Revs in Concacaf Champion's Cup 2003...a lock!!

George Griffin · Oct 21, 2002

Invites

Do the Revs get any invites to other compititions as the results of getting to the Cup match?
I know the MLS Cup winner as well as the Open Cup winner get to play in Hemispheric Compititions. Anything for the runner up?

Crewbasher · Oct 21, 2002

i'm not sure, but i think they might get an entry in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. but don't read too much into that. i very well could be wrong.

Popero · Oct 21, 2002

I'm pretty sure we'll get an invite to the Champion's Cup.

ToMhIlL · Oct 21, 2002

Yes, the Revs will definitely play in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The format hasn't been decided yet, although Sunil Gulati says a decision will be made "soon."

In the past couple of years they have had a group stage with home-away matches against 3 other teams, and then a knockout from the semis onward.

Unfortunately, they haven't always been money-makers, but if these games were part of the season ticket package and properly promoted, no reason why we couldn't get around the normal MLS crowds for these.

Tom

George Griffin · Oct 21, 2002

Invites

Originally posted by ToMhIlL
Yes, the Revs will definitely play in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Click to expand...

THAT'S GREAT. The Revs will gain a lot of maturity by playing teams outside the league and it will help them when they play in the 2003 Cup Match in LA

Rev-eler · Oct 22, 2002

Sorry George, I know there is a small discussion of this under the thread Invites....but even i wasn't sure what that thread was about when i originally saw the title and almost didn't go there. So, I decided to make it a bit more blatent b/c i think its worth some deserved attention.

Here is the info I've been able to piece together regarding the 2003 Concacaf Champion's Cup. (much text "lifted" from various sources…the majority from a feb 2001 "soccertimes" article. any new info would be appreciated. I had trouble finding any real info on mls' archived news)

Starting in 2003, beginning probably in February and running through June, there will be a 16-team CONCACAF Champions League modeled after Europe’s Champions League, South America’s Copa Libertadores and Africa’s Champions League.

The 16 clubs will be broken up into four-team groups which will play home and away matches against other group members in a round-robin format with the top two finishers from each of the four groups advancing to the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinals will be a second round robin with two groups of four teams with each club playing the other three group members home and away. The top two finishers in each group advance to the semifinals each of which will be decided by a two-match, cumulative goal format.

The championship will be decided by a single game between the semifinals winners.
Click to expand...

From what I can find, the concacaf regions get the following representation:
Mexico: 4 teams
USA: 4 teams
Central America zone: 6 teams
Caribbean zone: 2 teams

Central American and Caribbean zones are going thru "qualifying" right now thru November to determine their 6 and 2 team representatives respectively.

In the past, the US has played "catch-up" in determining which teams (mls) get to be representatives. Sometimes, winners and runners up from 2 years previous would get the nod. However, they seem to have "caught up" this past 2002 Champion's Cup campaign.

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - (USA, winner 2000 MLS Cup)
CHICAGO FIRE - (USA, 2000 MLS Cup runner-up)
D.C. UNITED - (USA, runner-up 2001 FC Giants Cup)
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - (USA, winner, MLS Cup 2001)

For 2003, its not unlikely that this will be the way teams get selected:

Starting 2003, the U.S. and Mexico will each have four teams in the league with Central America and the Caribbean sharing the remaining eight openings. The American entrants will be nominated by the U.S. Soccer Federation, the nation’s governing body, with Mexico’s representatives chosen by the Mexican Federation.

Although plans have not been finalized, three of U.S. entrants will likely be the MLS Cup champion, the MLS Supporters Shield winner (the regular-season titlist) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champ. Since all three crowns could be won by one team, the one-to-three remaining slots would then probably be filled by runnersup from the above-mentioned competitions. If there was further redundancy, the USSF Professional Committee would decide who went.

"It’s up to the Federations who they nominate, but they have to be justified," reads the CONCACAF laws. "They cannot chose simply based on whim or who might want or not want to play. They will have to say we picked such and such a team because of this or that criteria and we will be the final judges of their suitability."
Click to expand...

If all of this still rings true….LA could potentially be the winners in 3 categories.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY - (USA, winner 2002 MLS Cup, winner 2002 Supporter's Shield, and 2002 US Open Cup winner (or runner-up))

If the federation's nominees have to be justified as written above…really that leaves only 5 possible mls teams in current operation for the 4 slots (using results of the competitions not yet used to determine participation for past concacaf tourneys):
LOS ANGELES GALAXY - (USA, winner 2001 US Open Cup, 2001 MLS Cup runner-up)
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - (USA, 2001 US Open Cup runner-up, 2002 MLS Cup runner-up)
COLUMBUS CREW - (USA, 2002 US Open Cup runner-up (or winner))
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - (USA, 2002 Supporter's Shield runner-up)
CHICAGO FIRE - (USA, 2001 Supporter's Shield runner-up)
MIAMI FUSION (defunct) - (USA, winner 2001 Supporter's Shield)

I think they'd be hard pressed to pass up the REVS' runner-up status for 2001 O.C. and 2002 MLS Cup in order to give a slot to both SJ and CHI as S.S. runners up.

