2020 Season Catch All Thread

https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-l...rame-for-return-to-play-tournament-in-orlando

 

That seems amazingly fortunate for MLS players if they are negotiating between a 7.5% and 10% pay cut.

The latest ownership proposal in MLB is far more drastic, with the idea of an 82 game season (about half) and salaries being a percentage of half (some would be less than 25% of what their 2020 salary would have been). Of course, that will never be accepted by the players but if a 10% paycut is the bad news, that sure beats a 75% pay cut.

 

This is tangentially related to MLS playing in Orlando, but Disney indicated its trying to get the parks back open on June 11. The shopping district (Disney Springs) has already been open for about a week. I guess my question would be what happens to the hotels in regards to wherever that players/staff would be staying.

 

Sounds like they plan to use Coronado for the leagues. Makes sense given that's their conference/convention hotel so it probably doesn't have many people booked into it for the near future. Just move anyone booked there to the Beach Club as an upgrade.

 

All practices will be voluntary as they are currently. Small group practices can begin Monday - assuming they comply with state and local regulations.

We're getting closer!

Small group training sessions coming 🔜

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) May 28, 2020

MLS has announced that clubs may resume voluntary small group training on outdoor team training fields #Rapids96 https://t.co/K9GkKhScFf pic.twitter.com/bHAn8ENg3X

— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) May 28, 2020

 

The issue here that needs to be addressed is whether or not the staff that work in Coronado would also be working in Disney. For the players to agree to the MLS competition in Orlando they need to know that they won't be coming into contact with hotel staff who have been mingling with the general public in any way. They have apparently stated this as one of their concerns. And given the fact that the Florida governor does not exactly think of safety first when it comes to opening things up, I would be concerned if I were a MLS.

The idea of MLS clubs staying at home and training until later in June before traveling to Orlando I think makes a lot of sense for many reasons.

If the whole Orlando competition comes to fruition, hopefully it will allow for at least one friendly prior to group play.

 

I didn't read carefully. Disney is actually targeting July 11, which is actually more beneficial as far as MLS goes.

 

My experience is the front-out-the-house staff don't float between other resorts very often, and Disney could easily set it up so that Coronado has dedicated staffing (which is basically what they do already). It would be more complicated for back-of-the-house stuff (maintenance, housekeeping, etc.) since those are generally shared with other hotels for economies of scale reasons...but contact with those roles would be minimal anyway. Hotel staff almost never come into direct contact with park staff either.

 

There's also the problem of what the staff does on their personal time.

 

To be honest, if you're getting that finite, I think you're past the point of reasonable cautiousness and venturing into hysteric paranoia.

 

Kiss the fam
Grab your gear
Get to work@keikamara approved ✅ pic.twitter.com/yc7xjER0w7

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) May 29, 2020

I have just loved the spirit and attitude Kamara brings to the Rapids.

 

The original #12 is still the best to wear the number for Colorado

http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2020/05/rapids-by-numbers-12.html

 

Just received an email from my Rapids account sales executive, here are the pertinent paragraphs:

While Major League Soccer continues to explore a variety of return to play scenarios for the 2020 season, we understand that the uncertainty surrounding the current season creates questions from our fans. In response, we’d like to share information with you regarding our account credit and refund policy for the ticket purchase you made for a 2020 Rapids match.

Should MLS announce that 2020 home matches are cancelled, played without fans, or played out-of-market, we will automatically pull back all funds that you have paid towards the impacted matches as an account credit. If you would like to keep this credit on your account to be applied to a 2021 group deposit, membership package, or single game tickets, no action will be required of you.

If you would like to discuss other accommodations, including a refund option, please click here to login to Account Manager where you will be directed to an online form. Once the form is completed and submitted, your Rapids Sales Executive will contact you directly to begin processing your request.

When we receive clarity on when it’s safe for fans to return to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, we will contact you with additional information.

(The bold is in the original email)

And there is also this:


For me, this seems reasonable and fair. I appreciate that they are suspending payments for the time being and it looks like they'll wait until there is clarity about whether or not fans will be able to attend matches in person this season.

 

Tentative agreement by MLSPA to return to play in Orlando. PA wants a CBA ratified for 2020 and beyond before final approval as well as a final sign off on health and safety. Teams would travel to Orlando on June 24 and have 2 weeks of training before beginning play. Maximum time for a team in Orlando would be 6 weeks.

https://theathletic.com/1846205/202...es-return-to-play-proposal-to-send-to-owners/

 

Sign him up, Rapids!

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“As we move into the next stages of this, our main concern is that when we do get out on the field, and when it is broadcast on ESPN or Univision or FOX or whatever it is, we’re not looking like a Dallas Cup,” said Larentowicz. “We’re looking like a competitive, professional televised thing. And that’s the most important thing. So there’s all these different things that we’re trying to balance: health and safety, the preparation. But then also knowing and feeling comfortable with the environment that we’re in that we’re going to be looked at, treated as and considered professionals and that all of those things are at as good of a level as they can be in a time like this.” - Jeff Larentowicz

From from this article - https://theathletic.com/1843210/202...gent-concerns-with-youth-tournament-memories/

 

Statement on the status of negotiations: pic.twitter.com/DesCGu9ymL

— MLSPA (@MLSPA) June 1, 2020

 

An odd thing to muse about but anyway Bundesliga restarted with empty stadiums and mostly silence -- now they have added canned crowd noise, not sure which is better but hope whatever they do w/ MLS it is 'well done' so it doesn't seem like video game audio.

 

Having watched both, I prefer a little background noise. Didn't think I would, but it seemed to work once they dialed it back s bit.

 

Can Someone explain the whole 6 week thing, is 2020 going to be the 2 games played and whatever they play in the "Orlando 6 weeks" and that's it?

 

Lockout looms as #MLS push back on latest offer from #MLSPA: https://t.co/TuXJT0kR2J

— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) June 1, 2020

In light of the league's latest negotiating stance, multiple sources indicate all MLS players will refuse to participate in "voluntary" training sessions that were scheduled in home markets across the league today.

— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) June 1, 2020

 

The plan is to return to home markets and continue the regular season when all the home markets allow it. But I believe one of the reasons they're making it a tournament in Orlando with a final is in case they end up not being able to continue the season. Then at least they'll have played some sort of "playoff type tournament", which among other things would allow them to award CCL spots, set draft orders, etc.

 

An opinion piece from Stejskal and Tenorio in The Atlantic on the MLS's bargaining tactics: https://theathletic.com/1848680/2020/06/01/mls-lockout-threat-cba-orlando-plan/