Still, one of my favorite signs ever was by a Mexican fan at the first qualifier played in Columbus. "Next time pick Alaska"
Hard to believe that that game was 10 years ago! Baffling that there hasn't been more US games, WCQing even, held in Portland given the tremedous support that day vs. CR. Anyone know the reason(s) why the US has not returned to Portland since then?
Tradition And if we're lucky enough to get the Mexico home game on a cold-weather date, all the better
A pre-WC98 friendly vs. Kuwaitt was played there, to a soldout pro-US crowd no doubt. Since then, the Nats have never returned. It was a host site for the 2003 WWC and is where Germany embarrassed us in the semis.
I like Alaska. You know, there are parts of the state from which you can see Russia. So not only can I see a USMNT game, I gain instant insight into foreign policy. I might even get a nod for a Veep spot next election.
I have cousins who live in Connecticut. They do say they are the only Mexicans around tho. As to the game, I would love to see it in a big stadium. I dont really care if its an all US crowd. The friendlies in Reliant and the Gold Cup final had the best atmosphere of a US held soccer game ever.
Columbus Crew stadium if you go for a home field advantage or Soldier Field in Chicago if your going for best total atmosphere. The Gold Cup Final atmosphere was crazy.
Or you can go to Indianapolis which is located half way between the two cities. The best of both worlds.
I'm against Columbus only because of the stage. It gives the place a rinky-dinky look. That's no swipe at the Crew, gang. Of course, the Hunts now regard the Mexico game as their private property and no one at USSF will allow the game to be played anywhere but Columbus. Hartford would be ideal, though.
Why is Hartford ideal? We've spent a great deal of this thread reaching the consesus that the #1 factor in creating a pro-US atmosphere is having a large number of season ticket holders to pre-sell the tickets to. What season ticket holders are there to pre-sell the tickets to? Even if there aren't any Mexicans in CT, travelling Mexican fans would still sell out the place. The Mexican presence in a city is a factor, but not nearly as big of a factor as having a big group of people who tend to be US fans that you sell the tickets to first.
I'd say the USSoccerfan presale is what creates the home atmosphere more than anything. About 90% of the tickets are gone by the time that ends... Location isn't really the factor in play. In the parking lot in C-bus there were just as many mexican fans as USA fans, however, none of the MEX fans realized you couldn't get tickets at the stadium that day. Mexicans travel well, and that's just something to deal with. If you handled the tickets the same way, you could get almost as good a USA atmosphere at the HDC.
I don't know about that. The atmosphere for the Argentina game at Giants Stadium was pretty intense/electric too.
Lucas Oil would be a great venue. If they could lay down grass at the meadow lands for Agrentina, why not at Lucas Oil for Mexico?
Laying down grass for soccer matches is relatively easy. I get that, but Lucas Oil is a huge stadium. Is it home field advantage we want or best atmosphere. Chicago has the best atmosphere Columbus or even Salt Lake would be a better home field. At the bigger venues the Mexican fans will gobble up a majority of the tickets.
Exactly. Azteca for you. Columbus for us. EVERY TIME. We are building a tradition here. Something we need more of...
Do you guys think it will effect the decision to play in Crew stadium now that theirs a stage. The capacity went down didnt? It might be to small for such a big game.