BBVA Compass Stadium to Host 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup Match(es)

Today, CONCACAF released the list of host cities and venues for the 2013 Gold Cup. Although Houston has played host to Gold Cup matches in past years, there is a change of venue for 2013 from Reliant Stadium to the brand new, soccer specific BBVA Compass Stadium. As of now, it's not clear what match(es) will take place in Houston, but since BBVA Compass Stadium has about 40,000 less seats than Reliant Stadium, it is likely that Houston won't play host to any of the big marquee matches this year (especially any matches involving Mexico).

While the 2011 Gold Cup decided who would represent CONCACAF in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brasil (Mexico), there is no bigger prize by winning the 2013 Gold Cup. Combine that with the fact that World Cup Qualifiers are the priority this year, it will be interesting to see which players get their first caps, or first caps in a long time, this summer.

Here's a list of all the host cities and venues for the 2013 Gold Cup:

Dallas – Cowboys Stadium (Arlington, TX)

Atlanta – Georgia Dome (Atlanta, GA)

Baltimore - M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)

Chicago – Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)

Denver – Sports Authority Field at Mile High (Denver, CO)

Hartford – Rentschler Field (East Hartford, CT)

Houston – BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, TX)

Los Angeles – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)

Miami – Sun Life Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)

New York– Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)

Portland – JELD-WEN Field (Portland, OR)

Salt Lake City – Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy, UT)

Seattle – CenturyLink Field (Seattle, WA)

Chabala on Trial with Houston Dynamo

Thanks to a tweet by Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis yesterday morning, it was clear that something was going on between the Dynamo and former Dynamo Defender Mike Chabala. My early speculation was that the Dynamo signed the free agent who had been traded away to Portland back in 2011; however, it appears, according to Dynamo Theory, that Chabala has only been invited to the Dynamo preseason camp for a trial.

Familiarity with the Dynamo system and what Coach Dominic Kinnear expects from players suggests that Chabala has a good shot at making it back onto the squad. Chabala's internal drive will play a big part too, seeing that this might be one of his last opportunities to make it onto an MLS team before the start of the 2013 season.

According to Dynamo Theory, Scottish forward Callum Elliot is also on trial with the Houston Dynamo. From 2004 through 2012, Elliot was with Heart of Midlothian F.C., but spent much of that time on loans to clubs like Motherwell, Dundee, and Livingston. Most recently, Elliot was in Lithuania with VMFD Žalgiris Vilnius.

Michael Chabala Returning to Houston Dynamo?

While there has not been an official statement from the Houston Dynamo, based on this tweet by Brad Davis it appears that Michael Chabala is returning to the Houston Dynamo.

The Dynamo drafted the defender in the 4th round of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, but did not make his MLS debut until 2009 against RedBull New York. Chabala ultimately made 47 appearances for the Dynamo before he was traded to the Portland Timbers in July of 2011. Subsequently, in 2012, Portland traded Chabala to D.C. United, who declined his contract option for 2013.

Since Chabala obtained free agent status after going undrafted in the 2012 re-entry draft, if the Dynamo did sign him, the Dynamo did not have to give anything up to make the deal. In light of that, along with the fact that the Dynamo need back line depth and Chabala is already familiar with Dominic Kinnear's system, this seems like a no-brainer of a preseason signing.

I'll update this as more details become available.

Houston Dynamo Draft Forward & Defender at 2013 SuperDraft

MLS held its 2013 SuperDraft in Indianapolis on Thursday January 17th, and the Houston Dynamo used the draft to cushion its depth on the front and back lines.

In the first round, with the 13th overall pick, the Dynamo drafted Jason Johnson, a Jamaican native who played froward at Virginia Commonwealth University. Johnson received his first cap with the Jamaican national team in February of 2010 against Argentina.

Johnson shouldn't be too homesick when he joins the Dynamo since the squad already boasts three other Jamaican players: Jermaine Taylor, Je-Vaughn Watson, and Omar Cummings.

In the second round, with the 37th overall pick, the Dynamo drafted defender Jimmy Nealis. The New York native picked up six assists for Georgetown in 2012. At 6 feet, Nealis brings some needed height to the Dynamo's defense.

