Workers at BC Place in Vancouver have issued a 72-hour strike notice, after talks with PAVCO broke down. The earliest workers could walk off the job is Friday, which could jeopardize a Vancouver Whitecaps v Colorado Rapids match scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The Whitecaps have already moved Friday's practices out of the stadium. The affected workers include those who perform maintenance, security, hosting, first aid and other skilled trades at the stadium. The newly renovated stadium is also home of the CFL's B.C. Lions, which has 2 or 3 more home games and is scheduled to host the Grey Cup (Canadian Super Bowl) on Nov. 27. More info here: http://2010goldrush.blogspot.com/2011/10/breaking-bc-place-nearer-to-strike.html
There is very little info here. One of the big questions the fans here have is if the players union are a 'real union', and would refuse to play behind a picket line. The next big question is what happens if they can not play at BC Place. They have already started tearing down Empire so it can not be used, and Swangard doesn't have enough seats for all season ticket holders. Would the Whitecaps be forced to forfeit? or would they just play the match behind closed doors at a smaller field? Has this ever happened before?
No: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Labour+dispute+threatens+Whitecaps+finale/5572186/story.html There's some talk of Swangard, but it doesn't sound like a real option. I'm thinking Vancouver would be forced to forfeit.
They could fly both teams back to Colorado Friday night and play the game here. Whatever happens, postponement is not an option as the Rapids have a playoff game Wed/./Thurs. and the location of that game may be dependent on the result of the Rapids-Whitecaps game.
They could play 'behind closed doors' at Swangard. Which I think would be fairer for the league than a forfeit ... plus I could rent a Uhaul and my mates and I could watch from the roof
This was found in Sect. 6.1 of the CBA http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/collective_bargaining_agreement__final.pdf
I don't know if they can do this or not. Play behind closed doors or forfeit, they'd have to refund their season ticket holders either way, I suppose.
I'd rather see the game moved to Colorado or some neutral location (portland available this weekend?) than played behind closed doors. Heck, fly the teams to Houston or Chicago and give the fans at Robertson or Toyota Park a doubleheader this weekend. (and yes, I realize the game will likely be played as originally scheduled, and this is just silly speculation)
I wonder if MLS has a provision for this, as far as how it works for tiebreakers. Thankfully, Colorado already holds the tiebreaker with Houston, the only other team that could tie them with a win. But could you imagine if, say, the league awarded 3 points, head-to-head was even, and the number of goals awarded for that victory "won" or "lost" the tiebreaker for Colorado? Kinnear wouldn't stop talking for decades. Smith would stop batting his eyelashes at Europe and go for a full crotch grab.
I believe the standard FIFA rule for forfeits is that it goes down as a 3-0 win for the non-forfeiting side. Not to say that MLS couldn't use a different rule of course.
How about the Home Depot Center. They usually host a few odd soccer games each year that most other stadiums couldn't handle. Give the Chivas fans a double header this weekend. Any travelling Seattle fans could even have fun booing Vancouver.
Actually that's something left entirely up to the competition authority--there's nothing in the laws that says anything about what "result" a forfeit causes.
Then they would probably just default to FIFA's established rule. I doubt that making up something on the fly would sit well with anyway. They really should have something in their rules for this. Anyway would MLS want something like a forfeit to mar their reputation? Especially for a new member of the league which just opened their stadium?
Why not do Swangard (offer some super cheap tix as part of a "Fan Appreciation" or something) and offer the BC Place fans a refund, if it comes down to it? If the strike goes through, they'll be forced to do something.
The Whitecaps released a statement saying the match 'must be played one way or another'. If BC Place isn't available, my best guess is they will just play closed doors at Swangard. Not enough time to organize tickets and staff is why I say closed doors. Although I doubt they would put up scrimp to block people from watching through the fence. Which I think many of us will do if it comes to that.
There will be no picket lines outside BC Place when the Vancouver Whitecaps play their final game of the season on Saturday, the union representing workers at the facility says. "No action on the part of BCGEU members will be taken before, during or immediately after the game," said union spokeswoman Karen. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/10/20/bc-place-strike-whitecaps.html
Van needs to get it's shit together. First they f with RSL, and cancel a game after RSL had arrived, because of a friendly in July. Now this.