RSL bidding for WCQ?

SoccerPrime · 02-21-2005, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncsBomber

A WCQ would be a great draw. If not now, once a Soccer specific stadium is in place. I am a Loyalist and a member of Sam's Army. I like how Sam's Army tracks fan caps. (How many times you have attended a MNT game.) I have two caps and I am definitely up to getting more...

I am under the impression that Sams Army is very disorganized at the moment (not that it ever really was).
I doubt they have been tracking anything recently.

Deuce · 02-21-2005, 10:48 AM

Doh! I even looked at the date in my trusty RSL schedule and outlook calendar, and my mind registered Sunday! In my defense I will say it was 1am when I posted... Move over Prime... your Luke comments have been surpassed!
Now I feel like the dork!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

The date they have talked about is a Dallas match, so it would be on June 3, a Friday. But since they want a doubleheader, they would move it to June 4, a Saturday.

No Sunday game. 🙂

Arelius · 02-21-2005, 11:04 AM

On another note, it appears that the Tribune sent Peter Richins to Florida after they saw that Edward was there reporting.

Bring on the WCQ and the Ticos!!!

SoccerPrime · 02-21-2005, 11:12 AM

If Richins was there, he didn't tell RSL he was.
Either that or he got there very very late.
(My third theory is that he said he was going but went to DisneyWorld instead).

Rover · 02-21-2005, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoReal

Sweeeeeeet!!!!!!

Do you reallly think they would play a WCQ on sports turf or whatever it is called? I don't think they would, plus I read somewhere that Arena doesn't like to play WCQ on the west side of the USA. He thinks it is not adventagous for his squad. But hopefully I'm wrong on this!!!!

GO USmNT!!!!!!

I doubt anybody wants to play on sportsturf, but if playing in Salt Lake is a big enough priority, the field can be sodded for the game. Not perfect, but it can work. Even if it isn't sodded, FIFA has approved field turf. Can't stand the stuff myself.

It's not so much that Arena is against playing in the West as he wants to avoid being close to large expat/immigrant populations from Mexico or Central America. He's had it with losing the home field advantage because opposing fans turn out in big numbers in SoCal in particular.

I think he meant SoCal or Texas. Bruce is an easterner and Utah is flyover country to them. The "West" means California. Of course, we rarely have the majority of fans when we play in eastern cities like DC, which has a large Central American population.

I think we have a legitimate shot at this, but RSL attendance will be a factor. If we show we support the sport in numbers, they'll look at Salt Lake for the USMNT site rotation.

Rocky J Squirrel · 02-21-2005, 09:10 PM

Mexico has some artificial fields and they are much better to play on than the lumpy, divot filled, poorly growing and obviously regularly replaced grass fields. They just played a WCQ on FieldTurf in Costa Rica. FIFA's position is that a "certified" = (Pay FIFA to inspect it and keep it maintained) 3rd generation artificial surface is acceptable and in many instances a better chioce than natural grass. Have you ever tried to grow athletic grass at 60 degrees of Latiude or in a stadium with fully roofed stands that the field never sees the Sun from November to April? Or has 4 teams using it?

GoReal · 02-21-2005, 09:55 PM

It will be interesting to see what happens with that Costa Rica WCQ and to see if Salt Lake will be really considered or not!!!!!

What a great double header that would make!!!! :D

Jim Umber · 02-22-2005, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky J Squirrel

Have you ever tried to grow athletic grass at 60 degrees of Latiude or in a stadium with fully roofed stands that the field never sees the Sun from November to April? Or has 4 teams using it?

As a matter of fact, I've never tried that. Hmmm. You think it would be a little difficult, eh?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoReal

What a great double header that would make!!!!

I'm with you all the way!

When the USWNT played here, the stadium was pretty well packed, I think. Anyone remember what the attendance was? I presume it would be even greater for the USMNT.

Czar Jake · 02-22-2005, 01:29 PM

I can't remember what the attendance was, but there were lots of people there, they said it was the biggest crowd the USWNT had had all year. I want to say around 17,000.

Arelius · 02-22-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Czar Jake

I can't remember what the attendance was, but there were lots of people there, they said it was the biggest crowd the USWNT had had all year. I want to say around 17,000.

Over 19,000