Daily Soccer Fix: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
New Blog: Along The Olentangy for Ohio State Fans!

MLS Cup at the sight of higher seeds? Could happen ...

Qwest Field in Seattle will be rompin' and stompin' Sunday. Could it be this way at MLS Cup more often ...?

Qwest Field in Seattle will be rompin' and stompin' Sunday. Could it be this way at MLS Cup more often ...?

How would everybody feel about an MLS Cup championship determined at the site of the highest seeded team involved?

Whispers around Seattle yesterday and today say things might be headed that way. For me, it sounds like the best idea since the stapler.

Logistically, it’s a real challenge for a lot of reasons most people don’t care about. Long story short, the days up to and around MLS Cup are heavy on sponsor schmoozing, and arranging all that pub and grub delight takes times. So, if the league has just a week to set things up, the schmooze and booze factor could be seriously watered down.

It’s also a challenge for media; as fewer are likely to travel it could slightly dilute coverage.  But the alternative is a somewhat sterile neutral site on many years.

Now, Seattle rocks as a championship site, as I’ve written all week. The town is engaged, as the Sounders and soccer long ago hugged it out and started a big ol’ bromance with the Emerald City.

Star-divide

But other years, well, not so much. Last year in L.A., for instance, Columbus and Red Bull played a nice match in front of a full house – but it just doesn’t have the big match energy when 80 percent of the crowd is neutral. They show up, they sit and watch, then they go eat Mexican food – and it all unfolds without much deeper involvement.

Deciding the title in the higher seed’s home would change all that. And it would provide even more incentive for teams to fight, fight, fight for those points in the regular season. It subtracts a little bit more steam from one of the enduring criticisms of MLS: that seven months of matches over a long regular season just doesn’t mean enough.

The league’s board of governors will continue meeting through the weekend, so keep an eye out for an announcement on this one.

Meanwhile, here's my piece on MLSnet.com about how much David Beckham and Landon Donovan are putting a little more sizzle on the grill when it comes to the MLS Cup final.

0 recs  |  Comment 3 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Logistics

Have 2 weeks between the conf finals and the cup?

by PeterJH on Nov 21, 2009 12:58 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

Good point

Other sports except the Super Bowl play at the teams location (yes usually a series). I think the season is way too long as it is, doesnt it start in April? There were was a time when RSL had 18 days between matches. How is that going to work with the league set to expand in the next few years with Portland and Vancouver?

by Jeremy Mauss on Nov 22, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions  

True
And it would provide even more incentive for teams to fight, fight, fight for those points in the regular season. It subtracts a little bit more steam from one of the enduring criticisms of MLS: that seven months of matches over a long regular season just doesn’t mean enough.

We surely need something to up the regular season ante in a league where over half the teams are making the playoffs. The more teams that get added to the league, the higher the stakes will be to make the playoffs, but for now, that would be another good incentive.

by Nico2.0 on Nov 22, 2009 6:29 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

SB Nation's soccer blog is heavy on the domestic game -- flavored with a dash the global greatness
Start posting on Daily Soccer Fix »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Prosser_small
No more draws in the World Cup
61g1kk9uxel
A very early look at possible 2014 starters for the US
Aerial_20view_20of_20slough_20trading_20estate_20a_small
If I Ran The Vancouver Whitecaps
Yosef_small
Keeping Bob
Tiger_eats_chicken_small
A humdrum World Cup Final
Tor_201_small
World Cup Controversy
Mostdiggity_small
Do Americans Really Hate Soccer?
Tor_201_small
What I Hope to see; Spain v. Netherlands
Small
Bah! Brazil lost b/c they were dressed like France!
Soccer_ball_small
Coaching Options for USMNT

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SBNation.com Recent Stories

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 12:  Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany controls the ball during the Germany training session ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa match against Australia at Moses Mabhida on June 12, 2010 in Durban, South Africa.  (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) +1 updates

Euro 2012 Qualifying, Preview: The Journey To Poland-Ukraine Starts In Earnest Tomorrow

CARSON CA - AUGUST 28: Jimmy Conrad #12 of the Kansas City Wizards volleys a pass to teammate Shavar Thomas #6 under pressure from Landon Donovan #10 of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second half of their MLS match at The Home Depot Center on August 28 2010 in Carson California. The Wizards defeated the Galaxy 2-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

SBNhanced Power Rankings: Major League Soccer, Week 22

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 24:  Head coach Bob Bradley of USA looks on as his team warms up during training session on June 24, 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. United States will play their second round World Cup match against Ghana on Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa.  (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

United States Soccer And Bob Bradley: New Challenges, New Contract, Same Coach

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

Daily_soccer_fix_crest_small Steve Davis