SOLUTION: Teams ducking Champ's League Like the Revs

I would like to see MLS require operators to take international competitions such as the CONCACAF seriously. However, they understand too well negative revenue problems that poorly-attended games cause. So here is a possible solution:

+MLS requires operators to play these matches - at a venue that MLS approves.

This doesn't mean they have to play at their normal stadium - only that they need to play in a suitable facility (such as the Galaxy playing at Cal State Fullerton)

+If operator cannot (or will not) schedule the game, the operator must pay a cancellation fee to MLS (something along the lines of the $25,000 that the Revs got paid for playing both matches in Costa Rica).

Just a little financial incentive to try to keep the game nearby for the sake of the fans. The money should not come out of the team's operating budget.

+MLS then lines up the home leg at a stadium secured by city who is currently bidding/pursuing an MLS team. The bidding town is responsible for ticketing, publicity, venue - the works.

This is an opportunity to make a reasonable statement (its obviously not going to be as big a draw as a match featuring two MLS sides or a friendly between generally well-known teams) about that town's ability to generate interest among its future core fan base and show its ability to organize the event.

As part of their bid, these bidding cities should be required to secure a venue(s) that can be used for exhibitions or matches of this type (just as Oklahoma City is doing with Wantland Stadium). That is the venue that would be used in this type of situation.

+MLS will retain an option to award any future fixtures in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to another bid city if it deems it financially prudent.

If turnout is a debacle, MLS will pay vendors with the fee paid by the MLS team and try again with another town. Otherwise they might allow the MLS team to use the bid city venue for the MLS team's entire run in the Champions Cup.

If the bid city does a great job, MLS might choose to reward them by giving them part of the MLS team's fee and/or part of the MLS' gate cut, with the understanding that the money would be used for furthering the development of the bid (i.e. feasability studies, office help, advertising, etc).

This is only one way of seeing that this situation is handled in a better way next season. I would hope it could be a win-win for MLS, the MLS teams involved in the competition and the cities that are bidding for expansion teams. It would bring a higher level of competition than a pre-season friendly and could allow the bid city to "strut its stuff".

Any thoughts?