2020 MLS Schedule

Jeez, you'd think that Miami, of all teams would have early home games in Late February/early March. Or are they worried Lockhart might not be ready in time?

I wouldn't have a problem if the Revs (and other Northern teams) played the first 2 games (but no more than that) in warmer climates and had their home opener in mid-March. None of this "bye" weeks when we have an even number of teams. Every team should play every weekend.

 

... because if there's one thing MLS needs, it's more fawning over Beckham.

I'd rather have the first 4-5 games away, with our home opener no earlier than tax day.

In the early season, collecting a few road ties while getting the team in sync, then hitting the ground running when you return home and the weather improves is the way to go IMO.

 

4-5 away games to start the season is kinda tough. Some teams with stadium openings have done that, but if it's weather related, you'd have to do it for a bunch of teams, and that also means loading up a lot of home games for the warm weather teams. And speaking of that, there aren't really that many truly "warm" weather teams: LA, LA, SJ, Sacramento, Houston, Austin, Miami, Orlando and (maybe) Dallas/Portland/Seattle/Nashville, and Vancouver, Atlanta (domes)

For a scheduling perspective, ideally, no team should ever have more than 2 games at hand, nor should they have more than 2 games difference between the number of home/away games. And if there are an even number of teams, all teams should play every single weekend, unless there is an International date.

 

I guess, but you still have a surplus of home games later to make up for it.

The converse is that you have home games early - and if you don't get full points from those, you're digging yourself in a deeper hole IMO.

I think it takes 5-6 games for a team to really settle into their style and I think that period presents great opportunities to grab road ties. Starting the season out with an emphasis on defense on the road, while giving the offense time to find its rhythm, is the better way I think.

Home games where there are small crowds because of the weather - or quiet crowds (because everyone is freezing) give away a big part of the home field advantage.

In the Nicol years, we almost always started out slow, with a heavy away schedule, but almost always finished strong down the stretch. I think that's the model that is best for NE. Now that the season is starting earlier and earlier, I think it's even more important.

 

No byes ever if there are an even number of teams. Every team should be playing every weekend.

Northern teams should play 2 games away at the start in a warmer climate or Vancouver, game 3 at home in late March, gave 4 away, games 5-6 home in April. Warmer-weather teams can do the opposite. Not good for them to have too many home games in a row either.

 

Hmmm, it seems inevitable that they will go to 4 divisions of 7 next expansion. That would mean 12 games within the division, and if you play each of the other 21 teams once, that's 33 games. The extra game would be against someone in one of the other divisions, a "traditional" rival.

 

4 team groups would be tough if you try to do it by geography and existing rivalries. I suppose the Revs could be in a group with the 2 NY teams and Philly, but it can get complicated for some of the other teams. Montreal and Toronto and 2 other random teams? It all will depend on who the last teams to be added will be. Detroit? Charlotte? Las Vegas? Phoenix? Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan?

Or they could do like the NHL did in the 70s with random divisions that had no bearing on anything, but that wouldn't be good if certain teams fans' lose their only realistic road trip--like the time back in the day when they scheduled both Metro away games midweek...

 

Well, that should be a crispy opener.

 

Are they going to play in the Big Owe? I thought there were problems there and it wasn't being used. I can't imagine they'd play an outdoor game at Saputo that time of year...

Road trip?

I saw Houston are playing LA that day. You'd think they might have had both of them at home, and the Revs and Montreal playing either of them.

 

You'd think. There seems to be a major lack of awareness (or unconcern) for scheduling outdoor games in the upper northeast and midwest in winter/early spring.

I know players can deal with it (though it won't likely result in the prettiest soccer), but you'd think maximizing attendance would be a league goal.

And the converse is, more games in blazing hot places like Dallas, Salt Lake, Houston, (and now Miami and Nashville) ... in midsummer.

 

I think they will be playing at the Olympic Stadium with the roof closed.
And yes, going to Houston or LA would make a lot more sense.

 

So any thoughts of a road trip to Montreal for the first game, whether an organized bus trip or just a bunch of people going up on their own in cars? I'm up for this, but if it's better to do this through PMs, that's fine too,

 

What section or sections are the NE Revs fans sitting in?

 

right, i don't think the tix are out yet