Which cities and stadiums could host Copa America 2016?

The bidding has been narrowed to 24 cities. But which stadiums in those cities can host and where is the tournament likely going?

Copa America 2016 is going to be a monster tournament, bringing together the best teams and players from North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Bets of all, it is going to be hosted by the United States, making it the biggest and best competition the country has hosted since the 1994 World Cup.

With such a big tournament coming to the U.S., the nation's biggest cities with giant, immaculate stadiums are lining up to bid for hosting rights. On Thursday, the tournament organizers narrowed the list down to 24 metropolitan areas, all of whom are planning on bidding to host. But the organizers only said which 24 metropolitan areas are being considered, not which stadiums.

Which stadiums in all 24 metropolitan areas meet the 50,000-seat capacity criteria and can host? Which are most likely to host?

Before we dive into that, let's note a few things:

- Miami did not make the final cut of 24 because they will not have a suitable stadium in the summer of 2016. Normally, they would put forth SunLife Stadium, but it will be undergoing renovations that summer.

- As many as 10 of the stadiums that the 24 cities put forward have an artificial turf surface. U.S. Soccer doesn't like to play on turf and doesn't really like temporary grass laid over turf either. CONCACAF doesn't mind turf, although it prefers temporary grass laid over turf. What do the Copa America organizers' views on turf? We have no idea. They can't leave out stadiums with turf altogether, because that means New York, Dallas and others are out, but will they hold turf against cities on the bubble? Will they require temporary grass? Nobody has any clue yet.

- The organizers have not said a word on host city spread. The U.S. is a big country and cross-country flights could take its toll on teams. They could use a pod system to help limit travel, they could leave out cities in some corners of the country like the Pacific Northwest or they could not care at all. They may try to spread the tournament out as much as possible or they may just chase the biggest cities or biggest paydays. They haven't said anything about their criteria or what they're considering.

- This is 4,000 words so feel free to use CTRL+F and find the cities you're interested in.

So with that out of the way, let's get to the cities:

Atlanta

The city has two stadiums that meet the 50,000-seat criteria, and only one of them is realistic. The Georgia Dome is the home of the Atlanta Falcons, is loaded with luxury seating, has a roof and seats 74,228. It has played host to Super Bowls, Final Fours and is the home to the SEC Championship Game, as well as welcoming Mexico for a few friendlies in recent years. The only downside is that it is a turf stadium.

The other stadium in the city that is big enough is Bobby Dodd Stadium, home to Georgia Tech football, but while it does seat 55,000, it is on a small footprint and lacks amenities. It's too bad that the new Atlanta Falcons Stadium, which will also host the expansion MLS team, won't be completed until 2017 because the retractable roof would almost assuredly host matches for Copa America if it could.

Baltimore

We're going to assume that no baseball stadiums will host matches in any cities for two reasons: soccer in baseball stadiums is terrible and MLB teams probably won't go on a three-week road trip to free up the stadium to host.

With Camden Yards eliminated for that reason, Baltimore has one stadium that could host: M&T Bank Stadium. It's a gorgeous building in a great part of the city and it holds 71,008, making it more than big enough. It is the home to the Baltimore Ravens, but has also hosted friendlies between Chelsea and A.C. Milan, as well as Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, in addition to hosting two Gold Cup quarterfinals in 2013 that drew over 70,000 fans.

Like Atlanta, it has artificial turf, but as big of an issue for Baltimore is that Washington, D.C. will also bid and it's tough to imagine both cities hosting because they are so close to each other. The competition for that host spot between the two will be tough.

Boston

The city of Boston doesn't have a stadium that will host Copa America matches, but the Boston suburb of Foxborough has 68,756-seat Gillette Stadium. The venue serves as the home stadium of the New England Patriots, as well as the New England Revolution. With 6,000 club seats and 87 suites, amenities aren't an issue and, while it is more than 20 minutes from Boston, they would presumably run the train to the stadium on game days to alleviate some of the distance and transportation concerns. Like the Georgia Dome and M&T Bank Stadium, Gillette also has turf so that will be taken into consideration.

