As I think back at the past MLS Cup finals I fear the next will be much like the 99 final at Foxboro. Oh it was a well fought battle with DC getting their cup back but I suffered through the game thanks to the field being in terrible shape. The Patriots had torn the field up the prior week. There were still football lines visible, the grass wasn't that green and LA's Hartman kicked up a crap load of sand on that miskick that eventually led to the ball going into the back of the net. Will this year be the same? My gut tells me yes with again the Patriots having a game the prior Sunday. Wonderful. Until MLS gets one or two more SSS, they shouldn't forget about Lockhart. It could still be used for our marquee event. There still are soccer fans in Florida and it would be a nice gesture to them to hold MLS Cup at Lockhart, plus if the rumors are true and the following MLS seasons stretch into October or November, a warm weather locale would make sence. It would be a nice vacation for cold Northerners and if ABC still decides to show the final, it would be nice if the country could see the game played on a nice pitch, not one torn up by the Devil himself, the NFL. Am I insane in the membrane?
I think it would be an unmitigated disaster for two reasons... 1) Backlash of Miami fans upset at the demise of the Fusion could ruin the event. 2) Attendance at neutal sites (Orlando, San Diego) for All-Star games was spotty in the past.
The attendance at the Orlando All-star game was pretty good. I believe it drew about 35k and it's still the second best attended all-star game after the first one in '96.
Apples and oranges. 1. Back in 1999, the biggest problem with the Patriots game the previous Sunday was that it was played in a downpour. I remember watching that game thinking they were going to have problems with the field that week. 2. I also believe it also rained for two days leading up to the game. It turned out to be a really nice day, but everyone was worried leading up to it that the game was going to be played in another driving rain storm, a la 1996. 3. The field at Gillette Stadium is a thousand times better than the one at Foxboro was. The new place has better grass that's in better shape on a field with MUCH better drainage. The Patriots played this past Sunday, and I'd be willing to bet that for tonight's game, we'll still see some football lines, but the field will be in very good shape for soccer. In fact, it's probably one of the two or three best playing surfaces in the league, and it will probably remain that way until MLS Cup. 4. Don't they play high school AND college football at Lockhart?