That's a good point. It wasn't until the 2010ish (I can't remember exactly when MLS switched from neutral stadium) that pretty much all MLS teams, or their owners, controlled their stadium. That very well could have been the deciding factor
NWSL Commissioner said they have neutral site championship for now because they do not have the infrastructure to pull off putting on a major event in 5 days. The host site would not be known until the semi-finals are played. By holding a neutral site game they have months to prepare the venue. The way she phrased it though, it sounded like this is the case 'for now'. They would like to get to a site where one team in the game hosts it.
The league adds mechanisms for signing players under age 18: The roster news in the draft release is a new mechanism for players under age 18. #nwsl pic.twitter.com/td6QEagjor— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) November 15, 2022
League announces partnership with DeVry University for four athletes to take courses for a “graduate certificate”. Not April Fools. Clown show.
2023 schedule outline drop! The #NWSL has announced its 2023 schedule structure! Among other things, it includes:🔸Challenge Cup running concurrently with the regular season🔸Fewer games during the World Cup🔸No mid-week regular season matchesRead our full overview➡️https://t.co/D4MRmAmHiO pic.twitter.com/y4Y1GbKDXm— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) November 17, 2022 Schedule framework is out for #NWSL in 2023. Some key dates:Jan 23 - Feb 6: Preseason campsMarch 25: 2023 Regular SeasonApril: Challenge CupSept 6: Challenge Cup SemifinalsSept 9: Challenge Cup FinalOct 22: NWSL QuarterfinalsNov 4: NWSL SemifinalsNov 11: NWSL Championship https://t.co/x5akA5uTlV— Sandra 💙💯⚽️ (@Sandherrera_) November 17, 2022
Houston at LA Galaxy in 2011 was the final neutral site game. Houston at LA Galaxy in 2012 was the first "highest seed hosts" game. Stadium control was the deciding factor, but having hosts LA in 2011, New England in 2002, and DC in 1997 play in the final had shown the league the potential of the concept. Additionally the poor atmosphere (partly due to weather) of Colorado/Dallas in Toronto 2010 also contributed. Edit. I've been to 25 MLS Cups. Let's see what I recall about atmosphere pre 2012: 97 RFK: DC/COL - light drizzle, great crowd 99 Foxboro: LA/DC - decent crowd, terrible NFL chewed field 00 RFK: KC/CHI - KC was in this game, too emotional for me to be unbiased 01 Crew: LA/SJ - Post 9/11, compressed playoffs w/only a few days for fans. Big asterisk 02 Gillette: LA/NE - Absolutely bonkers atmosphere, over 60k. Terrible game 03 HDC: SJ/CHI - Great atmosphere, best final until this year 04 HDC: DC/KC - Again, KC. Plus league learned huge lesson DC fans behind a goal, KC in corner. 05 PHP: NE/LA - Decent atmosphere, but mostly neutral 06 PHP: NE/HOU - Great atmosphere, mostly from Houston fans 07 RFK: NE/HOU - Smallest crowd of RFK finals in my mind, but both teams had nice sections. 08 HDC: CLB/NYRB - Decent crowd, but again mostly neutral 09 Seattle: LA/RSL - David Beckham draws a crowd 10 BMO: COL/FCD - Cold and drizzle dampened neutrals and intl travel limited partisans 11 HDC: LA/HOU - Bonkers crowd And I've done 7 women's pro finals. The three WPS finals were highest seed hosts. 01 Foxboro: BA/ATL - Similar to MLS/99 decent crowd, terrible and compressed field 02 Atlanta: CAR/WAS - Great crowd (Mia in her heyday) 03 San Diego: WAS/ATL - Decent crowd, but horrible venue for final limited things 19 WMSP: NCC/CRS - Awesome, standing room only, crowd.
So does the purchase of Olympique Lyonnaise by American investors mean any changes at OL Reign or not?
Literally radio silence here in Seattle about it. In fact, one of the people that covers the Reign retweeted a person asking the same question you did.
Whether or not this remains true, the Reign are not expecting the sale of OL to have an impact on the team: https://www.sounderatheart.com/seat...new-ol-groupe-lyon-owner-john-textor-ol-reign
There had been talk of the new USL Super League challenging NWSL on the US WoSo landscape. Breaking per the Equalizer, the USL Super League has been delayed a year. Another year for NWSL to continue its growth an outpace the men's-D2-standard that the Super League will hold.
That seems like a big win for Racing L (getting two high quality starters for one). Plus Fox will miss some time this season for the World Cup.
Club wise, it's an good deal(as pointed out by YRS), but Fox is honestly the best defender the USWNT got, coached by someone that expects strong 1v1 defending. Here's some highlights of Fox vs the Aussie vet, Hayley Raso, which features some of the best tackling/blocking I've ever seen
I'm very, very lukewarm at best on the deal. Might be good for LOU for specifically this year, but long-term it doesn't solve their defensive problems. Erceg is older and specifically said previously that she wanted to end her career in NC. Pickett is okay but not as good as Fox. I know there was speculation that LOU was going to lose Fox soon anyway, so getting something for her is better than getting nothing, but I anticipate that this time next year, LOU will again be looking for defensive solutions.
I mean, to be fair, it's usually 4-5wks early instead of just 1... But yeah, 7wks ahead is soooo much nicer.
NWSL Schedule has been dropped! https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-announces-full-2023-season-schedule (editing this post with highlights) All 12 teams in action opening weekend - no surprise that POR+LA+SD are all hosting; DC also given the chance to let Audi rock. Challenge Cup runs concurrent to the season, usually with midweek matches. The Cup kicks off with five (not six) matches on April 19th, and the group stage ends in a flurry with 16 matches between 7/21 and 8/6 (i.e. the World Cup window) We have a DECISION DAY for the first time ever with all 12 teams in action at 5pm ET on 10/15 - also with LA+SD+DC hosting; I'm really curious how the TV deal handles this Barring the Challenge Cup, there is only one game on the entire schedul outside of the weekend (Friday-Sunday), a Thursday night game in LA in late September against ORL
Also, not really news but this can't NOT be shared: This HUGE team effort for the Red Stars schedule drop The wait is finally over! Hope you're as obsessed with our 2023 season schedule as we are with @Netflix Wednesday Addams 🎥 Season Tickets Packages and Group Deposits available now. 🎟 pic.twitter.com/qPlpNQep7O— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) February 8, 2023 Gosh I love it when the players (and social media team) just get to go wild and have fun
Thorns are hosting a pre-season tournament March 12, 15, and 18, joined by OL Reign, Racing Louisville, and the U23 WNT, two games each day. Games will not be broadcast or available on line.