The recent loss of André Hainault to the Scottish Premier League means that Nealis will have a good shot at earning some playing time this season.

While Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear expressed favorable opinions on how Johnson and Nealis performed at the combine, Kinnear and the Dynamo maintained the tradition of trying to draft Generation Adidas players, with both Johnson and Nealis being classified as Generation Adidas for salary cap purposes.

The Dynamo begin their preseason camp this coming Monday and then begin the 2013 MLS season by hosting D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday March 2nd.

Dynamo full-season ticket packages start at $400 and include 20 home games. The club is also offering a new Family Season Ticket Package for the 2013 season. For every full price adult season ticket purchased for $400, fans can purchase an additional season ticket for a child 10 years or younger for just $200, located in the Texas Children’s Health Plan Family Section (Section 201). To purchase your package or for more information on 2013 season tickets, call (713) 276-GOAL.

Houston Dynamo Sign Multi-Year Radio Deal with Gow Media

According to David Barron at the Houston Chronicle, today the Houston Dynamo and Gow Media will announce a new multi-year deal to broadcast Houston Dynamo matches over the radio.

Most of the matches will likely be aired on KGOW - Yahoo! Sports Radio 1560, but some will also be aired on KFNC - ESPN 97.5, both of which are owned by Gow Media (which also owns the Yahoo! Sports Radio Network).

In addition to carrying most of the Dynamo matches, which will again be called by Matt Pederson, KGOW will begin airing Glenn Davis' Dynamo All-Access Show starting at 7:00 p.m. on Monday January 21, 2013. Last month, Glenn Davis moved his Soccer Matters show over to KFNC.

The Houston Dynamo's 2013 MLS Season starts at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2nd, when they host D.C. United. The match is set to start at 7:00 p.m. local time.

Houston Dynamo Lose André Hainault to Ross County in the SPL

It's January, which means its that time of year when MLS players who are out of contract get the chance to seek out new work in Europe. Many of those MLS players are unable to get a contract in Europe, so they come back to MLS, but some of them get the opportunity to stay in Europe, and this year defender André Hainault is staying in Europe.

It was announced yesterday that Hainault has signed a deal with Ross County in the Scottish Premier League. While the SPL has lost a lot of its luster over the years and while Ross County was only promoted to the SPL last season and currently sits above only Dundee on the table, the reality is that not only will he make a bit more money in the SPL and get more playing time, he will also be in a position to get the attention of more scouts from England.

This is not the 26 year old Canadian's first time with a European club, before coming to the Dynamo in 2009, he was at FK Baník Most and AC Sparta Praha, both in the Czech Republic.

Although he was the Dynamo Defender of the year in 2011 and although he scored some very crucial goals for the Dynamo, Hainault saw his playing time decrease in 2012 while Jermaine Taylor and Kofi Sarkodie saw more playing time on the back line this past season. Hainault's departure will have a negative impact on the Dynamo, who tried to resign him during and after the 2012 season, since he gave much needed depth to the Dynamo's back line. As followers of MLS know, depth is a much treasured resource by MLS clubs, especially when that depth consists of players with as much skill as Hainault.

Houston Dynamo Announce 2013 Season Ticket Packges

This week, the Houston Dynamo announced details for 2013 season ticket packages, which begin at $400.00. These packages will include the 17 home MLS matches and three CONCACAF Champions League matches.

New this year is a Family Season Ticket package which includes $200.00 pricing for children under the age of 10. Seats included in this package are only located in the Texas Children's Health Plan Family Section, a/k/a Section 201.

In addition to season ticket packages, the Dynamo are also offering 10-game and 5-game plans.

Full season ticket packages include perks such as playoff ticket priority, access to private events, access to the flexible ticket exchange program, and a VIP card providing discounts at the team's store and with some Dynamo sponsors.

To obtain more information on Houston Dynamo tickets and ticket packages, click here.

The Houston Dynamo's 2013 MLS season starts with a visit to BBVA Compass Stadium by D.C. United on March 2, 2013. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. local time.

