Anyone know why the USA v Mexico match wasn't scheduled for Saturday afternoon? That would have been an easy way to solve the problem of having both USMNT and MLS matches played at the same time
Except when MLS increases the salary cap, and attracts more CONCACAF internationals, then it gets worse. For myself, I will not attend MetroStars matches on international dates, even if there's no time conflict. If I'm going to spend money, I will do so to see the best players possible, not when those players are artifically unavailable. Expanding from 30 to 32 games plus keeping the two game first round doesn't help matters.
You shouldn't have to. Because it's pretty obvious why they think Saturday nights are more lucrative than Fridays or Sundays. The simple fact that they try to schedule more Saturday night games than either of the other two tells you that, and if you ask, they'll tell you that again. So why the fark are you arguing if you agree? Or can you not see that if more people attend a Saturday night match as opposed to a Friday or Sunday night match, that it's more lucrative? Doesn't it follow, logically? That's fine. We may never know. Have they actually been saying that scheduling conflicts are the problem? That's silly. They haven't just come out and say "We're not in a position to give up a Saturday night, and that's that." Which is what they should do. Because that's more the deal, as far as I can tell. So ask John Alper why they're playing at night. Maybe it's because it's so freaking hot there in Dallas, as I'm always told is the case. You implied that your tough choice was a tough choice for many others. Don't speak for others. Speak for yourself. But considering you've never ever conceded that maybe somebody else has a valid point, I don't expect you'll change your mind or anything.
The funny thing here is that MLS, and the U.S. and Mexico national teams are in some form or fashion 'properties' of SUM. So, either you can see it that SUM is capturing a lot of soccer content at that moment. Or, you can see it that they are splintering the soccer market as it is. But, then again, you have that week in and week out when you have MLS teams playing at the same time.
My point, all along, was that the difference between Friday and Saturday nights aren't large enough to risk angering A PORTION of the fanbase by making them choose between two important events scheduled at the same time. I can't state it any more clearly than that, if you want to continue to refuse to hear me, that's not my problem. Don Garber has. I don't know why the don't come out and say that, maybe because, I don't know, Saturday isn't that much of a difference and scheduling really is the issue. I know, I know, but that would mean you wouldn't be right, and that's impossible to believe....silly me. I'm guessing that Friday or Sunday night will probably bring the same weather as Saturday. Considering that there are now 4 threads between BigSoccer and The Inferno board devoted to this discussion I believe I can speak for others, but thanks for the advice. Hilariously ironic.
I said the time of the game, not the date. The start time of most of the WCQ's were not set when MLS teams were setting their start times.
Yes. yes you did. I guess I should start reading posts before responding to them. Shake things up a little, ya know! Sachin
So is USSF to blame for most of this scheduling mess? If MLS had already scheduled matches for Saturday night, it would make sense for USSF to schedule the qualifier for the afternoon, wouldn't it?
What should be done is that since international dates are known before the MLS schedule is released, that a time block (be it 4:00, 6:00, 7:30/8:00, or 10:00 ET) be set aside for the USMNT game, and then MLS can fill in around it. The site for the game would be partially determined from the time (a 10:00 ET start would eliminate an east coast venue for example). That's apparently too much to ask however.
Yes, sensibility, or better communication between USSF and MLS is too much to ask. Is there hope for these stupidities to end with Sunil Gulati at the top of USSF? This stuff is beyond the threshold of frustration.
Could the USA/MEX match have been scheduled for Friday night? Seems like a good night in this situation.
They should have scheduled the match for 4:30 in the morning on Saturday. The Mexicans (few of them Euro-based) would probably be a good deal sleepier than our guys, and no doubt they'd still be able to sell the match out.
Not to mention we'd want to fly out Martin Tyler or Andy Gray to the game so we could listen to some proper match commentary.
Update: FCD will be showing the first half of US-Mex on the jumbotrons live before the kickoff of the FCD-SJ game. During the first half of the FCD game, which will be the second half of the US game, they will alternate usage of the jumbos for both games. Not the best of both worlds, but at least its something. I'm still boycotting.