WCQ Oct Home Game Locations

Same with certain NFL Stadiums. The main reason US Soccer hasn't come to Lambeau Field for instance isn't due to it being way out of the way, it isn't due to the Packers (rightfully) being stubborn with whoever can use the field, etc.

It's because Lambeau's playing dimensions are too narrow to host official FIFA matches.

 

After not making it to the World Cup I personally would not risk anything.
I want a Pro-USA crowd for EVERY match.
Nothing out of hand about that.

 

I have the opposite POV where I think people are worrying too much about spending an extra couple hours on a plane

 

June 2009, Soldier Field, Chicago, by Honduras.

 

There's many other examples too.

 

So to summarize based on latest news:
San Jose, Utah, Colorado, Orlando certainly in the mix for last three matches. (Not in that order.)

Places I would probably say are in my mix are Pennsylvania, Connecticut, DC United Stadium for Panama.

Maybe Frisco TX too.

Personally I would love to see Chicago/Bridgeview but doubt it.

 

Can't forget KC and Minnesota too. (But once again more than likely Panama, but you never know.)

 

Outsider/ fringe chance Seattle, Portland, Atlanta due to turf.

 

Based on McBride's comments, you can rule out Portland, Seattle, and Atlanta. Also if they play again in Texas I think it would be Houston over Frisco.

 

I read an article that said according to a source there is a slim chance they would play in a stadium like Seattle or Atlanta for Panama assuming they are already qualified and they want to just cash-in on a game that is essentially meaningless.

Hence, I put it out in the fringe category and not a realistic one since there's so many other venues.

 

Houston for Panama for sure.
El Salvador or Honduras would be horrible for that venue.

 

I'd love for us to play in Seattle, I went to the 2103 WCQ vs Panama, it was an awesome crowd. The only downside was the limited seats they were able to sell. If it was a normal day and that place was sold out, it would have been unbelievable. I just don't think USSF is gonna play on turf fields this go around, too many other grass options.

 

Yeah, but I'm the outnumbered one in this photo.

 

I was going to go to that one since I live in the Chicago land area.

Glad I did not go.
I do not like feeling like I am at a road game at "home".

 

Based on the Guatemala friendly from 2015 (44k attendance, 2nd and 3rd deck only available on one side of the stadium) my guess is that roughly 35k tickets have been sold for Nashville. Still quite some time obviously for people to buy up tickets, but is a sellout possibility a total pipe dream?

 

Probably a pipe dream. But still a good crowd.

 

So, any of you who were whining about having the qualifying games in smaller stadiums in Ohio want to revise your comments after seeing yet another home game for Mexico on US soil last night in Vegas?

 

Here is a way outside the box unlikely stadium option.

Since turf is out of the question how about Seattle's baseball field? It is a Retractable dome so bad January /February weather should not be a factor. It does not conflict with baseball season so the Grass can settle in and there would be no infield dirt.

I remember it hosted a friendly against Honduras a while back and the place was one of the best Pro-USA crowds for a friendly.

Just not sure the field dimensions are up to FIFA standards though.

 

I mentioned this in another thread but Austin sounded like a fantastic venue atmosphere on my tv.
And the intimate size provided a better home field than Nashville in my opinion. (But I could be way off since I was not at either match.)

Anyway, I am still wondering what they are leaning towards this winter for El Salvador and Honduras.
San Jose? Frigid Kansas or even worse Minnesota? Orlando I would only consider if it is a strict ticketing lottery process like the Mexico match. I cannot think of too many other venues unless they are considering a baseball stadium like the one I mentioned in Seattle. St Louis would be cool too.

 

Maybe Utah and Colorado are being considered too. Possible snow bowl locations.

 

I think San Jose will definitely happen for one of the Jan/Feb matches, since Canada seems to be leaning towards Vancouver, and Portland/Seattle seem to be ruled out due to field conditions.

The second match is tougher to decide - will the US aim to freeze out Honduras or El Salvador? Because there aren't many options that are going to be warm between the Appalachians and Rockies around February 1. If we don't want to go for a freezeout, then I would select Atlanta.

No decision should be made on the March match until later in the cycle.

 

There's lots of Central Americans in the Atlanta area and they have turf too so that venue may have to wait until Panama if we are already qualified and we won't care as much about field conditions.

 

I was at the Austin match Thursday and yeah it was a great atmosphere. I've been to dozens of home USMNT matches and for me there is no doubt, the atmosphere and experience is WAY better in the smaller MLS stadiums than the big NFL stadiums, it's not even close.

I'm actually watching the replay on TV right now for the first time. It's always interesting to me how I get a different impression of the game on the replay with announcers than seeing it live without commentary.

One thing I'm noticing is how loud the Outlaws are on the broadcast. They were loud in the stadium but I think ESPN has a crowd mic sort of close to them for this match as their chanting is a lot louder than in a typical broadcast. I think it's a bit too much really.

 

Interesting.

I enjoyed the amplified chanting though. Sounded way better than most previous games.

 

I feel like Atlanta won’t get picked for the same reasons we won’t go with Portland/Seattle.

Kansas City seems like the obvious pick I think.