Where should/Where will the Men's National Team play their first 3 WCQ home games?

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

Has this been decided? If not where should they play?

If they haven't:

It would seem like Vancouver should be a venue for one of the 3 games because (correct me if I'm wrong):

-During the WCQs for South Africa 2010, they did not host a game.

-They have not hosted a friendly game since 2005.

Toronto or Montreal should get one for population reasons.

Moncton would be a cool venue for one game. When is the last time Atl Canada has hosted a MNT game?

[Keegan]

It would be cool for it to be somewhere like Moncton, I think it would be a great idea support wise and a great trip for the Vs

[Soccerpro]

Moncton. But they will go to Toronto or Montreal.

[Juby]

shouldn't the first 3 not be in the best market's because the competition won't be a big draw? I say Moncton, Edmonton (as a sign Vancouver will get one of the 3 in the main round) and maybe Ottawa? A few other cities could probably accomodate a relatively smaller draw of a match (compared to what the tougher competition ahead wil draw)

[Free kick]

The first round of matches need not be played in a large urban centre. There aren't glamourous opponents in the first round, and there aren't sides that should give Canada any problems ( unless Guatemala ends up in our group) even despite the recent pessimism.

Canada played against Belize in Kingston Ontario in 2004 and that was the best attended WCQ match of that entire cycle. A place like Kingston, Moncton, Victoria, Sherbrooke is ideal for the first round. These are places with a grass surface and venues of approx 10k and thats all you need for the first round. The CSA could also use this opportunity to test the readiness and suitability of some of these venues for the WWC in 2015.

For selfish reasons, i would like BMO to get its fair share but It would be a waste in my opinion to play a first round opponent at BMO because the attendance would be crappy. The second round is another story.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

and maybe Ottawa?

Ottawa should NOT host until Landowne Park redevelopment stuff is completed. Montreal is generally close enough for now.

[killgod]

Saputo under construction no?

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

Saputo under construction no?

There is the Olympic Stadium (where the Impact's will play their early MLS games until Saputo is ready). Saputo will begin construction in September. Does anybody know what the date is though? Maybe they can host for Sept 2nd or 6th match, obviously not the Oct or Nov games.

[Nick Sabetti]

Saputo Stadium will be available because there are two home games in September, one on the 11th and another on the 17th. the game before that is in mid august. Olympic Stadium is out of the question, there is no field there and they wont spend 200 grand on putting temporary grass or turf.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

Saputo Stadium will be available because there are two home games in September, one on the 11th and another on the 17th. the game before that is in mid august. Olympic Stadium is out of the question, there is no field there and they wont spend 200 grand on putting temporary grass or turf.

OK, thank you. I guess they'll be adding in turf/grass at the Olympic Stadium for March 2012 then. It seems like Montréal is a possibility for a September game...

[alberta white]

FOOTE FIELD BABY YEAH!

We could enmploy the weirding ways of the rally rabbit you know!

(Yes I know, sorry. Its all that tar sand carcenogen running through my veins)

[CanadianSoccerFan]

Can we merge this thread? http://www.cansoc.org/showthread.php?41657-2011-WCQ-Pick-the-venues

[Cyrus]

shouldn't the first 3 not be in the best market's because the competition won't be a big draw? I say Moncton, Edmonton (as a sign Vancouver will get one of the 3 in the main round) and maybe Ottawa? A few other cities could probably accomodate a relatively smaller draw of a match (compared to what the tougher competition ahead wil draw)

Ottawa has no stadium. They have a construction site that has no construction currently going on. Unless you want to go with crazy small venues, like the universities or the rugby park. And if you do that, you may as well just play in Kingston.

[Cyrus]

So after giving it some thought, my recommendations are, Kingston, then Moncton, and the last game in Edmonton. A shout out to Edmonton getting a professional team, a shot in the arm for local awareness of the game, and a chance to play some Caribbean/Central American team on the edge of the Arctic in November.

[kodiakTFC]

Its tough because although I want a game in Toronto/Southern Ontario, I believe this is the time to give smaller markets a matchup. My gut feeling tells me the CSA will go with Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver but I'd like to see Moncton in there. Vancouver might not even get a match seeing as how they have turf and its long distance from Europe.

[killgod]

Saputo Stadium will be available because there are two home games in September, one on the 11th and another on the 17th. the game before that is in mid august. Olympic Stadium is out of the question, there is no field there and they wont spend 200 grand on putting temporary grass or turf.

How do we know both dates in September are home? Don't we need to determine groups first?

Will the BC Place renovations be done in time? I'd imagine that'd be a good opportunity to play in front of a large crowd. People will want to see the new digs.

Alot of you guys are suggesting playing in small remote venues but I think there's little chance of it happening. CSA will put themselves in a position to make as much revenue as they can, going to a 5K stadium where pro soccer doesn't exist is not exactly ideal when they could play in a 20K stadium where pro soccer is already there.

I've read suggestions that the CSA needs to sell something like 10K seats to cover their costs when it comes to these matches, if that's remotely true, then you'd have to think anything small would be ruled out?

I'd wager BMO, BC Place (if ready) and Moncton Coliseum (close to the CFL game date as they can try to capitalize on the buzz and additional seats setup at the stadium)

[paul-collins]

How do we know both dates in September are home? Don't we need to determine groups first?

He was talking about Impact home games.

[killgod]

He was talking about Impact home games.

Ah, must have misread that. Doh.

[Free kick]

I've read suggestions that the CSA needs to sell something like 10K seats to cover their costs when it comes to these matches, if that's remotely true, then you'd have to think anything small would be ruled out?

m)

Maybe you are referring to Friendly matches. Yes 10k makes sense ( and I have heard that figure as well) because for these matches you have to pay the guests for their appearance as well their travel and accommodations. That's not the case with WCQ. Besides, you are going to be very hard pressed to get 10k or more people for any first round matches anywhere. So I'll bet that they will play in smaller and more affordable venues in smaller areas..

[jpg75]

I'd like to see the first round home games spread around to cities/towns that have been underserved.

Once the second round starts though i would like to see the team play all 3 home games in one location. Flex packages would then be sold to minimize the foreign support. ie. if you want to go to the game you need to buy all 3 games.

[Saviola7]

Once the second round starts though i would like to see the team play all 3 home games in one location. Flex packages would then be sold to minimize the foreign support. ie. if you want to go to the game you need to buy all 3 games.

Now that is an interesting idea ...

[argh1]

Let's hope we make it to further rounds first. We have no reason to be smug.

[dyslexic nam]

Moncton.

As an east coaster - please, Moncton.

[argh1]

Moncton.

As an east coaster - please, Moncton.

The last international played on the coast was an Olympic Qualifier against US Virgin Islands at Saint John's Canada Games Stadium that has since been rebuilt to a 7,000 seater but the grass was replaced with field turf.

I wonder is the new Stadium that was built for the Canada Games in Charlottetown is suitable for a 1st rounder?

I think there's possibilities on the coast. King George in St John's should be considered as well.

But as a Maritimer at least the old excuse of no venue is gone.

But I think we'll see all games in Central Canada.

[RJB]

BC Place is set to be finished by the end of September, so it would be a good way to celebrate that by hosting a WCQ. But it is going to be an artificial surface, and they likely won't bring in grass, so that would have to be considered.

I fully expect the games to be played in Toronto and Montreal, for better or worse.