A real good friend of mine who just happens to have his full season ticket next to mine has been to every final. He's always talking about the first one in 96 with the absolute downpour. I've been to 4 of the 6 finals including the last 3. I'm not sure about this year, but I definately want to go to LA next year.
A brief review: 1996-Foxboro-The weather was ridiculous. If you thought the pitch was bad last satuday in DC... well, 96 in Foxboro was 10 times worse. Still, despite the nor'easter,the match was a classic and the crowd was really into it....Tons of DC fans made the trip up... though, I'm sure the weather kept many away. 1997-DC-Probably the best MLS Cup in my opinion....The game was crisp and well played and the crowd of 57,000 really made this feel like a big time event. No MLS Cup since has come close to the atmosphere of 97....Which proves that the cup should be played at the stadium of one of the participating teams, though without our own stadiums, that's pretty much impossible. 1998-Rose Bowl-LA was supposed to be here....they ran away with the Supporters Shield but were upset by Chicago in the playoffs. The crowd was better than I expected-over 50K which of course still left the Rose Bowl almost half empty....but still, There were many pockets of DC and Fire fans scattered around the stadium making for a pretty decent atmosphere. The match itself lacked the dramatics of the first 2 cups. 1999-Foxboro-The worst final as far as the game itself goes. Both goals were sloppy and the pitch was a hard,bumpy mess. Plus, this was the year that the MLS season went on forever....This final was played in mid-November. On the plus side, the weather was great(sunny- 60 degrees) for late fall in New England....It was also a good crowd with busloads of DC fans once again making the trip up. 2000-DC-On the field, this final was pretty exiciting and intense even though only 1 goal was scored. Off the field, The Fire fans were in fine voice but other than that, the crowd was disappointing....I believe there was just over 30K there but it felt like a regular game...not a cup final. 2001-Columbus-The atmospere? About as lively as sitting in a park Sunday morning watching the ducks frollic in the pond! Two west coast teams playing in the midwest on 4 days notice...I guess it was to be expected. MlS really dropped the ball with their post- season scheduling. But to be fair, the schedule was altered and effected by 9-11. A shame because the match was just as dramatic as the 96 final...without the elements. Well that's it...sorry, this turned out to be more than just a "brief review".
I asked because I would like to form a group of folks who have been to every Final. It would not surprise me if tickets are difficult to come by at some point and I would hate to be shut out. If you know anyone interested please PM me or email me at puttputtfc@hotmail.com. Thank you.