DEFINITELY be in SLC for the CR match. As far as the final three home WCQs go, Columbus is a "cinch" for Mexico but the other two are "up for grabs" IMO. I would LOVE to see L.A., Seattle or Portland get one of those but with the Gold Cup getting games in L.A. & Seattle, I think that eliminates both cities. Foxboro, I would guess will get one, and Frisco (Dallas), if the stadium is ready by October (which it should be). I was a bit nervous about heading to SLC, at first, because of all the "rumors" of it NOT being a fun city but after checking out the web & hearing from some SLC folks, it sounds like it should be fun. Now, I'm PSYCHED, especially since I've never been there or seen Costa Rica in a WCQ! CAN'T WAIT until June 4!!!
Well there certainly aren't any Costa Ricans living in Utah, so we don't have to worry about it being a nuetral site.
It is good the USSF mixes it up, but this is a key match and who knows about SLC? It will be easy for west coast based Ticos to get there. Columbus provided a great atmosphere for beating Mexico the last time, and Columbus and Portland, OR have proved themselves beyond a shadow of a doubt. Ok, so they didn't show for Grenada - the minnow of minnows. Boston just doesn't provide home field advantage - most east coast cities can't, so for the crucial matches (read Mexico and Costa Rica), we should stick to either Columbus or Portland. SLC will probably have a good, pro US crowd, but it was done for other reasons (and that's cool too) - but it would be better to have one of the lesser opponents in this unproven market. Birmingham and SLC are seemingly good choices, but B hasn't seen much of the Nats either.... These are WCQs. We shouldn't be rolling the dice on the crowd.
My wife called her friend in Salt Lake and told her we were going to the game and her friend said her brother's wife is Costa Rican and they'll be at the game too. Dammit. Hopefully, that's an isolated incident. Let's hope she's the only Tico there.
Good to see SLC is going to be broken in as a big-time soccer city in grand fashion, quickly. Good for them. Should be a heck of a crowd. Safe to say the novelty of pro soccer will not have worn off by then.
hey does anyone have an idea why the USSF hasn't scheduled at RFK stadium? I mean it is our nation's capital.
I'm from near Salt Lake City, and I can tell you there is already a big buzz about this game. I predict a sell-out. A couple years ago the Women's Nats drew 20,000 against Ireland in a friendly. We'll get 45,000 (capacity) for a Men's game (double-header with RSL vs. FC Dallas) that has World Cup implications.
Being from South of SLC I would say there is a "buzz" being heard about the game being in SLC. I have family from all over the West Coast coming just to see the game, Since SLC is a Central site for most of the west coast. For the other Home games in the Hex I would love to see portland, OR get one. The last time we played there it was a sellout and I believe it was against Costa Rica, IIRC. It was Pro US and not a Costa Rican in Site.
You are correct, Tab Ramos sends home the winner (an absolute laser beam) on an assist from Balboa. IIRC, Utah was up for getting a world cup game back in 94 because of the picturesque 60,000 seat stadium down at BYU. Good to see that big time soccer has finally arrived...
apples and oranges. Is USSF paying for the grass or is SLC paying to get the game? The financing is never as simple as it seems.