Ahhh, the million dollar question and I'm sure it is on a lot of potential and existing season ticket holder's minds. I thought I read that the venues would be announced in a couple of days after the schedule was released. Maybe someone has the inside scoop?
Not gonna happen... Mexico in the cold, that is: Date Match (Home teams listed first) Feb. 9 Panama vs. Guatemala Feb. 9 Costa Rica vs. Mexico Feb. 9 Trinidad & Tobago vs. USA March 26/27 Costa Rica vs. Panama March 26/27 Guatemala vs. Trinidad & Tobago March 26/27 Mexico vs. USA March 30 Panama vs. Mexico March 30 USA vs. Guatemala March 30 Trinidad & Tobago vs. Costa Rica June 4/5 Trinidad & Tobago vs. Panama June 4/5 Guatemala vs. Mexico June 4/5 USA vs. Costa Rica June 8 Panama vs. USA June 8 Costa Rica vs. Guatemala June 8 Mexico vs. Trinidad & Tobago Aug. 17 Guatemala vs. Panama Aug. 17 Mexico vs. Costa Rica Aug. 17 USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago Sept. 3/4 Panama vs. Costa Rica Sept. 3/4 Trinidad & Tobago vs. Guatemala Sept. 3/4 USA vs. Mexico Sept. 7 Mexico vs. Panama Sept. 7 Guatemala vs. USA Sept. 7 Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago Oct. 8/9 Panama vs. Trinidad & Tobago Oct. 8/9 Mexico vs. Guatemala Oct. 8/9 Costa Rica vs. USA Oct. 12 USA vs. Panama Oct. 12 Guatemala vs. Costa Rica Oct. 12 Trinidad & Tobago vs. Mexico Playoff Match Nov. 12/13* AFC #5 vs. CONCACAF #4 Nov. 16* AFC #5 vs. CONCACAF #4
Looks like we only get to punish Guatemala and Panama. Bring the March game to Foxboro, play Panama in Columbus next October?
How about US-Mexico on Sept 3/4? It would sure fill a lot of the seats at Foxboro and it would be a little less of an "away" match than if it were played on the West Coast. Shades of 96
I gotta say, the title to this thread has got to be ... let's just say self-evident, m'kay. My bet says mexi on the 3/4 of Sept. A large stadium owned by an MLS owner. No brainer.
I wouldn't want to see a qualifier here before June, maybe not even then. Our field is always utter crap early in the year. It's embarassing.
We will not get US - Mexico at Foxboro. It was a sellout in '97, but the crowd was split 50/50 US/Mex supporters. This is a cruical game for the US, based on what we will face at Azteca. The crowd there will be just a bit hostile. My guess is we have something in the midwest, ala Columbus in 2000. Perhaps Chicago or some other cold climate where the USSF would have good control over demographics...
But it'll be late summer, and somehow I don't think that the Mexicans will find themselves in as difficult a situation playing in 65-degree weather as they did playing in much colder weather back in 2000. But your point is valid geographically speaking - the only way we can get a true "home field advantage" would be for the US to hit a smaller, less diverse market (I'm thinking Seattle, Salt Lake or Denver could be options as well as the midwest). But in the end, you can't ignore a sellout crowd. If they got 67,000 in the old stadium 8 years ago (when the US team wasn't as good), and the US has never lost a tournament match in Foxboro, why not have it at the Razor? Sure, the Mexican fans will be there... but they probably won't be that obnoxious after we take them down 2-0, again.
Chicago has a large number of Mexicans. In fact Chicago kept coming up as the possible city for Chivas.
September ain't exactly cold in Columbus or Chicago ;-). Also, there's a large Mexican population in the Chicago-area, so the odds are they'd turn out in force if such a fixture were held there.
If they have, they haven't been anywhere near the stadium I highly recommend the Mexican restaurant across the street from Invesco: "El Senor Sol" at the intersection of 7th and Water. Bring your Spanish-English dictionary.
I went to a Mexico - Argentina friendly in Soldier Field 6 or 7 years ago. The stadium was packed to the gills and there were approximately three Argentinians there.
I think we will see the Mexico match in a larger-NFL capacity--stadium rather than one of our SSS. USA-Mexico is the BIG rivelry for the US. No way it should be played in California or NY. True, the Mexican fans will travel but Foxboro has the seating capacity and the best chance of bringing out sufficient US fans to counterbalance the Mexican fans.
The size isn't right, but it's mighty pretty: Morrison Stadium in Omahah, NE, home of Creighton University soccer: Put the U.S. supporters's section behind the goal... The Magpie
I suppose that's possible, but I don't believe they will do that. I think they'll try and give as many games to MLS owned stadiums (which does include Gillette, since Kraft owns the stadium). I'd expect one here, one in CBus, one (two?) in LA, Denver or KC, and there always seems to be one in DC. Maybe the Mutts'll host one?
I'd bet against DC getting any kind of national matches until they're done ground sharing with I Can't Believe It's Not Expos.
wow, we are pretty fat and happy around here, eh? not one post mentions the possibility that new england 'DOESN'T' get one. i can't really give any good reasons as to why 1 of the 5 games WOULDN'T be played 'round here.....on the other hand, given the easy competition (relatively speaking since honduras and jamaica blew out their tires)....i can't give any good reasons why us soccer wouldn't test some other markets. if foxboro gets some of the gold cup action.....does anyone think this may affect usoc's willingness to have more nat team games here? (am i 'off' on this, i did read somewhere that the gold cup is still going to happen in this qualifying year right....i mean concacaf.com show preliminary qualifying matches going on i believe)