Cascadia Cup - A new vision - Sounder At Heart

Cascadia Cup - A new vision

by Sounder At Heart on Dec 6, 2008 2:32 PM PST in Major League Soccer Comment 8 comments

While most fans of the 3 USL-1 teams that participated in the Cascadia Cup hope to not see it return until all three teams are in MLS and base the winner of the Cup off of clubs' performance in the regular season, I wonder if there is a way that the Cup could continue as a preseason tournament that would grow the sport throughout the region and make some money for all teams that participate.

The Charleston Battery host a preseason tournament with 3 invitees from MLS that has helped the Battery have a rivalry with DC United and get locals caring about their club before the season starts.

These 3 are the original members of the Cascadia Cup tradition.
Seattle Sounders FC - MLS (2 time winners in USL)
Vancouver Whitecaps - USL-1 (3 time winners)
Portland Timbers - USL-1 (Never won)

The following teams play in the states/province with the Cascades as their backbone
Tacoma Tide
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Yakima Reds
Abbotsford Mariners
Cascade Surge
Spokane Spiders
Seattle Wolves
Kitsap Pumas
Portland Timbers U-23
Victoria Highlanders

That's 13 teams total, all which could use training matches and some income. Televising matches in the local markets would generate a little bit of income for all involved teams. Spreading the tournament out between a total of 3 sites would also spread the wealth from attendance. Inviting two teams from outside of the region would create a 15 team competition. Teams that play in "summer" leagues could come from MLS, USL, or maybe even the A-League, J.League, Norway, Sweden, etc.

I would suggest a Group Stage of a single match round-robin format hosted at PGE, Swangard and Starfire. The winner of each Group stage and the best of the second place finishers would advance to the semi-finals in PGE and Swangard with the Cascadia Cup Final at Qwest. Switching the Residency and U-23 teams would mean that they wouldn't face their sponsor team unless they make the Semis, which would tend to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation for the USL-1 teams.

Here's a sample of the Group Stage
[table=2]

Whichever of the Timbers and Whitecaps finished at the top of their league would get to choose to hose the winner of the WA group or the #2 overall. This allows them the choice of hosting a better team and getting more money, or more likely making the Final.

There are some significant benefits for this tournament continuing the tradition of the Cascadia Cup. Each team would get four matches and after 9 days (matches basically every other day) the Semifinals could be hosted on a Sunday Night with the Final taking place the next Friday Night. This could all be done in late Feb / early March in order for the Final to take place on the last Friday before MLS Opening Kick. It would give a small revenue stream for all teams taking part, useful training and give the entire region a reason to watch domestic soccer when it would not compete with the NFL, MLB and the NBA and NHL would be in middle of their long seasons.

But it would also be a departure from a long tradition, and would be difficult for the varying teams and leagues to agree to it.
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It could be a fun pre-season tradition. I guess it would all depend on what’s best for you guys, the Whitecaps, and the Timbers.

by ben_vw on Dec 6, 2008 2:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

This is a question for the original founders of the cup. If they would decide to bring this to a vote of their various supporters in the three cities, then perhaps it could happen. I’d say it would be best to start a new tradition (in other words, use a new name) as the Cascadia Cup has grown to mean something other than what you have outlined here.

So, yes to trying such a tournament (but good luck getting all the clubs on the same page), but no to using the name of a Cup that has its own tradition and is still being contested beyond 2008 elsewhere.

by GOALSeattle.com on Dec 7, 2008 3:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

For a preseason tourney like this to exist it would take a lot of effort by several teams to make it happen.

But if a 3 Group tourney with Final were to occur like this, that would be the point to ask the supporters’ groups if they would be in favor of the transition in name.

I understand that as of now the Cascadia Cup means something different than a preseason deal, but it will lose that meaning every year that it is only contested between VBC and PDX without the Sounders.

So since it is going to change, why not change it for the better?

by Dave Clark on Dec 7, 2008 3:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It is a cup between Seattle, Vancouver and Portland only. Vancouver and Portland have decided to carry on with it out of respect to the tradition they have with each other, or perhaps it is out of laziness to start another trophy like the “Columbia Cup” which the NASL Timbers and Caps battled for back in the day.

I’d say these are the steps to a possible transition:

1. Contact all three clubs and the other NW clubs about playing in such a tournament. Argue the positives with them. Start a campaign to get other NW fans involved in contacting their clubs.

2. If by some miracle it come together, you’ll know in advance, and will then be able to contact the Cascadia Cup founders, of which I am one, about their willingness to use the name and trophy.

3. The cup founders will then go to their fan bases, and take a popular vote for what they want. If 2 out of 3 fan bases want to convert the Cascadia Cup to be awarded in the new tournament, then it will happen.

I think the chances of this are slim. First for the tournament, but then maybe a bit more likely for the name and trophy to be adopted out.

Vancouver and Portland should play meaningful league matches for the Cup until one or both get into MLS. If only one gets in, then we’ll have to canvas the fan groups of the two in MLS to see if they want to carry on the tradition. Pre-season matches are just not going to hack it. Yes, it is better to let it go dormant than to weaken it with ‘friendlies.’

by GOALSeattle.com on Dec 7, 2008 4:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

you have also expressed concern that SSFC might not take it seriously enough if it were a pre-season tournament.

There are three things that might mitigate it

1 – The players competing for the final spots on the roster wouldn’t be likely to make the roster if they play 90 minutes and lose to the Kitsap Pumas
2 – If regionally televised it would be quite embarrasing if the MLS club lost the competition for the best in region.
3 – The Carolina Challenge is also a pre-season invitational, but there is still a history of the winner of that tourney going onto regular season or playoff success.

It is notable that Vancouver is moving to a year-round training schedule so they would likely be the most interested in additional competitive play.

by Dave Clark on Dec 7, 2008 5:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ewww…motivated scrubs fighting for a rivalry cup that gives bragging rights for the whole region! Sign me up. ;)

by GOALSeattle.com on Dec 7, 2008 5:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

If MLS ever sits with a single table there will not be 3 PNW teams in the league. If they stop expansion at 24 there likely won’t be 3 teams from the PNW in the league.

by Dave Clark on Dec 7, 2008 6:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Then the cup will switch from PDX-Vancouver in season to Seattle and the other MLS club that makes it, in season. If the founders and fan bases want it that way.

Right now Seattle is rightly the ‘odd club out.’ One day it could be a different regional club sitting on the sidelines.

by GOALSeattle.com on Dec 7, 2008 7:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs