Gold Cup venues announced, New England gets shaft?

I don't even know if Gillette Stadium was even in the running to host a Gold Cup match this summer, but it doesn't matter--they're not going to.

The venues were announced today, and for the first time since the tournament switched to odd-numbered years, New England will not see a Gold Cup match (2002 was the last time, and the USMNT has played in Foxborough every tournament since).

First Round
June 5 – Cowboys Stadium (Arlington, TX)
June 6 – The Home Depot Center (Carson, CA)
June 7 – Ford Field (Detroit)
June 9 – Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
June 10 – FIU Stadium (Miami)
June 11 – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa)
June 12 – Soldier Field (Chicago)
June 13 – Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)
June 14 – KC Soccer 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)
Final
June 25 – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)

Another tournament oddity is that the Yanks have been "drawn" in Group B in five out of the last six editions (the US, Canada, and Mexico automatically qualify for the tournament).  So, if history repeats*, the USA group stage games will be in LA, Miami, and New Jersey (small road trip for Nutmeggers).

As pissed as I am about the absence of the Gold Cup in New England this summer, I'm pleased about the selection of venues overall.  They didn't stick exclusively to MLS markets.  Tampa, Charlotte, and Detroit all have lower-division clubs and the potential for growth that can only be aided by the arrival meaningful international games.  Kansas City, who will be among those hosting for the first time, is being further rewarded for their excellent fan-base and new stadium.

Miami, however, is a joke of a sports city and doesn't deserve the consideration they've gotten for a soccer franchise of any kind.  They couldn't keep their first MLS franchise, and not even Lebron James can initiate a guaranteed sellout in that fruitcake resort town.  FIU Stadium is not good enough for the cleats of the same squad that probably has more international appeal than Lebron himself right now.  Yeah, I went there.

The Gold Cup field won't even be complete until next month (Central American qualifying), and the draw isn't for awhile, but I'm excited.  It's about time the Yanks played some meaningful games.

*...and the group stage schedule is played in order (Groups A, B, C, alternating days)