2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup preview/results discussion [R]

Fantastic first round of action today - upsets aplenty! I was surprised how poorly so many of the USL PDL clubs did today.

Looking forward to seeing a few USASA (D5) clubs taking on some professional opposition in the second round.

Overall results:

USASA is 4-5
PDL is 10-6
NPSL is 2-4
USCS is 0-1

I have the PDL at 9-7 and the NPSL at 3-3.

Also, home teams were 7-9.

Why?

Firstly, these are all teams that are roughly the same level of play. Secondly, the PDL teams didn't qualify, they were selected based on last year's records, which may have been accomplished by a largely different group of players. Lastly, most PDL teams have only been together for a couple of weeks. (PDL teams went 4-4-1 in the first round last year, but they were playing pro clubs, mostly.)

5/22

Jacksonville United vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Chicago Fire PDL vs. Dayton Dutch Lions

Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Long Island Rough Riders

Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Michigan Bucks

Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Cal FC

Carolina RailHawks vs. PSA Elite

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Fresno Fuego

Orlando City SC vs. KC Athletics

Charleston Battery vs. Reading United

Rochester Rhinos vs. Brooklyn Italians

Aegan Hawks vs. Richmond Kickers

Georgia Revolution vs. Atlanta Silverbacks

Des Moines Menace vs. Minnesota Stars

San Antonio Scorpions vs. Laredo Heat

El Paso Patriots vs. Charlotte Eagles

Los Angeles Blues vs. Ventura County Fusion

Third-round possibilities are out, with at least five and possibly as many as 15 MLS teams hosting.

Houston goes either to Laredo or San Antonio (the latter would be really interesting)
Chicago either travels to Michigan or hosts Pittsburgh
New England either hosts Long Island or travels to Harrisburg
New York either travels to Charleston or hosts Reading United
Chivas USA either travels to LA Blues or plays Ventura County Fusion somewhere TBA
Los Angeles either travels to Carolina or hosts PSA Elite
Seattle either travels to Atlanta or hosts Georgia
Salt Lake either travels to Minnesota or hosts Des Moines
Colorado either travels to Tampa Bay or hosts Jacksonville
Portland either travels to Wilmington or hosts Cal FC
DC United either travels to Richmond or hosts Aegean Hawks
Kansas City hosts KC Athletics or Orlando
Columbus hosts Dayton or Chicago PDL
Dallas hosts Charlotte or El Paso
San Jose hosts Fresno or Fort Lauderdale
Philadelphia hosts Brooklyn or Rochester

So Laredo, San Antonio, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Charleston, LA Blues, Carolina, Atlanta, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Wilmington and Richmond can all host MLS teams if they win on Tuesday.

I note the despite the "random draw" for hosting only the MLS, NASL, and USL squads were drawn to host in the 3rd round. Any PDL, NPSL, and USASA team that wins next week will have to go on the road for the 3rd round. 5 of the 10 USL squads can host, as can 5 of the 6 NASL squads.

It's only a random draw if your stadium is a suitable facility. NPSL and USASA teams (and most PDL teams, likely) don't measure up. It's not a completely random draw - only in the case of a matchup where both teams' facilities are up to snuff and both teams have agreed to pay 15% of the gross gate receipts or something.

Oh that's right, I forgot about the percentage agreement and stadium requirements. So probably a safe bet none of the lower league sides could host.

Michigan bucks are PDL, they would host the FIRE if they win.

I would think it would be highly unlikely. Des Moines you'd figure would be okay. Fresno, probably. But the financial thing enters into it, then, too.

That is a good point, I should have taken that into account when making picks. There was a slight bias towards PDL in my picks.

I think Fresno could have hosted, the baseball team is away on that day.

No idea if they submitted a bid or not.

I guarantee they would draw significantly more people than San Jose will at Stamford.

You know the coin doesn't take that into account, right?

Not so fast. The % of gate receipt "tax" is only for the portion of receipts above $100K. Blackbaud only seats 5K and our tix range from $10-18, we'd never hit $100K in gate receipts. As for the flat fee of $12K/$18K which you would have to pay, when you consider your team avoiding the travel costs, that something to consider, particularly if you had to fly.

