Oh look the Rapids play the next round of the US Open Cup on the road.... again. In fact, the Rapids have played 7 of their 26 all time cup games on the road. And location is determined by a coin flip? Please, the match hosting format is completely fixed and is determined by who will draw a larger audience. It's no surprise that the Sounders - Rapids game is being played in Seattle because they will clearly will have a much larger spectator turnout. That means more recognition and revenue for the US Open Cup. This tournament is completely bias, as evident by the rapids cup history where they have only played around 25% of Cup games in Colorado. Although the Rapids generally draw small crowds and it is possible cup games are not played at Dick Sporting Goods Park because it would cost more to host the game than ticket sales would generate, to say the location of games is decided by a coin flip is a joke. The US Open Cup is fixed, plan and simple.
Seattle will almost certainly play the game at Starfire, which has a capacity of 3,000. So the Rapids could have outdrawn that. I haven't looked over their past home games to be able to say for sure. But there's no guarantee that Seattle would draw better than the Rapids. In other words, bullhockey. Coins sometimes do really annoying things.
The odds of having 7 or less home games out of 26 games, assuming a fair coin, is about 1.5%. Not likely, but not out of the realm of all things possible.
Only the play-in games go by a coin flip. In the actual tournament proper, there's a bidding process. So blame your front office. And if you think Colorado is bad, I don't think New York have hosted a USOC game since the 2004 final! And that won't change unless we win the final round qualifier AT D.C. United. However, if you want to maintain the cup is fixed, that's a hell of an allegation. Potentially libelous in fact. If you really believe it, send a letter to the USSF and whomever else under your real name.
I can picture both New York and Colorado telling MLS and US Soccer to make sure they don't win the coin flip. Neither of them wanted to host their second round match.
The actual tourney host is determined by the team the bids the highest to host the game. The Dynamo, for example, for the last few years have just stopped submitting serious offers and always play at the USL sides. If you do not own your stadium it is a revenue loss if you try and host a game that will draw under 5k.
The last I heard is the game is at Starfire.. which holds 3000+ http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/sounders/2009/05/04/sounders_fc_vs_colorado_rapids.html
As mentioned...the coin flip is only for the play-in games. And, until recently, the Rapids played in a stadium that it made zero sense to open up and pay rent to somebody for given the crowds for USOC games.
I'm sure the rent situation is much, much different where they are now. They may take a hit hosting a poorly-attended USOC game, but at least they're not paying Pat Bowlen and making it worse (or whoever they paid the rent to in Mile High and then Invesco). It HAS to be a better situation for them.
If they're rigging the tournament by keeping the Rapids from having a home game, they need to re-assess their definition of rigging.
USSF doesn't pay to open your stadium during their tournament. I believe they USED to pay some expenses for some teams, but they apparently don't do that anymore. AFAIK, if you're going to host a USOC game at your stadium, you're responsible for the same gameday expenses you would normally incur, which includes rent and all that. My guess is that the Rapids' expenses are slightly less onerous if they no longer (since 2007) include paying rent to whoever they had to pay rent to as a tenant at Mile High Stadium and Invesco. But that's probably too simple an explanation. Better to just believe that The Man is trying to keep the Rapids down.
Interesting read. From another Rapid fan here, I wonder if maybe we like taking the young guys on the road to see how they do in a tough atmosphere. But I really wish we'd take it very seriously. I'd like to see the Rapids try to win the cup--our trophy case needs it.