Why is it that the higher-seeded teams in the MLS playoffs play their home games on Wednesdays, while the lower-seeded teams play their home games on the weekends?       Shouldn't the higher-seeded teams be assured of the bigger crowds? -G
It doesnt matter for the Revolution... We have the fans that will show up any night of the week for a playoff game!
Why? Because the league office is clueless when it comes to scheduling matters. I especially love the back-to-back matches at the end of the season. Wouldn't it be great if two of those teams got matched up in the first round of the playoffs and had to play each other 5 times in a row.
In the end, I think I solely should be in charge of scheduling for MLS. Anyone on these boards can probably do a better job than whomever does it at MLS. I am sure that there are a bunch of concerts, etc. when they can't use the stadium. But that being said whomever is in charge of MLS should take into account the following things. 1. Pointy ball field - Thats right more home games early for the teams that have the pointy ball fields to deal with. Case in point NY/NJ v. DCU, Thursday night. That game has serious playoff implications and they are playing on a dirt/grass surface. Now I understand that Colorado, DCU, LA(college), New England, NY/NJ, Dallas (college but to a lesser extent), and Kansas City all have pointy ball fields but something has to be worked out. a. Columbus, San Jose, Chicago, Dallas should be home pretty much the last four games of the season. I know Chicago turf isn't much better than dirt, but nonetheless. Add LA when they get there SSS. I know this isn't truly "fair". But as long as the number of home and aways = out against the same teams, the better off things will always be. 2. Televised games - Put Columbus on TV lots more than they currently are. Better stadium for TV games b/c grass is fantastic and 15,000 in a 25,000 seat stadium is so much better than 15,000 in a 50,000 seat stadium. Teams that should be on TV less - Chicago - can't watch the game on turn on TV it hurts. When they are back at Soldier Field, put tons of games on as the Chicago supporters are fantastic. See point 1 with regards to pointy ball fields above. 3. Quality of play is difficult and almost nearly impossible to predict. I know its great to think that Chicago should be on TV a lot, or that some other teams should be on TV more because they play a more "attractive" game. But, this is impossilbe to predict a year in advance. So attempts to put "more attractive" games on should be made, but not stressed as much as I think it is now. 4. Midweek games, the less there are the better for attendance etc., but I think they already know this one. Allright, stepping off my soapbox.
I'm not one to bash the playoff system. I love it. That said, the above is a legitimate gripe. Ideally, you would like to start on a weekend in Game 1 at home as a higher seed. Game 2 back at the lower seed. All Game 3's on the following weekend. Start the semi's on the next Wed. and there's the problem and why it was probably scheduled like this. Start Round 1 on Wednesday and the Semis are Game 1 and 3 on Saturdays. Better for TV, exposure, and all that. Any Game 3's to go to a Cup will be right there on ESPN in prime time a week from the Cup. Still the Round 1 Wednesdays at the high seed do have a built in advantage. Everyone is playing this weekend. The low seeds must travel (possibly for the second time in 4 days). High seeds benefit, especially so if Dallas beats dc. That game is Thursday night and DAL could get a home-game along with bonus rest with that win.