2012 MLS Schedule: Sounders Get First Week Bye, Will Visit Portland, Vancouver Twice
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 5, 2012 11:29 AM PST
in Sounders: News
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PrintLet's start with the good news about the 2012 MLS schedule: Despite earlier announcements that Seattle Sounders FC would be playing on March 10, the league office has thought better of it and gave them the weekend off (full schedule after jump). In fact, the Sounders and Toronto FC will get the weekend off in order to focus on their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals matches on March 7 and 14. While the LA Galaxy start their title defense on opening Saturday against Real Salt Lake. Interesting that the League has pushed MLS Cup back into December while also starting earlier for the longest season ever.
If you sensed that some bad news was coming, too, you were right. How bad it is probably depends on your interest in making sure the Cascadia Cup is as fair as possible. The Sounders will host just two matches against Cascadia Cup opponents at home while playing four on the road. It will be up to the Supporters Groups involved to figure out whether to count all games or not (both ways were used in unbalanced USL years).
That piece of information will, unfortunately, be the piece of news most are talking about today. It's also the one that is likely to come under the most criticism. For all the lip service MLS has paid to rivalries in recent years, it defies commonsense to set up arguably the league's biggest in such an unbalanced way. Assuming these scheduled perpetuate, this potentially sets up a situation where the Sounders will either be an advantage or disadvantage in the three-way rivalry every year. There does not appear to be any obvious reason why the league would choose to schedule it this way.
The rest of the schedule is a bit more predictable. The Sounders will visit the Montreal Impact, D.C. United, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution and Chicago Fire, while hosting the other five Eastern Conference teams. The Sounders will play their first three league games at home before playing their first road game at D.C. United on April 7th.
They will play two games at home against the Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids. They will travel twice to the Cascadia teams FC Dallas and Chivas USA. This means that against the best of the West (LAG, RSL and FCD) the Sounders are home 5 games and away 4 games. Without bundling travel Seattle will travel nearly 10,000 miles less in 2012 than 2011 for league games - 41,200 miles v 50,582.
The schedule also has a soft start with travel as four of the first five are at home. If Seattle advances in the CCL knockout rounds the home games in MLS play should help. They play on six Wednesdays, one Friday and end the season with a run of Sunday games in the fall on national TV.
Seattle continues to be featured on national television with 1 appearance on NBC (against Portland), 5 on ESPN , 1 on ESPN2 and 5 on NBCSports. No Sounders games start the season on Galavision. With Seattle in the CCL and how seriously they take the US Open Cup they will also be on FoxSoccer channel numerous times.
Interestingly FIFA dates were originally to be recognized
MLS initially did not schedule any games on FIFA fixture dates, but the League afforded the option, only by mutual club consent, of moving a game to one of those dates when other scheduling conflicts could not be resolved. Thus, a small number of games do occur on select FIFA fixture dates.
For the Sounders' complete schedule check the jump.