Therefore, given all the LA "overlap" the 4 team slotted into 2003 Concacaf Champions Cup would likely be (imo, in order of importance):

1. LOS ANGELES GALAXY - (USA, winner 2002 MLS Cup, winner 2002 Supporter's Shield, and 2002 US Open Cup winner (or runner-up), winner 2001 US Open Cup, 2001 MLS Cup runner-up)
2. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - (USA, 2001 US Open Cup runner-up, 2002 MLS Cup runner-up)
3. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - (USA, 2002 Supporter's Shield runner-up)
4. COLUMBUS CREW - (USA, 2002 US Open Cup runner-up (or winner))
[this is a "lock" if they win on thurs. if not, I'm not sure that with the lack of "status" of the Open Cup that they don't look elsewere (like Chicago) for the 4th team.]

Sine Pari · Oct 22, 2002

See sometimes it does pay to be just the bridesmaid !

SJB · Oct 22, 2002

Couple quick comments:
1) Cool, I think it would be great to see in the Revs in a real "Champions" type league.
2) Nice that they gave the U.S. Open Cup some respect and a "slot".
3) Again, nice that they gave the Supporter Shield a slot.
4) I really really REALLY hope they only look at the previous year to select the qualifiers.
Looking back two years to pick a "best" team is just silly.

Based on the information you presented and my strong preference for only looking back one year here are
the criteria I would use to select the teams.

Start at the top of the list and work down till you have four teams:

=== Winners
1) Current MLS Cup winner
2) Current MLS Supporter Shield Winner
3) Current U.S.Open Cup Winner

=== Runner-ups
4) Current MLS Cup runner-up
5) Current MLS Supporter Shield runner-up
6) Current U.S.Open Cup runner-up

=== Filler based on Supporter Shield
7) Current MLS Supporter Shield 3rd place
8) Current MLS Supporter Shield 4th place
and so on.

Using this system, this years teams will be
LA Galaxy (1-MLS Cup Winner)
NE Revolution (4-Current MLS Cup Runner-up)
SJ Earthquake (5-Supporter Shield runner-up)
Columbus Crew (3-U.S.Open Cup winner or 6-U.S.Open Cup runner-up)

Rev-eler · Oct 22, 2002

man, thanks to l.a...we almost look like the 2nd best team in mls.

btw: in FIFA World Club Championship, i believe that concacaf has 2 spots. the 2002 winner and runner up (already determined from mexico) will head to the tourney this coming summer. the 2003 & 2004 champs of the c.c.c. will be the reps most likely in 2005. later if the f.w.c.c. expands, it may expand to concacaf getting 4 reps.

with the revs luck for these things....this'll be the year they decide to use MLS Cup, Open Cup, S. Shield (LA, LA, LA) then use S.Shield runner ups ONLY to fill the other 3 (i.e. SJ, DAL, COL)..yikes!

rscaramelo · Oct 22, 2002

Hopefully we'll soon get confirmation that our boys will be going for some international hardware. Any thought to whether it will be in Foxboro? Even though the ideal would be to keep the games in a familiar place for the players and fans, I'm sure the finances won't be pretty for the Krafts. Alternatives would have to be Nickerson in Boston, Luisitano in the western part of MA (Ludlow?) or Pierce in East Providence. I'd like to see CT get a game. The CT Wolves are in rough shape and could use the money.

RC

Argyle · Oct 22, 2002

There is one other qualification the Revs have:

Eastern Division champions.

jmeissen0 · Oct 23, 2002

this year it was a cup, next year it will be a league

rkupp · Oct 23, 2002

We could actually see a home game in "February" (or March)!

The new "heated" turf at the Razor makes it a possibility - and an advantage (i.e., US-Mexico at Columbus in WC2002 qualifying).

Imagine an Olimpia or Joe Public playing at Foxboro in February, where the only warm thing is the ground? Lots of fake injuries to hug the grass I'd guess!

rscaramelo · Oct 23, 2002

Originally posted by rkupp
We could actually see a home game in "February" (or March)!

The new "heated" turf at the Razor makes it a possibility - and an advantage (i.e., US-Mexico at Columbus in WC2002 qualifying).

