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58 of 70 USA World Cup venue candidates express interest

USA Crest

And then there were 58.

Representatives from a total of 58 of th original 70 stadiums listed by U.S. Soccer's World Cup bid committee as potential sites for World Cup matches have expressed interest in hosting World Cup matches in either 2018 or 2022.

Representatives from Las Vegas and Raleigh-Durham markets have expressed interest in being considered as hosts for the World Cup as well (No, Las Vegas doesn't have a stadium now, but a proposed stadium project is in the works). Also, Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah has also applied for consideration.

Two venues, one in Jacksonville and one in Oklahoma City, are still in discussions with the U.S. bid committee as officials analyze the feasibility of hosting World Cup matches.

Here is a rundown of the original list of 70 potential World Cup stadiums (with the 12 stadiums that declined interest crossed out):

Potential USA World Cup Stadiums

Metro Market

Stadium Location
Atlanta, Ga. Georgia Dome Atlanta, Ga.
Atlanta, Ga. Sanford Stadium Athens, Ga.
Austin, Texas Royal Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, Texas
Baltimore, Md. M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Md.
Baton Rouge, La. Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, La.
Birmingham, Ala. Legion Field Birmingham, Ala.
Birmingham, Ala. Bryant-Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Boston, Mass. Gillette Stadium Foxborough, Mass.
Buffalo, N.Y. Ralph Wilson Stadium Orchard Park, N.Y.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa
Champaign, Ill. Memorial Stadium Champaign, Ill.
Charlotte, N.C. Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, N.C.
Chicago, Ill. Soldier Field Chicago, Ill.
Cincinnati, Ohio Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Browns Stadium Cleveland, Ohio
Columbia, Mo. Faurot Field Columbia, Mo.
Columbia, S.C. Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, S.C.
Columbus, Ga. Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, Ala.
Columbus, Ohio  Ohio Stadium Columbus, Ohio
Dallas, Texas Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas Dallas Cowboys New Stadium Arlington, Texas
Denver, Colo. Invesco Field Denver, Colo.
Detroit, Mich. University of Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, Mich.
Detroit, Mich. Ford Field Detroit, Mich.
Detroit, Mich. Spartan Stadium East Lansing, Mich.
Fayetteville, Ark. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, Ark.
Green Bay, Wis. Lambeau Field Green Bay, Wis.
Greenville, S.C. Memorial Stadium Clemson, S.C.
Harrisburg, Pa. Beaver Stadium University Park, Pa.
Houston, Texas Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas Rice Stadium Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas Kyle Field College Station, Texas
Indianapolis, Ind. Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Ind.
Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacksonville, Fla. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, Fla.
Kansas City, Mo. Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Mo.
Knoxville, Tenn. Neyland Stadium Knoxville, Tenn.
Lexington, Ky. Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, Ky.
Los Angeles, Calif. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles, Calif. Rose Bowl Pasadena, Calif.
Madison, Wis. Camp Randall Stadium Madison, Wis.
Miami, Fla. Dolphin Stadium Miami Gardens, Fla.
Minneapolis, Minn. TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, Minn.
Minneapolis, Minn. Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, Minn.
Nashville, Tenn. LP Field Nashville, Tenn.
New Haven, Conn. Yale Bowl New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, La. Superdome New Orleans, La.
New York, N.Y. Meadowlands Stadium East Rutherford, N.J.
Oklahoma City, Okla. Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, Okla.
Omaha, Neb. Memorial StadUium Lincoln, Neb.
Orlando, Fla. Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, Fla.
Philadelphia, Pa. Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, Pa.
Phoenix, Ariz. University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Ariz.
Phoenix, Ariz. Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, Ariz.
Pittsburgh, Pa. Heinz Field Pittsburgh, Pa.
Roanoke, Va. Lane Stadium Blacksburg, Va.
Salt Lake City, Utah LaVell Edwards Stadium Provo, Utah
San Antonio, Texas Alamodome San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, Calif. Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, Calif.
San Fran/Oakland, Calif. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Oakland, Calif.
San Fran/Oakland, Calif. Stanford Stadium Stanford, Calif.
San Fran/Oakland, Calif. California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, Calif.
Seattle, Wash. Qwest Field Seattle, Wash.
Seattle, Wash. Husky Stadium Seattle, Wash.
South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, Ind.
St. Louis, Mo. Edward Jones Dome St. Louis, Mo.
Tallahassee, Fla. Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, Fla.
Tampa, Fla. Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Fla.
Washington, D.C. RFK Memorial Stadium Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. FedEx Field

Landover, Md.

While a potential U.S.-hosted World Cup is still up to a decade away (assuming the United States is even chosen for either of the next two cycles) it is still exciting to look at this list and consider the possibilities.

What do you think of the remaining list? Disappointed to see any of the 12 stadiums off the list go? Does the idea of a World Cup match being played in Las Vegas make you as excited as it does me? (or does it just make your head want to explode?)

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Indianapolis!!! With the plans for the 2012 Super Bowl, we can carry the same idea for the World Cup!!

    Reply
  2. The newly revamped Cotton Bowl would be an awesome place to watch a WC game. So would DKR in Austin. I heard they are putting in new turf and ripping out the drainage pumps, so unfortunatly it looks like the crown is going to be necessary. That stadium is awesome though…

    Reply
  3. Legion Field is a dump and it’s in a bad neighborhood. Yale Bowl is all-bench seating — a big no-no in footy — plus it’s too close to New York and Boston.

    Oakland should be ruled out as the World Cup is held during baseball season.

    I see the US bid utilizing NFL stadiums plus Los Angeles for most matches. Opening match and championship final go to the new 100,000-seat Dallas Cowboys stadium. In return the NFL awards a future Super Bowl to Wembley.

    Reply
  4. The Big House would make a perfect opening or final game venue. 100K+ seats. 30 mins transit time from a major international airport w/direct flights from Asia and Europe. 31,000 hotel rooms in the area. City/region has recent experience with major marquee sports events.

    Except that the playing field will require widening (same for Ford Field, barely wide enough for international friendlies, no way it is WC standard). I assume that this is understood when the venues consented to be on the consideration list.

    Reply
  5. Way to go San Francisco! Not even on the list. Of course we all know the Stick needs to be brought down, but damn. SF is seriously the best, with only New York competing, as the best place in the United States to enjoy the WC, inside and outside of the stadium.

    But this is our lot in life. Damn (SF)liberals don’t like sports so we’ll never get another stadium. Bye Bye World Cup. Bye Bye Super Bowl. Bye Bye Olympics.

    Reply
  6. To find FIFA quotes about the humidity you might have to get off the Internet and go to your library. It was discussed during halftime matches also.

    I remember watching it as I was about 15 during the WC94.

    The whole argument from everyone on here suggests Indianapolis should get a game anyways. That was my whole point in the first place.

    Retractable Roof: Indy has

    Accomidations: Indy has

    History of hosting big events: Indy has

    Population: Indy has, more than most cities named.

    Reply
  7. @ This Guy, who said:
    “One thing that FIFA learned from the WorldCup 94 was that the humid, hot weather was a problem. Coaches and players complained about it. So all the pipe dreams of 3 California venues and 3 Texas venues and an Arizona venue should be thrown out. ”

    The stadiums mentioned in Houston, Dallas, and Phoenix all have retractable roofs, so they can be climate controlled.

    Reply

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