We get more home games early because our weather doesn't suck. Same for the filth and the GoatShaggers. This means that we're going to get stretches where we're on the road a lot. But again, this really emphasizes my point that we must do well out of the gate. We cannot afford a slow start this season. And all this discussion of difficulty of schedule is exactly what I've been saying right along. With many more games against Western teams, we are guaranteed a tougher schedule. Now a couple of weeks back, I also thought that we were not going to get anymore big signings, so I was in a panic. Turns out that Frank was fibbing to us and we signed Bernandez and we're going after Bostock and we're likely to get Dawkins back. So, I'm feeling better on that score. Nevertheless, we have to have a good start to the season, otherwise, we're screwed. GO QUAKES!!! FIRE FRANK!! Mark
Already have my plane tickets. I was going to be there anyway at Emerald City Comic Con. Quakes just put icing on my cake.
I'm still not used to the fact that they're an "Eastern" team now.. I'm just hoping this new schedule will mean better play from more rested guys. This should cut down on the amount of travel, which is the biggest thing international guys have to get used to when coming to play here. Hopefully this will make the league a little more appealing, and more entertaining.
Fireworks just confirmed by email from team. The key to getting in/out of Stanford is approach from 280 and Sand Hill Road. Stay away from El Camino! Cut over to Campus Drive and come in from that way, or Arboretum to Quarry to Campus. NO issues getting in or out for last year's game, or sold-out Stanford football games.
Yea, live and learn I guess; The thing is, it wouldn't be so bad, but they literally were bottle-necking the entire mass of traffic into two entrances, single-file, with each car having to pay the attendant then be directed to their spots. It was absurd. I was there an hour early and still missed kick-off. And they only made a small section of their overall parking available. Complete disaster. Suggestions: Open another parking lot or two. More entrances.
MLS Central Coast Showcase announced - Preseason game SJ vs. Colorado Rapids on Feb. 10th at 7pm. At Cal Poly, tickets are $12 presale by Feb. 8th, $15 after that date. http://gopoly.com/sports/msoc/2011-12/releases/2012011981oieu
I still don't get the MLS. When I look at the schedule, I can't believe it. Why can't they open the season in January after the Super Bowl, play through February and take a few byes here and there? If you don't want to play in the cold weather towns, start out with warm weather spots , have them play a 3/4 home game stand in warmer climates, then take a bye later on in the season. How difficult is that? I mean waiting almost a full month between games? How does this schedule make any sense? 5/23 7:30PM PDT MLS Regular Season 1370 KZSF1590 KLIV CSNCA Los Angeles vs. San Jose -Home Depot Center 5/27 1:30PM PDT MLS Regular Season 1370 KZSF 1590 KLIV NBC Sports Sporting KC vs. San Jose -Livestrong Sporting Park June, 2012 TeamAway TeamVenue 6/20 6:30PM PDT MLS Regular Season 1370 KZSF1590 KLIV CSN Plus Colorado vs. San Jose -Dick's Sporting Goods Park 6/23 6:00PM PDT MLS Regular Season 1370 KZSF 1590 KLIV CSNCA Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose -Rio Tinto Stadium 6/30 7:00PM PDT MLS Regular Season 1370 KZSF1590 KLIV ESPN2 San Jose vs. Los Angeles -Stanford Stadium
Therefore there was really no way possible that Vancouver, Toronto , Montreal (playing in their domes stadiums) San Jose , Chivas, Houston, Dallas couldn't have started off the season in January with a 3-4 game home stand? That is almost 1/2 of the league right there.....
One issue has nothing to do with the other. There is a gap in the schedule because of the FIFA dates. MLS doesn't start in the middle of winter because it would be stupid to start in the middle of winter.
Why is it stupid? I don't think so at all. I think it would be a great idea. Start out with home games in warmer climates in San Jose , Chivas , Los Angeles , Houston , Dallas or domed stadiums Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver , along with a few byes here and there, and finish the season around September/October. That would allow the MLS to be in line with the transfer windows and it would be a lot better for everyone. Anyway, I don't see how a 24 day break in June is better than starting the season earlier. If anything, that to me that lay off is too long and very stupid. I mean more than 3 weeks off from league play?
There's just no point to it. See the thousands of times it has been discussed in the MLS forums. I don't feel like re-hashing it here. The upcoming break has nothing to do with when the season started. No matter when the season started, there are two weeks of FIFA dates in June, and MLS has decided to mostly respect them. The additional factor for the Quakes is that the league is odd-numbered, so there always must be one team idle each weekend, and they happen to be that team when the league gets back into full swing June 16-17. That's probably why they got the Wednesday game on June 20, so they don't have to wait yet another week before their next game.
None of this is really my point at all. Either way, its really not that big of a deal but if you don't want to re-hash or discuss anything, then don't and I'll be ok with it!
Bump to this thread now that the team has played almost half the season. Here are some things that were being said back in January:
Looks like the team has come through the tough road stretch that everyone was so worried about with flying colors. As for strength of schedule and how people were sure the Quakes got screwed by MLS because they had the toughest schedule, turns out that's not the case based on how teams are playing so far this year. This thread on the MLS N&A forum is tracking the schedule strength based on how teams are playing at home and on the road this year. As of now, the Quakes have the easiest overall schedule in all of MLS this year (again, based on who they play at home and away, and how those teams have done so far in 2012 at home and away - doesn't factor in travel miles or midweek games or anything else): Code: Rank Team Past Rank Team Future Rank Team Overall 1 HOU 110.1 1 POR 105.1 1 FCD 102.7 2 COL 105.7 2 SEA 104.4 2 TOR 102.3 3 NER 105.3 3 FCD 104.2 3 PHL 101.5 4 SJE 104.8 4 CHV 103.9 4 NER 101.4 5 MON 104.5 5 PHL 102.7 5 COL 101.1 6 NYR 104.3 6 CHI 102.6 6 POR 100.9 7 TOR 102.9 7 TOR 102.0 7 CHV 100.7 8 FCD 101.2 8 RSL 100.5 8 MON 100.7 9 CLB 101.1 9 LAG 100.3 9 HOU 100.3 10 LAG 99.9 10 DCU 100.0 10 SEA 100.3 11 PHL 99.6 11 VAN 99.2 11 LAG 100.1 12 SKC 99.1 12 SKC 98.9 12 VAN 99.1 13 VAN 99.1 13 NER 98.3 13 SKC 99.0 14 CHV 97.1 14 COL 97.5 14 CHI 98.9 15 RSL 97.1 15 MON 97.3 15 RSL 98.8 16 DCU 95.8 16 CLB 97.1 16 CLB 98.7 17 SEA 95.6 17 NYR 93.2 17 NYR 98.4 18 POR 94.9 18 HOU 92.5 18 DCU 97.9 19 CHI 94.1 19 SJE 90.3 19 SJE 97.1 The best news for the Quakes is that by far the toughest part of their schedule (based on strength of opponents this year) is over - the first column shows that (Strength of Schedule Past - 2012 so far). The Quakes have played the 4th toughest schedule. They have the easiest schedule left (second group of columns), and have the easiest overall schedule (third group of columns)
