"LAFC"...LA2...whatever

I agree that the current FO seems to have an unearned smugness to them.

At the end of the day, all that matters is results on the field and we weren't going to go from the worst team in the league last season to a good team overnight. I wish I had more confidence in the people in charge but they've got their shot now and I'll hold off until the season is decided before laying into them again. I think we do that a little too much around here like out of tradition.

I personally think they're nailing the business side of things. Attendance is great. The stadium experience is fantastic.

 

So I went to the LAFC game on Sunday. I had a friend in town who is a Timbers fan and I stood with TA and I thought some here might be interested in my experience.

I kind of expected to feel a bit of envy toward their stadium but that feeling faded immediately. Nothing about it impresses me. Getting to the stadium sucked (we took Lyft) and even an hour before the game started, there was an insane backup off the 110. We ended up just bailing out of the car halfway down the off-ramp because we were basically just sitting there. If I end up back there again next year for a Galaxy away game, I'll make sure I take a different route to the stadium. Once there, some in our group had some trouble with their clear bag policy and we had to walk around to the North side of the stadium to rent a locker. Not a big deal and the guy helping initially was nice so it's not really a knock, just a note. The had some tents and trucks on the North lawn, we didn't really check it out. No problems getting in, lines for beer were as expected 30 minutes before kickoff. Selection wasn't fantastic (we were at a beer stand that didn't have any on tap) but we got some Stone IPAs and 805s. The stadium itself wasn't overly impressive, nothing stood out as "wow, that's cool". It's nice and shiny and has some nice black/gold contrasts and wood/faux wood finishes but nothing that any modern stadium (the SHC included) didn't have. The concourses were smaller than at the SHC, which isn't surprising given the plot of land the stadium is on. The crowd was late arriving, which is to be expected.

We ended up standing with TA in 217. We had tickets for 216 (which were $17.99 on StubHub) and had no problems just going straight to TA in the section next door. TA was in full voice as always, and I contributed where I could. The "Chivas (clap clap clap) USA" chant was a particular highlight which garnered boos from the surrounding sections. "Are you Chivas in disguise" was also used to good effect. "Where's Will Ferrell?" was also good one. The roof didn't really do the best job of covering the end of the section, where we were standing. The section also was kind of odd in that there isn't a ton of room to walk by people in the row and there is no barrier (or even significant chair back, as it only came a few inches up over the floor of the row behind you). It seems like falling there wouldn't be difficult to do. The game was okay, the Timbers flubbed some good chances. Alvas Powell in particular was getting some ire from the Portland fans. A draw may have been a fair result but I would have enjoyed a Portland win a lot more.

We stayed with TA for a bit as security held them back as is standard but ended up just leaving before TA was escorted out (as did most of the away section). The LAFC fans who approached our group (about half were decked out in Portland gear) were cordial and mostly just asked if they were staying in town for the Open Cup game on Wednesday.

So all in all a good time. Though just walking through their stadium initially, I just couldn't help but seethe at all the people in LAFC gear. It just really grinds my gears that these people could ignore the Galaxy all these years and then jump on the Johnny-come-lately hipster bandwagon. I mellowed out pretty quickly though as soon as we got to the away section. I'm glad I went, as I won't be able to make the Thursday LA derby (seriously, why is this on Thursday and why is the next one on a Friday?) so it's my only reason to go to to their new stadium this year. I'll say that I do think their existence is a good thing for the Galaxy but man do I hate those guys.

 

For those going to the derby game, a public transportation route besides the Blue & Expo line is the MTA's Silver Line on the 110 (Route 910 or 950) and you can get off at 37th St./USC. Head downstairs and Expo Park is across the street, with LAFC's down a block or so.

MTA's 460 from Norwalk Green Line station will also get you to the 37th St.USC stop on the 110. They've started charging for parking at the Norwalk station though - $3 for the day I think.

 

Surely our sponsors provide health supplements that provide all those things anyway?

Splicing these two would render football meaningless. That much divine essence in one entity would spontaneously spark a second "big bang" except in the new version, all of reality would be connected in harmonious enlightenment and an eternal feeling of ultimate euphoria.

