"We could not be more excited to welcome four great CONCACAF teams and their fans to our area next June," said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. "This announcement is a huge win for the continued tradition and future growth of soccer in our community."
As part of CONCACAF's efforts to bring the Gold Cup to as many fans as possible across the United States, and after the success of the 2009 event, the 2011 Gold Cup will again travel to new cities, including Detroit, Tampa, Kansas City and Charlotte, while also returning to traditional markets.
"We are very excited about our cities and venues," CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said. "Each will add a distinct flavor to the event and will help make this the best Gold Cup to date."
This will be the sixth time the final is held in Southern California, and the second time at the Rose Bowl. Locally, the competition will take place at Raymond James Stadium.
"The quality of Raymond James Stadium and the reputation the stadium maintains, makes it a key component to this premier match. We are proud to host the Gold Cup and the International fans the event attracts," said Eric Hart, executive director of the Tampa Sports Authority, the stadium’s management organization.
The first Gold Cup final was played in Los Angeles in 1991 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the United States defeated Honduras on penalty kicks.Jamaica, Cuba, Grenada and Guadeloupe recently qualified to the Gold Cup from the Caribbean, while the five Central American participants will be decided Jan. 14-23, 2011 at the Copa
Tampa Bay has been selected as one of 11 U.S. cities who will host the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup™, celebrating its 20th anniversary as the region’s most prestigious football competition. The competition will be staged in 13 venues across 11 U.S. cities, opening at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, June 5 and concluding with the championship match Saturday, June 25 at the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
CONCACAF will announce the Gold Cup 2011 Group Stage groups, the full schedule, as well as ticket information in early February.
June 6 – The Home Depot Center (Carson, CA)
June 7 – Ford Field (Detroit, MI)
June 9 – Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)
June 10 – Florida International University Stadium (Miami, FL)
June 11 – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
June 12 – Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)
June 13 – Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)
June 14 – Sporting Stadium (Kansas City, KS)
Quarterfinals
June 18 – New Meadowlands Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
June 19 – Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (Washington, DC)
Semifinals
June 22 – Reliant Stadium (Houston, TX)
Final
June 25 – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)
For more information about Gold Cup venues and teams, please visit
Local media contact is Travis Claytor, communications manager for Tampa Bay & Company, at 813-342-4052 or
www.CONCACAF.com. For footage of the 2011 Gold Cup venues, please access the CONCACAF video FTP AT video.concacaf.com. To download a file log in as - User: media; Password: Concacaf725. TClaytor@VisitTampaBay.com.
Centroamericana in Panama. Canada, Mexico and the United States are qualified automatically for the event.
The champion of the 2011 edition will represent CONCACAF at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup to be held in Brazil as a prelude to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Gold Cup winners have enjoyed sterling performances at the Confederations Cup, including a championship by Mexico in 1999 and more recently the United States’ memorable second-place finish in 2009.