I always assumed USSF paid for travel expenses.

I think they did at one point back in the day, but not anymore.

From this from last year:

Matthew Delicate's header from the doorstep in the 85th minute Tuesday night did more than give the Richmond Kickers a 2-1 upset victory over the Columbus Crew of MLS in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup tournament.

It also earned for the Kickers the $10,000 bonus earmarked for the Division III team that advances furthest in Open Cup play.

The Kickers travel to Sporting Kansas City for the July 12 quarterfinal. Much of the $10,000 bonus, Cowlishaw said, will be consumed by travel expenses to and from Kansas City.

I'm really excited to see how things go down after the second round, especially in Texas. FC Dallas potentially hosting El Paso, and Houston possibly traveling to Laredo or San Antonio. I'm really hoping for Houston/San Antonio. Should be a bonkers game.

Overall, I'm liking the new system. Making some MLS teams travel will increase some revenue. A game in Carolina featuring the Galaxy will be huge, along with Seattle/Atlanta. This should be a super exciting Cup this year.

Side note, really surprised by Kitsap. I thought they'd make it farther. Shame about Portland Phoenix. Would have been a neat story if a team from Maine had made any kind of run

Changes for the 2012 U.S. Open Cup Tournament

The following list highlights the changes made for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament:

• Home teams starting with the First Round until the Quarterfinal Round will be determined by random selection from among those clubs who have applied to host and meet the minimum venue
requirements (see page 8). This method replaces the sealed bid process.
• The method for determining Hosting Fees from the First Round until the Quarterfinal Round has
changed (see the Home Game Revenue Report Form on page 34). Fees for each match will now be set at 15 percent of the gross gate above $100,000 plus $12,000 for Third Round games, $18,000 for
Fourth Round matches and $25,000 for Quarterfinal contests

2012 U.S. Open Cup Travel Reimbursement Limits

First Round through Semifinals: U.S. Soccer will reimburse airline, hotel, meals and ground transportation for the visiting team (if necessary) not to exceed $8,000 per team (based on 20 people per team, 11 hotel rooms [including bus driver] not to exceed 2 nights, and meals not to exceed two days at $35 a day for each person [$8 breakfast, $12 lunch, $15 dinner]).

Final: U.S. Soccer will reimburse airline, hotel, meals and ground transportation to the visiting team in the U.S. Open Cup final not to exceed $11,000 (based on 25 people per team, 14 hotel rooms [including bus driver] not to exceed 2 nights, and meals not to exceed two days at $35 a day for each person [$8 breakfast, $12 lunch, $15 dinner]).

Just posted on Facebook that tomorrows game in Sanfor is free to season ticket holders. Thanks Phil, as always looking out for the devoted (and saved me 30 bucks). Gates open at 530 for the 730 kick-off. Should be a packed house on that little field. Welcome Kansas City, hope you enjoy your time in the city beautiful.

That is a very low per Diem, but better than nothing I guess.

http://thecup.us/us-open-cup-third-...el-for-round-3-2-pdl-clubs-with-shot-to-host/

A few changes for round 3 of the USA cup regarding where the games will be played.

If they didnt, the amateur teams would have to drop out if the travel was more than a bus trip. No way a PDL team could afford to go from Cali to Florida on their own dime on such short notice.

Even so, that $8,000 ($400 per person if the team really limits itself to a 20-man traveling party) is unlikely to cover the expenses of any team that has to fly somewhere.

I imagine most teams will limit their travel rosters. I wouldn't be surprised with a squad of 16 including a coach (that would give them $5oo a head)

The teams still pay this upfront, the USSF reimburses the travel expenses (recipes have to be fax'd, forms filled out, etc) so it can still be a huge out of pocket expense for teams. And I can only imagine the USSF is the fastest when it comes to handing out money....

Like someone said, at least it is something.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...unique-flavor/2012/05/21/gIQAQ4VTgU_blog.html