USA vs Mexico: Why are they playing in Columbus, Ohio?
By Mike Dyce
Sep 6, 2013; San Jose, COSTA RICA; United States fans react against Costa Rica in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier at Estadio Nacional. Costa Rica defeated the United States 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The U.S. Men’s National Team played Panama in Seattle in front of an energetic 40,847 fans in June this past summer. A little over a week before that game the USMNT played Germany in front of 47,359 fans. Tonight’s game will be played at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio which seats roughly 23,000 fans.
After the incredible support the USMNT received in Seattle why are they hosting the game at Columbus Crew Stadium?
Certainly a bigger crowd is appealing but there are clear reasons the USMNT’s has chosen to play this game in Ohio.
1. The USMNT’s record there
The United States has never lost there in 9 games (6-0-3) and they’re (2-0) against Mexico there. In addition to that, they’ve posted three consecutive 2-0 wins there. All three of the USMNT’s past World Cup qualifiers against Mexico have been played there.
2. The pro-USA crowd
The hispanic population of much of the United States, particularly in the south, makes it hard to keep a pro-USA crowd. Crew fans get priority in obtaining tickets which makes it hard for fans of other countries to get tickets, and when they do it is very pricey. That isn’t to say there isn’t a strong hispanic community in Ohio, it is just hard to get tickets in such an intimate and limited seating statement.
According to ESPN FC, around “1,500 tickets on different web pages” were for sale for up to three times what they paid. Tickets in the nose bleeds were going for roughly $400. At one point in time the crowds were so anti-USA that they considered playing in Alaska according to ESPN FC.
“Don’t applaud us, don’t support us for the 90 minutes, but please don’t make us always play Mexico with the fans in the stands against us,” former US coach Bruce Arena said.
For instance the USMNT played in a Gold Cup semi-final at Cowboys Stadium in front of 81,410 fans and the crowd was maybe 25% US fans. There was a large Mexican crowd and the noise level after the US game and before the Mexico game noticeably grew.
Nevertheless it’ll be an interesting game to watch.