Boston has long been a stronghold for American soccer and old Foxborough Stadium used to be a regular venue for matches. It's gone down some since Gillette Stadium switched from grass to turf, but owner Bob Kraft has long carried a lot of power in American soccer circles so he should give them some capital.

Chicago

The third-biggest city in the U.S. only has one city that could host, and if it does, it may be the smallest stadium to in the Copa America field. Soldier Field has been the city's primary stadium since it was built in 1924, but while a 2003 renovation modernized it and gave it every amenity and luxury seat anyone could want, it also lowered capacity to 61,500. It is the smallest stadium in the NFL.

When 61,500 seats is small, you have an overabundance of stadiums, and the U.S. certainly has that. Even with it's "small" capacity, Soldier Field is a near lock to host matches. It is modern, has a grass field, is in a great part of the city and has soccer history, having hosted the Chicago Fire for seven years, international friendlies, World Cup qualifiers, Gold Cup finals and the opening match of the 1994 World Cup. But what really locks up the stadium as a host is that is it in the country's third-biggest city that just so happens to be the headquarters of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Cleveland

Cleveland doesn't have the greatest reputation, so they are facing a bit of an uphill battle, but they have the advantage of being the only bidder from the country's seventh biggest state. They also have 67,407-seat FirstEnergy Stadium.

FirstEnergy Stadium is the Cleveland Browns' stadium and has some soccer history, having hosted U.S. friendlies against Venezuela, Germany and Belgium in 2006, 2010 and 2013 respectively. Like most NFL stadiums, it is perfectly nice with plenty of luxury seating, plus on-going renovations only makes it nicer. There isn't another city over 50,000 in the city or anywhere near it, so FirstEnergy is it for Cleveland's bid.

Dallas

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There is one stadium in Dallas, and it just so happens to be the biggest, most opulent one in the running to host. AT&T Stadium, which is in the suburb of Arlington, seats 80,000 people comfortably and can reach 105,000 with standing room. It has a massive hanging video board, retractable roof, giant glass walls, 342 suites, a critically acclaimed art collection and pretty much anything incredible you can imagine in a stadium. It has also hosted matches in each Gold Cup since it opened, club friendlies including Chelsea, Barcelona and Club America, as well as several Mexico friendlies.

The downside with AT&T Stadium is that it has turf, but that is the only downside. The place is the country's greatest events center, hosting Super Bowls, Final Fours, College Football National Championship Games, NBA All-Star Games, mega fights, concerts and anything else you can think of. It essentially prints money. That it happens to be in the nation's fourth-biggest metropolitan area is just another bonus. While turf may hold a couple venues back, it's nearly impossible to imagine Copa America organizers letting that get in the way of AT&T Stadium. It's as much of a lock to host as locks get.

Denver

Denver is the biggest city in the Mountain Time Zone, and it is also home to Sports Authority Field. The 76,125-seat venue is home to the Denver Broncos, used to host the Colorado Rapids and has hosted a Mexico friendly, as well as one between Manchester United and A.S. Roma. It has a natural grass field that has been lauded and is right on the edge of downtown, making it incredible accessible. That Denver International Airport is one of the country's biggest probably doesn't hurt either, nor does the fact that it is the only city in the Mountain Time Zone bidding.

Detroit

Detroit used to be one of the country's biggest cities and it still is, but now it comes with a bit of a stigma. The economic downturn that hit the city caused major issues and those issues changed the perception of the city, but it has begun a bit of a comeback. It also has Ford Field.

The 70,000-seat home of the Detroit Lions is a cool building, built into an old warehouse and stacks nearly all of the 130 suites built on one side of the stadium to bring the rest of the seats closer to the field. It has a fixed roof and is located right in the heart of downtown, but it does have turf. Ford Field has a bit of soccer history, having hosted 2011 Gold Cup matches, while the city hosted matches at the 1994 World Cup in the Old Pontiac Silverdome. Detroit isn't too far from Cleveland so the two may end up battling for one northern host spot, if the organizers want to ensure there is one host city in the north.

