I think most people look at the location in the title rather than ping. Most players aren't technical people, just people looking to play a game on server that sounds close enough to them. Someone in NY would see the NY server and connect to that, not an EU server.
Then would US not apply to more people for the same situation?
 
I will change goldrush US to chicago and see how it does.

But goldrush servers have been losing players since the beginning of the year, even the ones that I didn't change. You can see for yourself on Hlstatsx.
 
Just a little input, when I was playing TF2 I always went to Egypt+ Chicago/other Chicago servers because it is the closest location to me and normally gave me the best connection.
 
how bout you change turbine+ back to chicago?

I may have spent too long looking for it in my server list a couple of times now.