2012 Seattle Sounders FC Schedule
Day Date Opponent Time (PT) TV
Sat. March 17 Toronto FC 7:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Fri. March 23 Houston Dynamo 7:00 p.m. NBCSN
Sat. March 31 San Jose Earthquakes 7:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. April 7 at D.C. United 4:30 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. April 14 Colorado Rapids 1:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. April 28 at Chicago Fire 5:30 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Wed. May 2 L.A. Galaxy 7:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. May 5 Philadelphia Union 1:00 p.m. NBCSN
Wed. May 9 at FC Dallas 5:30 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. May 12 Real Salt Lake 7:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. May 19 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Wed. May 23 Columbus Crew 7:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. May 26 at Chivas USA 7:30 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. June 16 at Montreal Impact 4:30 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Wed. June 20 Sporting Kansas City 7:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sun. June 24 at Portland Timbers 2:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN Deportes
Sat. June 30 at New England Revolution 4:30 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Wed. July 4 at Real Salt Lake 7:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. July 7 Colorado Rapids 8:00 p.m. NBCSN
Sun. July 15 at New York Red Bulls 1:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN Deportes
Wed. July 18 Real Salt Lake 8:00 p.m. NBCSN
Sat. July 28 at Colorado Rapids 6:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sun. Aug. 5 L.A. Galaxy 7:00 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN Deportes
Sat. Aug. 11 at San Jose Earthquakes 7:30 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. Aug. 18 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. Aug. 25 at Chivas USA 7:30 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sun. Sept. 2 at FC Dallas 4:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. Sept. 8 Chivas USA TBD KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. Sept. 15 at Portland Timbers 12:30 p.m. NBC
Sun. Sept. 23 San Jose Earthquakes 7:00 p.m. KING-5 or KONG-6/16
Sat. Sept. 29 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6:00 p.m. NBCSN
Sun. October 7 Portland Timbers 6:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN Deportes
Sun. October 21 FC Dallas 6:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN Deportes
Sun. October 28 at L.A. Galaxy 6:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN Deportes
As last year the All Competitions schedule will exist in the side bar.
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Seriously
we play portland and vancouver twice on the road? Give me a break.
by gstommylee on Jan 5, 2012 11:32 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Alright 12 free points in the Cascadia games.
Nice going MLS. Everything coming up Sounders!
by Robert on Jan 5, 2012 11:34 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
That's okay, it'll make their crying as the Sounders hoist the Cascadia Cup all the sweeter.
by Postureduck on Jan 5, 2012 11:34 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Unless
MLS feels sorry for portland and wants to give them two tries to come out with a better tifo than seattle’s ;)
by gstommylee on Jan 5, 2012 11:36 AM PST up reply actions 10 recs
How could this fuck this up, seriously?
I’m starting to realize why people mock MLS, their decisions defy logic.
Go banana!
by Disco_Stew on Jan 5, 2012 11:37 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Yes it would have been preferable that all Cascadia teams had equal Cascadia home games
But this schedule is perfect for the Sounders this year. 4 away games in Cascadia is as little travel as possible.
I agree that the lack fo travel works out well
Hosting LAG and RSL twice should pay dividens, I mostly take issue with the lip service Garber provided about “preserving” the rivalry.
Go banana!
let's remember
Anyone who hears the Cascadia road game complaints can look at us and ask where we won Cascadia games last year. Not saying that will repeat, but we have no recent case to argue the schedule has the Sounders at a disadvantage.
Not saying its a disadvantage for the team, per say
We own Portland in their house and Vancouver is a fun trip, but there is a certain ammount that can be said for hosting Cascadia matches. It makes sense to have us host more than two games as we are in the middle of the region and have the largest stadium. It takes me back to the talk a few months ago about wanting more tickets allocated for Cascadia derbys. Portland has by far the smallest stadium, I dont see the sense in having them host each team twice.
Go banana!
I don't have the quote on hand
But I swear that I read somewhere that the games will be switched the next season. So next year we should have 4 home games against Cascadia.
What teams are in CCL could change that
a surprise expansion team. A move to balanced schedule. A reduction in games.
If there’s one thing you know about MLS it’s that nothing stays the same.
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They did announce this for the next two years
And since the financial interests of the clubs are at stake here (not just fairness in soccer), I think it would be very unlikely for the decision about 2013 to be reversed. Also, an expansion team announced at a way shorter than unusual notice is very unlikely.
But of course in the end nothing is guaranteed since it is the MLS.
Two matches is not exactly a sufficient sample size
The fact that we won both away matches last year does not mean that home field advantage suddenly does not apply anymore.
by AAAA on Jan 5, 2012 5:19 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
My initial reaction
was to be unhappy about the Cascadia games being mostly on the road. But seeing as we’ll be traveling a less and get more home games against the better teams (LAG, RSL) I’m actually pretty happy about that. We should expect to sweep the Whitecaps and Timbers no matter the location every year!
| Recessionproof since 2009 | Win all the trophies! | You will surely get the Karkand |
by 253Sounder on Jan 5, 2012 11:37 AM PST reply actions 8 recs
I agree
I value the Supporter Shield more than the Cascadia Cup and this schedule makes that much more likely. With the exception of playing at New York and playing in Dallas twice from a scheduling basis this could not have worked out better. If you are a fan of playoff seeding and total points this is a great schedule.