Houston

Texas is such a big state that it could very well host matches in two cities so while Dallas looks to be a lock, Houston could still get in. One option is 70,000-seat Rice Stadium, but it's an old venue and very unlikely. That leaves NRG Stadium, which seats 71,054 and is home to the Houston Texans.

NRG Stadium has a very European feel, with steep seating that can look like its split into four stands. It also has a retractable roof, 196 suites and a grass surface. The venue is a regular home to big events, being in the Super Bowl and Final Four rotations. It hosted matches in the 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 Gold Cups, as well as a MLS All-Star Game and regular international friendlies for the U.S. and Mexico.

Indianapolis

There is only one place in Indianapolis that can host matches, and that's Lucas Oil Stadium. The home of the Colts seats 62,431, but can be expanded to 70,000 and has 137 suites. The city and stadium are used to hosting big events, as it was the site of the Super Bowl in 2013, is a regular Final Four host and is the home to the Big 10 Championship Game. The venue is right in the middle of downtown, near the convention center and adjacent to a slew of hotels that make big events easy to put on.

Lucas Oil Stadium has only hosted one soccer match before, a friendly between Chelsea and Inter Milan in 2013, but expansion NASL club Indy Eleven sold out every match and led the league in attendance with 10,465 fans at every match in 2014.

Jacksonville

Jacksonville isn't the first city that comes to mind when people think of Florida. That's reserved for Miami, Orlando or even Tampa, but Jacksonville has carved itself a nice niche as a home to for sporting events. EverBank Field is the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the 67,246-seat stadium (expandable to 84,000) is also host to the annual Florida-Georgia game, the TaxSlayer Bowl and was the site of the Super Bowl in 2005.

Jacksonville has also proven to be a good home for American soccer, welcoming big crowds for the U.S. men's and women's national teams. Helping their cause if Shad Khan, who owns the Jaguars and the stadium. He also happens to own Fulham and has poured a ton of money into EverBank Field, building giant videoboards, adding amenities and renovating the place from top to bottom.

Kansas City

The revival of Sporting Kansas City has started a soccer craze in the city that has it claiming to be Soccer City, USA. The central point for that is the gorgeous Sporting Park, but it isn't nearly big enough to host Copa America matches, which means that the bidding venue is Arrowhead Stadium.

Arrowhead Stadium is the Kansas City Chiefs' home and it seats 76,416. It recently got a renovation, that outfitted it with all the modern amenities and it is one of the loudest venues in the NFL. While it does not host much soccer much anymore, it used to be the home of Sporting KC, and it has hosted some major friendlies. Kansas City is also going to be home to the new U.S. Soccer national training center so as far as soccer fandom and establishment goes, the city has a good shout.

Los Angeles

The country's second-biggest stadium hasn't had an NFL team since 1995, so it doesn't have a stadium like they have in Dallas, but it does have two of the most historic stadiums in the country, one of which just got a renovation. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is home to the USC Trojans and holds 97,000, originally built for the 1932 Olympics, and it reprised its role as Olympic Stadium in 1984. It has also hosted a World Series, Super Bowls and several soccer matches. Unfortunately, it has fallen into disrepair and while USC is giving it some renovations, it is far from the level one would expect for a tournament like Copa America.

That is where the Rose Bowl comes in. Located in Pasadena, the Rose Bowl seats 91,322, is home to the UCLA Bruins and is the annual site of the Rose Bowl game, which is the most historic bowl game in college football. It has hosted Super Bowls before and it's soccer history isn't lacking either, having been the old home of the LA Galaxy and the site of the 1994 World Cup final, as well as the 1999 Women's World Cup final. Most important, it just got a $182 million renovation that outfitted it with new luxury suites, club seats and amenities all around the stadium, including videoboards.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

It's tough to imagine Copa America in the U.S. without Los Angeles and with the Coliseum out, the Rose Bowl looks like a lock, with the only question whether it will host the final, the opening match or a semifinal.

