I hear you and agree. 3.5 million / 2025 is still a ways away... 5 million / 2050 is quite some time away. Think about how much technological progress there has been from 1960-2000 (40 years). Personally, I believe that conversation, among other things, is on the radar now and we'll see some significant changes/advances in those technologies/sciences over the next 2-3 decades - just like we did in computing. As people start to leave a smaller footprint I think we'll be able to handle it. Frankly, technology is allowing multi-hub regions to exist/thrive - places where there is no one central/pedestrian district but rather multiple throughout a metropolitan area.
the population growth SLC and utah is experiencing (and will experience) is INEVITABLE. there is literally nothing that will stop SLC from continuing to grow at an alarming rate, unless for some unforeseen event that results in the state becoming unlivable. the SLC metro area will continue to grow and will have to live with the consequences of doing so, its just a fact. look at every other major city in the country, they all went through the same things. Congrats to Olave for winning defender of the year, honestly it was a tossup between him and borchers, i doubt either will make a big stink out of the award. glad to see he is being recognized for what he truly is, not some big dumb oaf who brutalizes people but as a wonderful defender with a great balance of size and speed with technical ability.
Olave's award is a great compliment to the team's entire back line. KUDOS to Olave and also to all of his teammates. Hoping for another shutout tomorrow night and a couple of RSL goals to send us to our third straight conference finals match.
you know who is really pissed off right now? Seattle. The cRapids have the ability to host a conference final now, while Seattle in no way shape or form, no matter how well they play against LA in the second leg, can host. Gotta love that finishing 5th is better than finishing 4th in the west
no kidding - the system has been an epic fail that last 3 years (and RSL took advantage of it, by the way)..... This has got to change next year.
That was the silver lining you gifted us with by taking advantage of our 3-minute meltdown in the season finale. Couldn't have done it without you guys! Of course, knowing the Rapids, we'll blow the opportunity to host the final anyway...
The last couple years (where the 5th place team moved over to be #4 in the other conference) were somewhat fair in that the 2 lowest teams making the playoffs (4th and 5th place) both received #4 seeds. But indeed this year where 5th place received a 3rd seed and 4th place received a 4th seed was really not the way they should do things. At least they should have had the 4th place be #3 in the east and 6th place be #4 in the east with 5th place being 4th in the west.
Good idea - I also like the idea of making round 1 a 1 game series with higher seed at home and then move the Conference Final's to home and home. I would even like to see MLS Cup as a 2-game series home and home - That would be cool.
I dont like that idea at all. I think MLS has a good thing going with the "you qualify for playoffs, you get to host a game" strategy. If you did the first round single game, it wouldnt make much sense to me to make the second round (semis) all of the sudden a 2 legged thing. My ideal setup is a single table playoff (1v8, 2v7...) both the first round and the semis are a home/away series Final at the site of the higher seed... (though I dont mind the neutral site too much, to be honest)
I agree with you most of the way. I think that the predetermined site for MLS Cup allows the league book plenty of space for their meetings that go along with the allstar game and final each year. It was my understanding that it was a bit of a league conference as well as the cup final.
That would be the way to do it as long as the each team plays each other team home and away. Once the schedule gets too tight, they will have to switch to a conference-heavy schedule and play some non-conference teams only once. Once you enter that arena, then we will have to go to a different system. Something that needs to be considered: The US is a HUGE country. England is slightly smaller than Oregon. Actually, the United Kingdom as a whole (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) is about the same size as Oregon. England on its own is almost exactly the same size as Alabama. That makes a single table comparatively very easy and inexpensive. MLS is probably going to have to go to 3 conferences soon. It will have a West, East, and "other." Maybe it will be NW, NE, and "other." The US is too large to not rely on conferences, and more than 20 teams playing each other home and away will make the season too packed.
Well, looks like it will be an all-western conference semfinal. Too bad the Eastern conference SUCKS!!!!! RSL v. Col for the cup just so we can kick their A$$!!!!!!!
It is hilarious that the two best teams in the East couldn't manage against the 5th and 6th best in the West. In fairness, PK shootouts are crap-shoots. I thought Columbus had done enough to deserve the win outright, they sure put Colorado under a lot of pressure. Some dumb luck kept out some of their chances.
ESPN: This is not the game we paid for. MLS: This is not the markets that will grow the game. RSL & Rapids (in unison): Them's the breaks!
We will hate that outcome because it means that RSL doesn't get into CCL for 2011. I know folks are saying that it hurt us. But, with a reserve team next year, the team can have more depth for the schedule compression. I want RSL to be the first US club to beat a Mexican club on Mexican soil.