Certain cities will have a chance to prove themselves in friendlies, but right now I think we should be thinking about: Mexico-Columbus (END OF STORY) Costa Rica-RFK Other Central American teams-Foxboro or Columbus, possibly Chicago or Kansas City Canada-Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Miami Carribean teams-Denver, Foxboro, RFK (except Jamaica), Kansas City, possibly others If we stumble in CONCACAF qualifying and end up playing off against an Asian team, we play them in Columbus. Anything else is too big a risk considering the countries that would be likely to be in the playoff against us (hard to see Japan or Korea slipping that far, but China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are possiblities).
I can't think of a reason to not play any of the important qualifiers in either Columbus, Foxborrough, or any other place where you will get a completely pro-US crowd. There is no reason to ever give a game to any of the cities where the US may only recieve a bi-partisan crowd. We go to other countires and get pelted with bottles (Guatamala, El Salvador) and then have to deal with bi-partisan crowds in the US, its not right. (Even though it should be pointed out that US did a good job of selecting venues for qualification for WC02.) I just hope they don't reward LA for building the Depot by placing the Mexico match there - absolute disaster. Give them the Canada or T&T match or something of that nature. But then again I'm from MA, so I'm a little biased by the Nats great record up here.
Play a game at the new (future) PaeTec Park in Rochester, NY. You would be guarunteed a sell-out and pending the opposition, likely be guarunteed a wildly pro-American crowd. Other than that, please no more games in D.C. I love RFK but we will always be in a hostile environment when we play a qualifier there. D.C. has a huge Mexican and Honduran (like anyone needs a reminder)population.
Kansas City was a great place for the Costa Rica match in 2001. Very high percentage of US fans, lots of noise, centrally located. GO ARROWHEAD!
I wish we had a stadium to call our own, a Wembley type used exclusevely for big games and internationals, one that we could call home field advantage. Like I said, I wish.
Other than the inevitable US v. Iraq friendly, RFK should never host another important match again. Period, end of story. An expanded first round match vs. Virgin Gordo is fine, but once the show begins, there is not one team we can outdraw at RFK. Home Depot is the Mexican National Team Stadium. They, and other foreign teams will play there more than the US. True genius putting a "national stadium" in Mexico, I mean Southern California. It's off limits for every CONCACAF team, except maybe Jamaica or TNT.
Mexico - Columbus Central American Teams - Seattle, The Razor, KC Carribean Teams - Same + Birmingham Canada - Miami, LA, Houston, Dallas
who cares about where we play canada? i mean, it's not like swarms of canadians are gonna pack our stadiums and make more noise then us. i say play them anywhere 10 hours away from the border and you're fine.
I agree for the most part, but RFK is safe for somebody like Canada, Costa Rica, and Carribean teams aside from Jamaica and maybe Trinidad. Remember that I think CONCACAF is changing the qualifying format so we'll be playing more ****************** teams like Barbados and Panama next time around.
I'm in the DC area and I agree that RFK shouldn't be used for any qualifiers for central american teams. It is a great venue for soccer but we are always outnumbered in qualifiers.
It'll never happen. There is no one stadium in the United States that is not susceptible to drawing crowds that have a majority rooting for the visiting nation. A "national stadium" is not always going to give you a home field advantage, so just junk the idea.
Columbus obviously. Foxboro obviously. No reason why KC shouldnt get another one. Houston has to get serious consideration for a Canada type match. Seattle as long as the turn isnt as bad as it was last time we played there. A host of other places could get the remaining.
The US, Barbados and Panama will be seeded teams for the first round. We'll get two power houses, like Aruba and the Bahamas. I like KC, Columbus or Chicago for Costa Rica. Canada should be played somewhere in the South.
I can't believe no one has mentioned the Meadowlands. Granted, it's Field Turf. But there is no reason they can't pick a good date that is friendly with an NFL schedule if need be and truck in some grass to put over the field turf. As far as I know, FIFA has allowed games to be played on the field turf anyway but the only reason that wouldn't happen is because of football lines. I also don't see why ANY games should be played in Miami. You never draw a crowd unless you are playing a South America or Central American country. As for RFK, ITS OUR NATIONS CAPITAL. You should play matches there. But no way we should play the likes of Mexico or Hondurous there. Maybe not even Jamiaca (remember the phantom penalty?)
Throw Giants Stadium a bone if this ever happens We could schedule the game in Vancouver or Toronto and outnumber them mightily.
Why - we'd be outcheered in both stadiums. Listen, I'd love for a quali to be held in NY rather than making the 4.5 hour drive up to Foxboro. but it just 'aint gonna happen. We can't afford away games. DC and NY would be away games. It has nothing to do with turf/dates and everything to do with demographics.
That Jamaica match remains the loudest I have ever heard that stadium, and I'm talking about the Jamaicans. I was at the MLS Cup match and every USMNT match for the last 8 years or so and I've never heard it louder. When Agoos scored for them, I was struck deaf. There is no way Jamaica should ever play a meaningful match in RFK again. Face it, after the first round, RFK is almost off-limits. Canada is about it, assuming they make it.
Plus a 'national stadium' concept can only work in smaller countries, where virtually everyone can hop on a train or make a 3 to 4 hour drive. Its not fair to fans across the country to never be able to see a national team match unless they want to hop a plane for a 6 hour trip!!
Oh, and no more games at RFK, please. The US played Honduras and Jamaica in 01 and 97 and the results were near-disastrous. The US should play Honduras somewhere like Seattle or Birmingham, Ala.