Grand Canyon University Athletics
U.S. soccer trains at GCU Stadium
1/25/2019 3:39:00 PM | General, Men's Soccer, Paul Coro
USMNT uses campus facilities to prep for friendly
The U.S. men's national team needed a place where everything could roll smoothly in preparation for a Sunday friendly with Panama at State Farm Stadium in nearby Glendale.
With a field that was impeccably groomed, GCU Stadium became a place where the ball and everything else could roll perfectly for the national team over its past three days of training.
"Grand Canyon University was the perfect environment to train in because of its proximity to the stadium but also the atmosphere of the training environment," U.S. national team head coach Gregg Berhalter said entering his first match at the helm. "It's very calm, very professional and a great environment overall. The privacy we were given was excellent.
"When you look at top-class facilities in the collegiate game, this (GCU Stadium) is certainly one of them. The stadium, the closed tribune, makes it a nice, tight atmosphere. The field is immaculate. The surroundings are really just great for playing soccer."
Berhalter's relationship with Hyndman was among the reasons that the national team reached out to GCU to be its training site for the days in between breaking camp in Chula Vista, Calif., and playing at the Arizona Cardinals' stadium. They coached against each other in Major League Soccer, where Hyndman was the FC Dallas head coach from 2008 to 2013.
"I have a lot of respect for Schellas and what he has done for the game of soccer," Berhalter said.
Hyndman also reunited with U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman, who Hyndman drafted and coached for his rookie MLS season in Dallas in 2013.
Each time the team travels to train at a new location, the players wonder what they will get for a playing field, meeting rooms and a weight room.
"I've been very impressed, to be honest," Zimmerman said. "The field's in great shape. It rolls really well. Good grass. The stadium itself is amazing. I envy the experience that all the players here get to have because this is a top-notch facility.
"You never know with the field. You're hoping that everything will roll smoothly so you can implement your football ideas. Thankfully, this pitch was really nice and we were able to do that. Everyone that we've worked with on the part of Grand Canyon University has been a big help."
GCU's private campus in Phoenix was an added plus to the ideal facilities. The national team could practice without distractions, welcoming the students who watched from the neighboring Engineering building stairwells.
"I think the best part is to put ourselves on the map for them," Hyndman said. "So they think, 'Hey, if we ever go back to Phoenix, we're going there.' Or maybe even next camp, 'Can we spend two weeks here instead of two weeks somewhere else?' It also brings GCU out a little bit more in the community when the national team is training at GCU. I know it brings us out nationally because I've had people call me and say, 'I understand the national team is training at your facilities.'
"It's just great seeing some of the best talent in the United States here training. I know they were very impressed with the facility itself. The whole mannerism of being included, as far as having the usage of not only the field but the meeting rooms, the weight rooms. It was really an outstanding opportunity for GCU to host them and I think they really, truly enjoyed it."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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With a field that was impeccably groomed, GCU Stadium became a place where the ball and everything else could roll perfectly for the national team over its past three days of training.
"Grand Canyon University was the perfect environment to train in because of its proximity to the stadium but also the atmosphere of the training environment," U.S. national team head coach Gregg Berhalter said entering his first match at the helm. "It's very calm, very professional and a great environment overall. The privacy we were given was excellent.
"When you look at top-class facilities in the collegiate game, this (GCU Stadium) is certainly one of them. The stadium, the closed tribune, makes it a nice, tight atmosphere. The field is immaculate. The surroundings are really just great for playing soccer."
Berhalter's relationship with Hyndman was among the reasons that the national team reached out to GCU to be its training site for the days in between breaking camp in Chula Vista, Calif., and playing at the Arizona Cardinals' stadium. They coached against each other in Major League Soccer, where Hyndman was the FC Dallas head coach from 2008 to 2013.
"I have a lot of respect for Schellas and what he has done for the game of soccer," Berhalter said.
Hyndman also reunited with U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman, who Hyndman drafted and coached for his rookie MLS season in Dallas in 2013.
Each time the team travels to train at a new location, the players wonder what they will get for a playing field, meeting rooms and a weight room.
"I've been very impressed, to be honest," Zimmerman said. "The field's in great shape. It rolls really well. Good grass. The stadium itself is amazing. I envy the experience that all the players here get to have because this is a top-notch facility.
"You never know with the field. You're hoping that everything will roll smoothly so you can implement your football ideas. Thankfully, this pitch was really nice and we were able to do that. Everyone that we've worked with on the part of Grand Canyon University has been a big help."
GCU's private campus in Phoenix was an added plus to the ideal facilities. The national team could practice without distractions, welcoming the students who watched from the neighboring Engineering building stairwells.
"I think the best part is to put ourselves on the map for them," Hyndman said. "So they think, 'Hey, if we ever go back to Phoenix, we're going there.' Or maybe even next camp, 'Can we spend two weeks here instead of two weeks somewhere else?' It also brings GCU out a little bit more in the community when the national team is training at GCU. I know it brings us out nationally because I've had people call me and say, 'I understand the national team is training at your facilities.'
"It's just great seeing some of the best talent in the United States here training. I know they were very impressed with the facility itself. The whole mannerism of being included, as far as having the usage of not only the field but the meeting rooms, the weight rooms. It was really an outstanding opportunity for GCU to host them and I think they really, truly enjoyed it."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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