 

I'm actually quite annoyed with how the ticket allocation has been handled on both sides.

First off, there's the ridiculously small ticket allocation that LAFC has allowed. Then there's the fact that apparently the only way to get tickets is through the supporters groups via a lottery that requires you to be a paid member of that SG.

On top of this - and most damning of all wrt our FO - I only found out about this by listening to the LA Riot Squad podcast.

This is particularly annoying because I contacted my rep about tickets the day that the schedule was released. I have received no information from the team since April and even then, that was in response to me following up on my previous enquiry.

 

It would be wonderful if they had to forfeit. 22 years, 5 MLS cups and ZERO forfeits. How about you LAFC?

 

With so few tickets available, I’m ok with the SGs getting priority.

I also think members of this forum should get priority as well. But, this place is public and has lurkers.

P.S. Both LAFC and Portland should be disqualified from the Open Cup.

 

On the one hand disqualifying LAFC seems unduly harsh and a simple fine is the most likely and reasonable punitive measure. On the other hand, it’s LAFC, they should be disqualified and disbanded.

 

Normal procedure in other leagues and competition is to award a 3-0 victory to the other team.

It may seem harsh to disqualify them but I've got a few counters:

1) The team fielded players that shouldn't have been on the field. We now have no way of knowing how the game would have unfolded but the result could have been very different.
2) By complying with the rules, the Timbers had a theoretically narrower choice of players they could field and therefore LAFC had an unfair advantage.
3) In this particular case they may have fielded 1 extra foreigner WITH TWO MORE ON THE BENCH! I've seen teams overlook one player, or misunderstand their status but 3 guys! Hard to sympathise.

 

I'd have to disagree with you. Fielding and ineligible player (if proven) is a really big deal that can't be satisfied with a fine. Why should Portland follow the rules and their opponents not? You can't say "replay the match" cause that is also unfair to Portland that traveled and showed up and followed the rules. Now they have to cover all those expenses and fixture congestion cause LAFC cheated? No way.

Got to forfeit them. Will make it much more unlikely to ever happen again. I'm willing to bet that in the 100+ history of the US Open Cup there is precedent for when a team fields an ineligible player. Would be interesting to know.

EDIT to add that if a Portland player used the N-word on an LAFC player he should be suspended 3-5 games. That's unacceptable.

 

Look, I have no affection for our too-cool neighbors, but there are some complications.

I don't know if this is true, but I read that the LAFC roster was submitted to USSF (?) including the Canadian player, and no objection was raised. Sure they should have known the rules but this at least suggests there may have been reasonable confusion. Remember that Canadians are considered domestic by MLS, so if USOC has a different standard you would think submitting the roster would have raised a red flag.

Second, Timbers raising it after the fact smacks of sand bagging. I exchanged tweets about this with Josh Guesman He doesn't see it as a problem and tells me I am wrong, but I still see Portland as being less than innocent in this. In balancing the equities it can be argued that Timbers had "unclean hands" by not raising the objection at the time.

Again, I don't really care what happens to LAFC. I am just suggesting it is not such an open and shut matter.

 

If LAFC submitted roster and specifically asked about Canadian player, and USSF replied in writing and said that the additional foreign player(s) would be allowed, then I'd agree. But if that's not the case, then it's a pretty straightforward time where forfeit should be applied. If Portland waited to bring it up, then that may not win them any fair play awards, but it is certainly within the rules, and it's a the kind of gamesmanship that one might expect.

 

I don't mind them getting priority but not only did the club not tell me, they also didn't let me know that I'd have to be a paid LARS member, when the tickets were released or when the lottery was taking place.

 

For what it’s worth my ticket rep (I’m not in a supporters group) told me something like “we don’t know how it will work but I’d advise you look at the secondary market as you almost certainly won’t get an allocated ticket if not in a SG. “

Told me that near the beginning of the season. I’m not too sore if they limit access to the SG members. Grab a ticket on stubhub like I did.

 

So USOC would fine LAFC for relying on a USOC screw up?

That's just so....USOC.

 

We'll see. It is just symptomatic of the "thinking" that has led this tournament to be so much less than it could be.

 

They have good beer in chiva town?