Open Canada Cup - Would This Option Work?

[Kingston]

With the recent changes to the OCC, we now have teams from three provinces representing 75% of the country's population participating in the tournament. This is still not everyone, obviously, but it got me thinking about how the OCC could be moved to the next level where the truly pro clubs would participate. I invite your thoughts and comments on the following steps.

1. The CSA sanctions or endorses or whatever-it's-called the OCC so that the winner can get/try to qualify for a CONCACAF spot.

2. The OCC keeps its current format which has regional qualifying with four teams making the final weekend (one from BC and three from central Canada).

3. The Whitecaps, Impact, and TFC get byes to the stage before the final weekend.

4. The Whitecaps play the winner of all the BC amateur teams for the right to get to the final weekend.

5. The Impact and TFC each play a surviving central Canadian team in the final round of qualifying for the right to reach the final weekend.

Barring a huge upset, the final weekend would involve the "big three" and one lower-ranked team. The big three only have to play one qualifying game and (assuming they win) the finals which means the OCC wouldn't mess up their schedules. The CONCACAF slot draws in the big three and the presence of the big three draws in far more interest from the lower ranked teams. Canadian soccer fans get to see some great games and we all go home happy.

I await the onslaught of those who would pick holes in this proposal.

[Taoism]

With the recent changes to the OCC, we now have teams from three provinces representing 75% of the country's population participating in the tournament. This is still not everyone, obviously, but it got me thinking about how the OCC could be moved to the next level where the truly pro clubs would participate. I invite your thoughts and comments on the following steps.

1. The CSA sanctions or endorses or whatever-it's-called the OCC so that the winner can get/try to qualify for a CONCACAF spot.

2. The OCC keeps its current format which has regional qualifying with four teams making the final weekend (one from BC and three from central Canada).

3. The Whitecaps, Impact, and TFC get byes to the stage before the final weekend.

4. The Whitecaps play the winner of all the BC amateur teams for the right to get to the final weekend.

5. The Impact and TFC each play a surviving central Canadian team in the final round of qualifying for the right to reach the final weekend.

Barring a huge upset, the final weekend would involve the "big three" and one lower-ranked team. The big three only have to play one qualifying game and (assuming they win) the finals which means the OCC wouldn't mess up their schedules. The CONCACAF slot draws in the big three and the presence of the big three draws in far more interest from the lower ranked teams. Canadian soccer fans get to see some great games and we all go home happy.

I await the onslaught of those who would pick holes in this proposal.
I absolutely agree in priniciple and have advocated for a while now that the CSA request that the winner of the Open Canada Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Canada_Cup) get an entrance to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions%27_Cup) (even if only into the qualifying rounds).

As long as the Open Canada Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Canada_Cup) will allow for teams from anywhere in Canada to enter into the tournament, then I don't really have a care how it is organized at first. I think the last 2-3 rounds shouldn't be regionalized (i.e. if by some miracle a team from Winnipeg made it to the second or third-last round, then the games would be drawn as "who hosts who" style instead of a giant regional tournament to get down to 4 teams. When you are down to the last 8 teams, it should turn into an FA Cup(ish) type draw where a team from Winnipeg would get a chance to host a TFC, etc.

But, yes, the CSA needs to get this tournament be Canada's entry to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions%27_Cup) ASAP in my opinion.

If anyone thinks Canadian teams would be destroyed... well, the same thing happens to small clubs in the UEFA Cup and Champion's League in the early rounds as well. As long as the ability to qualify is there then I feel it is a positive for Canadian teams.

The question is, how to get the CSA to do this?

Cheers!

[zidja]

I agree with the later rounds not being regionalized, and I think all of this sounds like a great idea. We need our clubs to have the chance to shine on the international scene!

[Kingston]

I would like the later rounds not to be regionalized. I would also like to see teams from the remaining provinces enter. However, I think the regionalized set up I mentioned above will do for the present situation.

I also think that if this format was adopted (including the endorsement by the CSA) we would very quickly see participation from teams in other areas of the country.

[divingisgay]

It's fine the way that it is...they can just add more preliminary rounds by adding more eligible amateur clubs.
The winner can qualify for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup...as said before...haha...
They should have a team in there anyway, since it is CONCACAF event..