Nashville

There isn't a lot of soccer history in Nashville, or even big sporting event history, but it does have LP Field. The 69,143-seat stadium is the home field of the Tennessee Titans and has hosted the U.S. on a few occasions. It also hosted CONCACAF qualifying for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

With a large capacity, 177 suites, a new videoboard and the rest of the amenities that come with the NFL, LP Field is certainly good enough to host, but the question is whether the organizers want to go to Nashville. The Liberty Bowl is another stadium in the city big enough to host, but it is outdated and unlikely to be considered.

New York

There isn't a stadium in New York that could host Copa America matches, no matter how much NYCFC wants to make Yankee Stadium a soccer venue. But there is MetLife Stadium, which is right across the river in East Rutherford, New Jersey. MetLife seats 82,566 is home to the New York Giants and Jets, has somewhere north of a billion suites and hosted the Super Bowl in 2014.

MetLife is also designed with soccer in mind, using retractable seating in the corners to allow for a full-sized field. Unsurprisingly, it has been a regular home for soccer since opening in 2010, hosting two U.S. friendlies, four Brazil friendlies, as well as Mexico, Argentina and Portugal, not to mention the 2011 Gold Cup quarterfinals and 2013 International Champions Cup.

MetLife Stadium does has turf, but you try hosting Copa America without New York.

Orlando

A $200 million renovation to the Citrus Bowl has put it back in the mix to host major events, Copa America included. The venue now seats 61,348 (expandable to 65,194), has new videoboards, locker rooms, concessions and some luxury seating.

Unfortunately, the Citrus Bowl still doesn't match up with the best stadiums in the country. Along with LA, Orlando is the only city in the final 24 that doesn't have an NFL team and it shows. The bowl is good enough to host some events here and there, like bowl games, but not mega-events. It does have a nice soccer history, hosting 1994 World Cup matches, 1996 Olympics matches and the 1998 MLS All-Star Game, plus it has the lure of Disney World, but it faces an uphill battle.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is another city in the crowded northeast bidding to host Copa America matches and, like the rest, it has a pretty good soccer history and a terrific stadium. Lincoln Financial Field holds 69,176 and is home to the Philadelphia Eagles. Built in 2003, it recently got $131 million in renovations, adding new videoboards, a wifi, new luxury seating and some new seats to the venue. It has every amenity a stadium could want, and it's in a good location.

Lincoln Financial Field also has experience with soccer, hosting friendlies with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona, 2003 Women's World Cup matches, 2007 Gold Cup matches and regular international friendlies. The competition is tough in the northeast, but Philadelphia is a big city with a nice history and a perfectly suitable stadium.

Phoenix

As far as stadiums go, there might not be a better one that University of Phoenix Stadium. It has a retractable roof so the desert heat isn't a problem, but it's field slides out so the grass grows well outside and then comes in for the game. It seats 63,400, but can be expanded to hold 78,000 and has a great seating bowl with every amenity. Big events are the norm, with the building playing host to Super Bowls and Final Fours, as well as the Fiesta Bowl every year.

University of Phoenix Stadium isn't a stranger to soccer either. It has hosted several friendlies, including two between the U.S. and Mexico, plus it will be a venue for the 2015 Gold Cup. Phoenix may not have the international appeal as other cities, but it has the stadium, the crowds will come and big events are the norm in the desert.

San Diego

San Diego is the eight-biggest city in the country. It has perfect weather year-round, sunny and warm, but never hot or cold. It is right near the beach. It has a big soccer following and just like fans cross the border to see Club Tijuana, fans would cross the border from Mexico for Copa America matches. It, theoretically, should be a lock to host. So why isn't it?

Simply, San Diego doesn't have a very good stadium. Qualcomm Stadium holds 70,561, but it is falling apart and it is an ugly concrete bowl in the middle of a parking lot. The video boards are tiny, the luxury seating is lacking and there are obstructed views. It is the home of the San Diego Chargers, but they have been trying to get a new stadium for years and it hasn't hosted a Super Bowl since 2003, when the NFL said that the city needed a new stadium before it got another Super Bowl. That it is a two-hour drive from Los Angeles probably doesn't do them a lot of favors either.

What carries more weight: the great city or the terrible stadium?