Click here for a look at the Houston Dynamo's full 2013 schedule.

[VIDEO] More Player on Referee Violence in Argentina

One of the latest incidents of players blowing up and attacking a referee occurred in a Jorge Newbery v. Huracán de Arribeños match down in Argentina:

No matter whether you agree with a call or not, this type of response is uncalled for and horrific. FIFA clearly needs to do more, have more draconian responses, to these types of incidents, but seeing how it seems incompetent to end racial abuse at the highest levels of the sport, it's unlikely to make much difference in unsportsmanlike conduct in the lower levels of the so-called beautiful game.

Houston Dynamo Advance to MLS Eastern Conference Final

Photo by Nigel Brooks

This morning, Sporting Kansas City and its fans are left pondering what it is that keeps enabling the Houston Dynamo to knock Kansas City out of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Last season the Dynamo beat Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Finals and back in 2007 the Dynamo eliminated the then Kansas City Wizards from the playoffs.

Although last night's match finished with a score line of Kansas City 1, Houston 0, the Dynamo came into the match with a 2 goal aggregate lead thanks to a 2-0 victory over Kansas City in Houston on Sunday afternoon. The two legged affair was essentially an elongated version of Houston's 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire in the MLS Knockout Round.

Not surprisingly, on Sunday the Houston Dynamo took advantage of the fact that they were playing at BBVA Compass Stadium and took the fight to Kansas City, a tactic that paid off first in the 18th minute when Adam Moffat fired the ball into goal and then in the 75th minute when Will Bruin did what Will Bruin does, scores goals.

On Wednesday, the Dynamo took a much more conservative, defensive approach, and although this caused some Dynamo fans to needlessly freak out and have anxiety attacks, the tactic paid off and the Dynamo held Kansas City to one goal, which was scored by Seth Sinovic in the 64th minute.

As of yet, the Dynamo do not know who they will be facing in the Eastern Conference Final because the RedBull New York - D.C. United match was postponed as a result of the Nor'Easter that hit New Jersey last night. That match was rescheduled for tonight.

In light of provisions in the collective bargaining agreement, an MLS team can not play two matches in three days; therefore,(and read this closely because despite the blatant announcements yesterday evening there was a great deal of confusion among Dynamo fans and person that cover the Dynamo) the first leg of the Eastern Conference Final will be at 3:00 p.m. central time on Sunday November 11th at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Houston Dynamo Eliminate Chicago Fire from MLS Cup Playoffs in a 2-1 Win

Photo by Nigel Brooks

It was treats for the Houston Dynamo and only tricks for the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview, Illinois on Halloween night as a Will Bruin brace gave the Dynamo a 2-1 win, eliminating Chicago from the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Bruin's first goal came in the 12th minute with a header on a set piece and then he picked up his second goal early in the second half. The fact that the Dynamo led throughout the match put the pressure on Chicago to attack instead of sitting back and waiting on opportunities to counter. With 19 shots, 7 of which were on goal, Chicago did not give the Dynamo defense much rest and a goal by Alex in the 83rd minute gave hope to Chicago and its fans that they had a chance to catch up with the Dynamo. But this hope proved to be false when referee Baldomero Toledo blew the whistle approximately 4 minutes after regulation time.

The Dynamo victory means that the Chicago Fire are done with the 2012 MLS Season. The Dynamo advance to a two-leg affair against Sporting Kansas City. The first match will be at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on Sunday November 4th at 2:30 p.m. central time. The second match will be hosted at Livestrong Park in Kansas City, Kansas on Wednesday November 7th at 8:00 p.m. central time. Sunday's match will be broadcast on NBC.

As Wednesday night's victory by the Dynamo suggests, when it comes to the MLS Cup Playoffs you can't look to the Dynamo's regular season results to predict how they'll fair in the playoffs. Prior to this victory, the last time the Dynamo beat the Chicago Fire was in 2010. The fact that the Dynamo did not have the best record against Kansas City this past season means nothing going into the Eastern Conference Semifinals.