World Cup 2010

[cARdsfan]

I was reading the other day about the USA's bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 WC and saw where STL was one of the final 27 candidates to host a game but didn't make the final cut of 18 US cities. Did USA Soccer give any specific reasons why STL wasn't one of the final 18 or is it just one of those things?

[thrill]

I was reading the other day about the USA's bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 WC and saw where STL was one of the final 27 candidates to host a game but didn't make the final cut of 18 US cities. Did USA Soccer give any specific reasons why STL wasn't one of the final 18 or is it just one of those things?

I haven't seen anything specific, but in terms of tourism, stadium and international profile, it didn't really have a chance to crack the final 9 anyway.

New York/NJ
LA
Chicago
Boston
Seattle
Dallas
San Francisco
Washington DC
Then either Phoenix, Indianapolis, Houston, San Diego or Denver.

I'd guess San Diego because of the weather, but I could see them not wanting to give California three teams. Phoenix would be great from a stadium, interest, accomadations stand point, but I'm fairly certain Europeans would die in the mid-summer heat. I'd pick Denver over Indy because Indianapolis is a crappy city.

Either way, what you want to look for is a big city with a nice NFL stadium and appealing tourist destinations.

Keep in mind that the 18 cities on the proposal aren't necessarily the cities that will host. Chicago isn't part of the 18 in the proposal because Solider Field is garbage, but they'd do what it takes to get it up to snuff by 2018 based on it's attractiveness of international travel, existing mass transit and tourist interest.

[maddash]

I was reading the other day about the USA's bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 WC and saw where STL was one of the final 27 candidates to host a game but didn't make the final cut of 18 US cities. Did USA Soccer give any specific reasons why STL wasn't one of the final 18 or is it just one of those things?

I haven't heard any specific reason, but the Edward Jones Dome was the site they checked out... and well, the Jones Dome is a piece of [expletive]. It's one of the worst places to play football, let alone fútbol. They'd have to do some costly renovations to get it up to grade.

[greenback44]

Phoenix would be great from a stadium, interest, accomadations stand point, but I'm fairly certain Europeans would die in the mid-summer heat.

You could say the same for Dallas. Presumably the Germans remember their 1994 World Cup match against the South Koreans; they managed to hold on for the win, but they were on fumes at the end.

Orlando hosted some games in 1994, and I can kinda guess why.

[thrill]

Phoenix would be great from a stadium, interest, accomadations stand point, but I'm fairly certain Europeans would die in the mid-summer heat.

You could say the same for Dallas. Presumably the Germans remember their 1994 World Cup match against the South Koreans; they managed to hold on for the win, but they were on fumes at the end.

Orlando hosted some games in 1994, and I can kinda guess why.

The games would be fine. Our stadium is a dome. I'm just talking about the off-the-field tourism. People from England would burst into flames. Dallas is a dome too for that matter.

[cARdsfan]

I was reading the other day about the USA's bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 WC and saw where STL was one of the final 27 candidates to host a game but didn't make the final cut of 18 US cities. Did USA Soccer give any specific reasons why STL wasn't one of the final 18 or is it just one of those things?

I haven't seen anything specific, but in terms of tourism, stadium and international profile, it didn't really have a chance to crack the final 9 anyway.

New York/NJ
LA
Chicago
Boston
Seattle
Dallas
San Francisco
Washington DC
Then either Phoenix, Indianapolis, Houston, San Diego or Denver.

I'd guess San Diego because of the weather, but I could see them not wanting to give California three teams. Phoenix would be great from a stadium, interest, accomadations stand point, but I'm fairly certain Europeans would die in the mid-summer heat. I'd pick Denver over Indy because Indianapolis is a crappy city.

Either way, what you want to look for is a big city with a nice NFL stadium and appealing tourist destinations.

Keep in mind that the 18 cities on the proposal aren't necessarily the cities that will host. Chicago isn't part of the 18 in the proposal because Solider Field is garbage, but they'd do what it takes to get it up to snuff by 2018 based on it's attractiveness of international travel, existing mass transit and tourist interest.

Thanks for the reply. I kind of figured STL just isn't as attractive as some of the other cities listed. It would be neat though to see them included simply as a nod to the city's soccer history and contributions to USA soccer.

[thrill]

You'd a have a decent shot if there is going to be a state of the art new football stadium by 2018.

[greenback44]

Dallas is a dome too for that matter.

Shoot. For some reason I couldn't imagine them playing soccer under that giant TV.

[Freed Roger]

Phoenix would be great from a stadium, interest, accomadations stand point, but I'm fairly certain Europeans would die in the mid-summer heat.

You could say the same for Dallas. Presumably the Germans remember their 1994 World Cup match against the South Koreans; they managed to hold on for the win, but they were on fumes at the end.

Orlando hosted some games in 1994, and I can kinda guess why.

The games would be fine. Our stadium is a dome. I'm just talking about the off-the-field tourism. People from England would burst into flames. Dallas is a dome too for that matter.

they've played WC games in domes before Sapporo dome is like in Glendale AZ with retractable surface IIRC US hosted at least a qualifier in a dome - but had sod hauled in for it. (was it the old Silverdome in Detroit?)

[thrill]

Phoenix would be great from a stadium, interest, accomadations stand point, but I'm fairly certain Europeans would die in the mid-summer heat.

You could say the same for Dallas. Presumably the Germans remember their 1994 World Cup match against the South Koreans; they managed to hold on for the win, but they were on fumes at the end.

Orlando hosted some games in 1994, and I can kinda guess why.

The games would be fine. Our stadium is a dome. I'm just talking about the off-the-field tourism. People from England would burst into flames. Dallas is a dome too for that matter.

they've played WC games in domes before Sapporo dome is like in Glendale AZ with retractable surface IIRC US hosted at least a qualifier in a dome - but had sod hauled in for it. (was it the old Silverdome in Detroit?)

Yes. I was pointing out that weather in Dallas wouldn't be a problem for hosting a game. St. Louis is out because the Edward Jones Dome is crap, not because it's a dome.