San Francisco

There is one stadium in San Francisco, Candlestick Park, but it is a dump and slated for demolition. There is another stadium across the bay, but the Oakland Coliseum is also home to the Oakland A's, who probably won't go on a three-week road trip. There is one in Berkeley, but Cal Memorial Stadium has too narrow of playing surface. Down in Palo Alto, there's Stanford Stadium, which is gorgeous and holds 50,000, but college stadiums and rules are tough to work with. That means that if the San Francisco area is going to host Copa America matches, it would be down south in Santa Clara, where the brand new Levi's Stadium stands.

Levi's Stadium opened last summer as the new home of the San Francisco 49ers. It seats 68,500, but can be expanded to 75,000 and is touted as the most technologically advanced venue in the world. It has already become the host of the Pac-12 Championship Game, the Foster Farms Bowl and will host the Super Bowl in 2016. It's a gorgeous, modern venue and while it is an hour drive from San Francisco, it is in the heart of Silicon Valley, right next to San Jose. As a nice bonus, the San Jose Earthquakes are committed to playing one match a year at the stadium and the first event Levi's ever held was a soccer match.

With Levi's Stadium in the fold, the Bay Area will be a favorite to be a Copa America venue.

Seattle

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The Seattle Sounders lead MLS in attendance every season, drawing over 40,000 fans per game and they do so at CenturyLink Field. The 67,000-seat building (expandable to 72,000) is the home to soccer fans all MLS season long, and also to the Seattle Seahawks. It is loud, gorgeous and packed with luxury seating, set in a city that has proven to be a major soccer market and experience with internationals, as well as MLS.

Seattle has a second venue that could host matches in Husky Stadium, which holds 70,138, but it's tough to imagine them going there with CenturyLink available. The downside of CenturyLink is that is has artificial turf and some of the worst artificial turf in MLS at that. The organizers could also decide they don't want a stadium in the Pacific Northwest, because that adds to the travel, but as likely is that they look at it as a chance to include the region in the tournament.

St. Louis

There may not be a city in the U.S. with as long of a soccer history as St. Louis, but most of it is very old. They haven't ever had an MLS team and the U.S. national team hasn't played there recently. Even as far as international friendlies go, St. Louis hasn't been especially prominent.

The only stadium the city has that seats 50,000 is the Edward Jones Dome, which holds 70,000. The home of the St. Louis Rams has 170 suites, but it is a dim venue with a fixed roof and turf. It has also hosted just two soccer matches before. The Rams are trying to get a new stadium built and have made it clear that the Edward Jones Dome won't do, which doesn't help. With Kansas City not far away, St. Louis faces an uphill fight.

Tampa

Tampa is used to hosting big events, thanks to their weather and Raymond James Stadium. The building holds 65,890, but is expandable to 75,000 and has hosted two Super Bowls to go along with the annual Outback Bowl and being the home stadium of the Tampa Bay Bucs and South Florida Bulls. In addition to it being a good NFL stadium, it is also getting at least $25 million in renovations.

Raymond James Stadium used to be the home of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and it has hosted both U.S. national team friendlies and World Cup qualifiers.

Washington, D.C.

There is only one stadium in the Washington, D.C. area that could realistically host matches, and that is FedEx Field. RFK Stadium, for all its history, only seats 45,000 nowadays and there's a chance it could collapse at any moment so its out, leaving FedEx Field.

FedEx Field isn't actually in Washington, D.C. It's outside the city in Landover Maryland, but it is the primary stadium for the nation's capital. It is the home to Washington's NFL team and despite renovations lowering the capacity by over 10,000 seats, it still holds 79,000. FedEx has a grass field and plenty of suites, luxury seating and amenities. The building hosted matches in the 1999 Women's World Cup, friendlies for the U.S. and international friendlies with the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona. Most importantly for bid purposes, it is in the capital and that has pull.

★★★

So the bidding is down to 24 metropolitan areas. They hold some of the country's best stadiums and with Copa America organizers saying that there will only be between eight and 13 host cities, the bidding to welcome the biggest soccer tournament the country has seen since 1994 will be fierce.

Who should host? Who do you want to see host? The tournament of the Americas is coming to the U.S. and possibly to your city.

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