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Most countries are the size of small to mid size US states though. It is one thing to be England and ask people to travel. Consider this distance in cities:
London to Manchester: 200 miles
Houston to Dallas: 240 miles
London to Newcastle: 280 miles
Houston to Chicago: 1,084 miles
Los Angelas to New York: 2,789 miles
In a country where we are still trying to establish and grow soccer we need all fans to be able to have access to big showcases of our top national talent. If we hide it away in a single location then the sport becomes a localized/regionalised/marginalised sport and it is tougher to grow it.
That's so bizarre, I knew these countries have home stadiums classically associated with them but did not realize they are their official home stadiums. To me, it does not make any sense at all for a national team to have a home stadium, they represent a nation and should be rotating all major stadiums on their performances, like Brazil and USA do.
Big difference though. Ireland has a population of 4 million and is a tiny island compared to America and Brazil. Same with England, Scotland, Wales and France.
I understand why places like the US rotate. Its to big not to. People in Cork can head for an Ireland game in Dublin, in the morning, on coach or train. They could be back the same evening. In the US, someone in Texas going to see the US play in New York would have to be like a holiday and very expensive. Think that sort of thing would distance the sport from certain areas of the US.
Don't think size of the country should matter! These countries that have soccer home stadiums don't necessarily have home venues for all their national teams in other sports.
A national team should belong to no and every place in the nation at the same time. In Brazil, there isn't really any stadium commonly associated as the typical home, not even MaracanĂ£!
Don't think size of the country should matter! These countries that have soccer home stadiums don't necessarily have home venues for all their national teams in other sports.
A national team should belong to no and every place in the nation at the same time. In Brazil, there isn't really any stadium commonly associated as the typical home, not even MaracanĂ£!
Of course size matters. Ireland couldn't have many stadiums because of its size. To small a population and to small cities. A 50,000 seater stadium will not be built in Cork, Galway, Limerick etc... just so the national team can play a few games there. Money would be lost.
In Dublin however, the capital and biggest city, the Aviva Stadium is where the Irish team(football and rugby) play their matches. Apart from that, its not used for much. Having stadiums of that size in places like Galway, where it definitely wont be used would be financial suicide.
Places like the US and bigger countries can rotate. It would be better for them to rotate. I love having a national stadium(hate the Aviva though). I can understand other countries not having one though.
Don't think size of the country should matter! These countries that have soccer home stadiums don't necessarily have home venues for all their national teams in other sports.
A national team should belong to no and every place in the nation at the same time. In Brazil, there isn't really any stadium commonly associated as the typical home, not even MaracanĂ£!
Of course they should have a home stadium, you turn that place into a fortress that people hate going to. Some countries create horrible atmospheres for visiting teams and their supporters. Ireland for a time had Lansdowne road as a place where teams knowing basically that they wont get a win. The players know every square inch, bobble, dip, how the wind blows everything about it.
If Ireland moved to Croker or other facilities which could hold a game then you couldnt gain that.
Not a full time national stadium, but a purpose-built stadium in Las Vegas, natural pitch, covered stands, 20k-30k seats, to be used as deemed fit by both the soccer and rugby teams (and host the USA sevens).
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