Rumor: Changes to Regular Season, Playoff Schedules in 2019?

Discussion in 'Real Salt Lake' started by Ismitje, Nov 21, 2018.

  1. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    According to an article in The Athletic, MLS owners will vote in December on a proposal to change the schedule (or at least condense it) starting next year, with one major goal being to finish the playoffs before the November FIFA break. Lots of shifts, then: more midweek games, no two-legged playoff games, no frozen tundra at MLS Cup.

    Also: The Athletic, while it requires a subscription, is home to the best soccer coverage in the country. Plus lots of other excellent coverage of sports of all sorts. It's $50 per year, and they have dedicated coverage of Utah sports even (it's one of the feeds one can follow, though I only follow their RSL stuff).
     
  2. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    the owners are going to do something smart? What world is this!?
     
  3. Taragui

    Taragui Member+

    Aug 13, 2006
    Northern Utah
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Blind squirrel, nut.
    Broken clock.

    You know, all the worn out analogies.
     
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  4. BalanceUT

    BalanceUT RSL and THFC!

    Oct 8, 2006
    Appalachia
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think most of the mid-week game attendance issues is about educating the public. Over time, they can come to see soccer as being similar to hockey and basketball with mid-week games being relatively common (though not as common as those sports). If they concentrate the mid-week games in the summer the impact on attendance can be lowered due to those not being 'school nights'. If the do family-friendly pricing packages, it could work really well for the teams.
     
    RSLer, goobx1 and 15 to 32 repped this.
  5. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This! Make the summer slate of games where you have the majority of midweek. If the league was really smart about it they would make it so everyone had equal amount of midweek games / rest periods, too. But that's a big ask with stadium conflicts and such
     
  6. RSLer

    RSLer Member+

    Sep 24, 2008
    Stansbury Park, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Does anyone besides NYCFC share a stadium with a MLB team?
     
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  7. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    no, but
    • Vancouver's stadium is notoriously busy
    • TFC share with a CFL team
    • LAG share with the Bolts from the NFL (this is one of my favorites)
    • SEA with the Hawks
    • ATL with the Falcons
    • NER with Patriots
    • MIN is scheduled to open their own stadium next year, but did share with University
    Not to mention that, even with teams in their own stadiums, scheduling midweek can complicate things if the team had plans to use the stadium for other events.
     
  8. SenordrummeR2

    SenordrummeR2 Member+

    Jul 21, 2008
    Layton, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    LAG also shares parking with the university, so they have restrictions on parking during midweek games.
     
    Allez RSL, Ismitje and 15 to 32 repped this.
  9. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Century Link is also in what Seattle calls the stadium district, where Safeco Field is located, too (Mariners). They are allowed to play the same day, but they have a rule about how far apart the games are to accommodate parking, which can complicate scheduling too.
     
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  10. RSLer

    RSLer Member+

    Sep 24, 2008
    Stansbury Park, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was going with your suggestion that MLS schedules be compressed in the Summer when families don’t have to worry about school and are more free to attend mid-week matches. That’s why I was looking at MLB conflicts. If the ones you listed Vancouver seems to be the one who would have to work around some things. Add NYCFC to the mix because of MLB. Everyone else should have few problems with mid-week Summer games.

    Edit: I should have read the other posts. LAG and Seattle would need to do some careful planning too.
     
    Allez RSL repped this.
  11. DrownedElf

    DrownedElf Member+

    Jul 5, 2010
    Ogden
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wouldn't a workable solution be to have those midweek games be on the road for them? Not always all the time, but it would alleviate some of the scheduling issues.
     
  12. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    seems unfair from a revenue perspective.
     
  13. El-ahrairah

    El-ahrairah Member+

    Sep 20, 2004
    Wanker County
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm not sure where to post this, but......

    One of the good things about the polar vortex is that it kind of shoots a gaping, 747- sized hole in the whole "Let's change the MLS from a summer league to a winter league because Europe" argument.
     
    goobx1 repped this.

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