US Soccer announced on Tuesday that St. Louis, Missouri would host the opening game of World Cup Qualifying for the United States Men's National Team on November 13. The venue for the match is Busch Stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. The US and manager Jurgen Klinsmann await the winner of Aruba or St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Announcement draws criticism
The announcement of the venue is bizarre. Busch Stadium, while previously used for soccer matches, is not an ideal venue for a competitive game. Fans have awkward viewing angles and can be far removed from the field of play. Major League Soccer teams have used baseball stadiums, but they have always been met with disdain. Sporting Kansas City was playing in Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas during their first few years after being sold by the Hunt family. It was less than ideal and the field was awkwardly placed. But perhaps the bigger shock and more telling sign is the current reaction by MLS fans to New York City FC playing in Yankee Stadium. Fans of other clubs have mocked the venue on social media and complained about the poor image it gives the league. For a nation trying to make an impact on the world stage and prove they can compete, Busch Stadium seems counterproductive.
What other options were there?
Another interesting point to look at is the proximity to three MLS cities with stadiums suitable for this game. Kansas City is 250 miles, Chicago is 300 miles and Columbus is 400 miles away. Each of these cities have soccer specific stadiums that could house this game. Columbus, as a city, has become a bastion and the site for US - Mexico matches domestically. Kansas City has claimed the title "Soccer Capital of America" and Sporting Park is always an excellent venue for USMNT matches. Chicago does not see much of the international game, but bringing the US Nationals to town is long overdue. The selection of St. Louis and Busch Stadium feels like a slight to all three neighboring MLS cities that have spent the money and effort to support US Soccer through MLS and the building of Soccer Specific Stadiums. Both Columbus and Kansas City are MLS originals from 1996 and the Chicago Fire joined in 97.
If it were Major League Soccer making the decision, St. Louis might make sense. St. Louis has been a hotbed for developing soccer stars and the city has made several attempts to get an MLS club in the past. The fans feel they more than deserve a top flight team in their home town. If MLS said they were testing the waters and gauging support and turnout as a precursor to an MLS franchise. But this decision was made by US Soccer.
While St. Louis will draw a crowd like they have for all recent international games, the decision to play in Busch Stadium has many fans scratching their heads. A venue not designed for soccer hosting the first game on the way to World Cup 2018 in Russia is odd to say the least. Any MLS city with a soccer specific stadium would be preferable to many and the selection is an insult to every other city in the region that has fully invested in soccer.