Imagine an Olimpia or Joe Public playing at Foxboro in February, where the only warm thing is the ground? Lots of fake injuries to hug the grass I'd guess!
Click to expand...

I might be buying hot chocolate instead Sam Adams.... on second thought.......

RC

The Magpie · Oct 23, 2002

Two words : Irish Coffee ;-)

The Magpie

patfan1 · Oct 23, 2002

Originally posted by rscaramelo

I might be buying hot chocolate instead Sam Adams.... on second thought.......

RC
Click to expand...

The hot chocolate will eventually get cold ... while the Sam Adams will warm you up after a couple.

Kids ... don't try this at home.

Monty (who will be practicing this theory at the Pats game Sunday)

tedski · Oct 23, 2002

So...now we get to cheer on the Revs against Joe Public and Alajuela!

Cool!

Ted.

Rev-eler · Oct 23, 2002

Well, to further this international club fantasy that I'm entertaining with the revs…..here's a better "snapshot" for those that care as to where the qualifying stands for the 16 team 2003 Concacaf Champion's Cup.

To review from yesterday (won't go into c.c.c. format again).
C,C.C. - 16 team tourney.
Mexico: 4 teams
USA: 4 teams
Central America: 6 teams
Caribbean: 2 teams

As of right now….here's where USA, C. America, and Caribbean regions stand.
(maybe I'll see how mexico will select teams tonight or tomorrow)

USA: 4 teams
1. LOS ANGELES GALAXY (2002 MLS Cup winner)
2. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (2002 MLS Cup runner-up)
3. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (2002 S.Shield runner-up)
4. (tbd: Crew if they win USOC or Dallas if not)

Caribbean: 2 teams
Final Round will consist of (2) 4 team groups, top team in each group advances to c.c.c.
(h + a, round robin format to start in december 2002)

Group A:
ARNETT GARDENS (Jamaica)
CLUB FRANCISCIAN (Martinique)
VIOLETTE AC (Haiti)
VSADC (St. Lucia)

Group B:
W CONNECTION FC (Jamaica)
FICA (Haiti)
T.B.D.
T.B.D.

right now, those TBD teams in Group B are in the middle of being determined.
winners of h + a matches between the teams below will move on:
george town sc (cayman islands) v harbor view fc (jamaica) [10/17 & 10/27]
(george town sc won game 1)
u.s. robert (martinique) v st. joseph martinique (dominica) [10/25 & 10/27]

Central America: 6 teams
Final Round will consist of (3) 4-team groups playing "quadrangulars" with top 2 in each group advancing to the c.c.c.
[teams play each other only 1x, all 4 teams play over a 5 day period in central location]

Quad. 1 (10/9-10/13 in El Salvador):
ALIANZA (El Salvador)
C.D. F.A.S. (El Salvador)
DEPORTIVO ARABE UNIDO (Panama)
FC DEPORTIVO JALAPA (Nicaragua)
[deportivo arabe unido (panama) and c.d. f.a.s. (el salvador) have qual'd]

Quad. 2 (10/23-10/27 in Guatemala):
CSD COMUNICACIONES (Guatemala)
CSD MUNICIPAL (Guatemala)
FC SAN MARCOS (Nicaragua)
SANTOS DE GUAPILES FC (Costa Rica)

Quad. 3 (10/30-11/3 in Honduras):
CD MARATHON (Honduras)
CD MOTAGUA (Honduras)
LD ALAJUELENSE (Costa Rica)
TAURO FC (Panama)

In summary…..
of the 16 teams to be included in the C.C.C. 2003
Mexico (4 t.b.d.)
USA (1 t.b.d...clb. crew or dal. burn)
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Central America (4 t.b.d.)
DEPORTIVO ARABE UNIDO (Panama)
C.D. F.A.S. (El Salvador)
Caribbean (2 t.b.d.)

Tony Biscaia · Oct 23, 2002

From the MLS press release:

The Los Angeles Galaxy, who qualified for the tournament by winning
the 2002 MLS Cup, and the New England Revolution, who qualified as the MLS
Cup runner-up, will join the Earthquakes in the 2003 Champions Cup. With the
Galaxy already earning a spot as the winners of MLS Cup and the Supporter's
Shield, the Earthquakes qualify thanks to accumulating the second most
points in the league.

The U.S. Open Cup final will be played Thursday between the Los
Angeles Galaxy and the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium. A win by Columbus
would make them the fourth U.S. team in the Cup. If Los Angeles wins the
2002 U.S. Open Cup title, the fourth U.S. position will fall to the Dallas
Burn, who had the third highest point total in MLS.

[Mod note: continue discussions HERE now that its official. Thanks]