Great article on Local 134: http://americansoccernow.com/articles/chicago-local-134-brings-the-noise-to-nwsl-games
Finally! I remember telling Peter Wilt, former President of the Chicago Red Stars back in something like 2007/2008 at a Fire game at Toyota Park after the announcement of the creation of a professional women's soccer team in Chicago that I will be one of the first to buy season tickets for the still unnamed team. - and I've been waiting ever since that day some years ago to say: The Chicago Red Stars are in the Playoffs!
nice victory http://chicagolandsoccernews.com/teams/redstars2.php?article_id=16133 http://chicagolandsoccernews.com/leagues/nwsl2.php?article_id=16137
If they hang on to the #2 spot the home playoff game would be at Tyota Park right? They can barely fit live stream cameras in the press box in Lisle, don't think they could TV cameras up there. Also don't think the league would want the stadium on national TV.
If Chicago gets the #2 spot and can't host it at Toyota Park, rest assured that next season the semi-finals will be held at Providence Park a predetermined "neutral" location, as well.
Don't know for sure but if Chicago wins this Sunday and secures a home-field play-off, I would be willing to guess that semifinal would be played at Toyota Park. But before we count our chickens let's win this Sunday.
Just rename it the Portland Cup, play semi doubleheader on Saturday or Sunday, final following Thursday and be done with it for a few years.
So here we go. From Red Stars web site on signing Mary Luba, of which I am glad because she proved herself all year on the reserve team. http://chicagoredstars.com/luba-to-join-red-stars-for-remainder-of-season/ But they also mention this:
Weather forecast for Sunday, 9/6, is brutal heat. Seems to me the common sense thing to do is change the starting time from 4:00 to 7:00 or so. It would surely be better for the players, and I think it could improve attendance. Can't imagine too many fans already holding tickets would be inconvenienced, and wouldn't appreciate the change. I doubt it'll happen, though. Very little precedent in any sports for such an action.
http://chicagoredstars.com/red-stars-battle-for-home-field-playoff-advantage/ 9/4 post on CRS site; " One thing is for sure though: A Red Stars WIN against Houston will guarantee them a home playoff game on Sunday, September 13th at 12:30 pm at Toyota Park."
Red stars already set to host playoff game 9/13 12:30pm http://chicagoredstars.com/chicago-red-stars-to-host-semifinal-playoff/
I went to the game today and the red stars better play better next week. They have to get the ball to press more often with better passes.
So in looking through home vs away records for teams in another post, I found it interesting to see that Chicago was 3-6-1 at home (15 points) compared to 5-3-2 on the road (18 points). Now, I'm not trying to disparage Benedictine*, I just found it odd that Chicago was the only team to actually do better on the road than at home. * Perhaps it's not so much Benedictine, but that their practice facility is natural grass... I expect most teams tend to practice on a similar surface to their home stadium (if not on the same surface).
Check this cool video of Red Stars rookies Arin Gilliland, Danielle Colaprico and Sophia Huerta take you into their Chicago apartment for a tour:
Very nice article on equalizer.com about the Red Stars rookies and comments by Rory Dames: http://equalizersoccer.com/2015/09/...ars-huerta-colaprico-gilliland-nwsl-playoffs/
that's what I was sayin'. Great excuse for WoSo fans to start juicy rumors But then there's always this... I'm not the first to have the word "Stadium" pop to mind. But, being the BigSoccer faithful that I am, a specific kind of stadium came to mind: a NWSL 2.0 stadium / 3 million dollar stadium !? Or perhaps the NWSL is adding a Designated Player Rule and the Red Stars are acquiring the services of the soon-to-be greatest player in the world (or so they seem to think in the International Forum): Ada Hegerberg.
Many things are possible with the Red Stars. They may negotiate a price with Toyota Park to make it cheaper then what it was during WPS days. they may negotiate with Northwestern to use their new facility when it's built. (Northwestern men and women play at Toyota Park during it's construction, BTW). It will be interesting to see what happens.
These would be interesting and good options and more along the lines of what I think is cooking. Pretty good that the Red Stars got 3 matches at Toyota Park this season. The only thing about playing at Northwestern that makes me nervous though is having to make it all the way through Chicago traffic from the south. That could be a deal-breaker for me, but maybe just what the team needs to take it to the next level with support and attendance.