according to SA MLS Confidential......... 2. WIDE BOYS: The field at the Home Depot Center, by far the widest used in MLS, will probably be narrowed. The vast surface measured between 80 and 82 yards, depending on who paced it out, for the opening game last weekend in which the Galaxy beat Colorado, 2-0. A team official said it will likely be trimmed to about 75 yards, which is listed as the "official" width. As for the surface itself, more than one player proclaimed it magnificent even though it has yet to fully take root and a few players slipped during the opening match. "A couple of the guys were saying the grass actually feels like soccer grass," said Rapids forward John Spencer. "It's has a nice, nice, soft feel. why would the Galaxy narrow the field. use that as an advantage. Use it for better, more attractive soccer.
Does anyone have any idea why the Galaxy would want to do this? This has got to be one of the most assinine ideas I've ever heard! You've got the ability to have a huge field to create lots of space for wide-open attractive soccer, and then you artificially narrow the field?
Isn't there an upper-end to the width of a field for FIFA-sanctioned games as well as a minimum width? Perhaps 82 yards went above that.
Yes there are but HDC isn't near the max in width. FIFA also has dimensions for international play for which HDC was over by 2 yards. I have listed the dimensions from FIF's site below. Personally 77 or 78 is a pretty good width. Dimensions The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touch line must be greater than the length of the goal line. Length: minimum 90 m (100 yds) maximum 120 m (130 yds) Width: minimum 45 m (50 yds) maximum 90 m (100 yds) International Matches Length: minimum 100 m (110 yds) maximum 110 m (120 yds) Width: minimum 64 m (70 yds) maximum 75 m (80 yds)
Which is fine, I guess, if you play that way, and if you're more fit than the opposition. If you have a bunch of guys with little legs running around, that's a lot of ground to cover.
I think the key is "international matches". 80 yards is max, so I would guess they want it to fall within the guidelines. I bet someone is embarassed (whomever recommended 82). BTW, the wider the field, the better Chris Albright will look. The guy needs space to be effective...
I think if LA were a wide open run and gun type team 82 would benefit them. I think if they leave it KC may have the speed and style to make this weekend's game pretty tough on them. That said, I also think 75-78 yards is what a field should be.
75 yards is fine, what's the problem? The Galaxy don't really have natural wingers...they don't even have a natural left footed player at left mid. They don't need an 82 yard field to get the job done; in fact, it would likely favor the other teams more often than not. 75 yards is still enough for very attractice soccer. Question: can they adjust the width of the field every game based on the opponent they'll be playing? I wouldn't think so, but I was just wondering.
Wolves67 came on the KC boards and told us the pitch will be taken down to 75 yards for this game. I actually think that favors LA more than KC. Although Preki may be very thankful.
There was nothing that stated it would happen this week though I would imagine it likely. Maybe they should wait 'til after the Quakes game as they would be totally lost on a field that wide.
I'd prefer if they kept the lines where they were on Saturday. I thought the play was really good. Also, if they narrow the field the fans will be even farther away from the near touch line. As it is right now, there is already about 20 feet from the stands to the near line. Too much in my opinion. They should have built the stands to within 10 feet of the playing field. That is my only real gripe about the stadium itself. mike