Especially with the MLS Cup Final location
being determined by points. Lets be the #1 team and win the MLS Cup at the Clink this year!
| Recessionproof since 2009 | Win all the trophies! | You will surely get the Karkand |
by 253Sounder on Jan 5, 2012 12:05 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
There is no more Supporters Shield. It is dead.
by Agent_J on Jan 5, 2012 6:37 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Worth realizing that
Supporterts Shield was started when the MLS schedule was unbalanced.
Indeed, there has been balanced schedules only in 2010 and 2011.
by AAAA on Jan 5, 2012 6:41 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
a fair reminder
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by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 5, 2012 7:49 PM PST up reply actions
Yes, but when we joined the league it was a balanced schedule plus two random games.
MUCH more representative of the “best team” than what we have now.
I agree
Indeed, 2009 was so close to balanced that some probably did not even realize it wasn’t.
But over the years the schedule was often much more unbalanced than that.
And I'm thankful (in a way) that the Sounders weren't around for that
Because I would have been kicking and screaming that a balanced schedule wasn’t coming fast enough. But even then, the old schedule addressed my real problem with the current schedule; you still saw every team, home and away.
I think I’d be more okay with it if the divisions were smaller, but with so much growth happening in this league I don’t like that I won’t be able to see the Sounders play at the new Houston stadium this year, nor will I get another look at them in Livestrong, nor the rave green in Montreal next year. And that I won’t see a fourth of the league in person. I found seeing every team to be part of the appeal of the league. Cascadia is the only instance where I truly care about “balance” (and they still muffed that up). Because of all of these reasons, I would have been more okay with a schedule that just had the old format (including only 34 games) with 19 teams. At least then they’re only missing two teams.
Hosting MLS Cup isn't important?
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same as me
I read “bad news” and thought “oh poh”, and then it was “wait a second!” Extra road games against weaker teams (and short road trips), and extra home games against stronger teams (and longer road trips), what is there to complain about?
Agree as well
Let’s be frank about this. Portland and Vancouver really aren’t rivals to us. It really isn’t even close. Their stadium’s are smaller and their fan base is smaller. They also aren’t run nearly as well as us.
LA is our true rival. They have the fan base, the money, and – let’s just say it – the title. I’d trade two home games against LA for two away games against Portland every year.
by Choskasoft on Jan 5, 2012 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
the world has not ended?
surprised we all survived the initial mushroom cloud. now lets see if we survive the radiation from this news.
Can you handle 4 Cascadia Away?
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This works great for me!
….two trips for the boy’s down here. I’m diggin’ that.
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Cascadia Cup format
Regarding the Cascadia Cup question – Sounders website claims:
With the change in the schedule format, it also changes the format for the Cascadia Cup standings. The winner of the Cascadia Cup will now be determined by the first home and road matches between each team.
Count 'em all
Let’s count all the matches. I don’t care if we’re at a disadvantage with 4 away. That’s still better than picking some games and leaving others out.
They all matter. The Cascadia Cup should reflect that.
"It's scintillating, it's sensational, it's Seattle Sounders FC soccer."
by LoiteringWithIntent on Jan 5, 2012 11:48 AM PST up reply actions 7 recs
Actually
i may think seeing having 4 rivalry games away as a good thing. Our first 2 rivalry games are on the road. With those 2 games taken care of the Cascadia Cup may end up being decided in Seattle.
Assuming
if that ends up being the agreed format among the support groups.
I hope it's not decided in Seattle
Drinking champagne out of the Cascadia Cup at a rest stop just south of the Canadian border was one of the highlights of 2011. Winning it in the 9/15 away game to Portland on NBC would be my hope.
They don't control that
I just got off the phone with ECS leadership and they, the TA and the Southsiders have not discussed a new format yet.
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by Dave Clark on Jan 5, 2012 11:55 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Any idea
why Gaschk would write that then?
| Recessionproof since 2009 | Win all the trophies! | You will surely get the Karkand |
I'm trying to figure that out
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Probably going on previous knowledge or gut instinct?
Is my guess. Timbers fans are already saying the FO has snubbed ECS. Highly doubt that
by chrisperry1983 on Jan 5, 2012 1:00 PM PST up reply actions
I think he got confused by what happend in 2007
when only the last home and last away matches between counted toward the Cascadia Cup. However, that was a very different situation, because the Sounders played four times against the Whitecaps but only three times against the Timbers, so obviously counting all matches was not an option. (Not sure how many matches Timbers and Whitecaps had between each other.)
The situation was caused by the folding of the Virginia Beach Mariners just before the season started, which forced the league to adjust the schedule in a hurry.
That game will matter
or it won’t. Supporters trophies are awarded by supporters not teams.
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It's still a rivalry game
And with it brings bragging rights and emotional ties. Regardless of what happens with the Cascadia cup that game will matter to both sets of fans. Rivalries are not determined by cups.
by Derek R on Jan 5, 2012 12:23 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I absolutely love this schedule from the point of a Sounders fan.
4 of our 5 Eastern Conference road games are against their weaker team. We get both RSL and LAG at home twice. Save the hardest game of the season for the very end. Accommodating our CCL schedule while also giving us a chance to get off to a red hot start.
Sure we have to travel twice to p0rtland and Vancouver but at the very least the former is a pair of automatic wins for SSFC. Also as a supporter it makes scoring away tickets easier while at the same time preserves the importance of the leg at Qwest.
The unbalanced schedule sucks donkey d but at the very least it’s probably as favorable for the SSFC as any club in the MLS. The inverse of the schedule in 2013 is going to be a massive hangover but 2012 is going to fucking rock.
by Robert on Jan 5, 2012 11:46 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Another plus is we if we make the finals of CCL we don't have a game on April 21st
We have a game on the 14th then the 28th. so it will let us focus on the final!
by Sandra_R on Jan 5, 2012 11:47 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
UW
I think the UW schedule is out. we might have had less dates due to that. three teams using field… have we heard anything about new turf at clink?
The new turf istall hasn't started yet
And yes the UW schedule is out
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Absolutely
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I'm very happy with this schedule
Having 4 away games against Cascadia teams will be great considering how much travel we might have outside of MLS games. On top of that we only have to go to Rio Tinto once and get the home advantage against LA twice.
That is a decent silver lining
Much shorter travel for us with those four away being 3 hours away or less, driving.
by chrisperry1983 on Jan 5, 2012 12:02 PM PST up reply actions
The regular season game at Real was great for the Sounders.
Just ignore that playoff anomaly.
by yuniform on Jan 5, 2012 5:04 PM PST via Android app up reply actions
The Cascadia games will even out
We get more at home in 2013. In the short term, I’ll take two at home vs. LAG. That team did not lose at the HDC last year and figures to be a force again.
by jayw913 on Jan 5, 2012 11:52 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Didn't
they already say what 2013 will look like.
No
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According to this they did say what 2013 is like
The press release that you quote in that article says that in the Western Conference “the home and away games will be reversed in 2013” and that “the East opponents each team faces at home and away will be reversed in 2013.”
I can't even remember what's been posted on my own site
I’ll be hanging my head in shame…
deeply in shame….
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2013 will be the exact opposite of 2012 as far as who we play at home and away.
2014 they could change and make it so the number of Cascadia games are even (3 home and 3 away). Also they may add a 20th team by then. Also they may scrap this schedule and make a whole different one by then.
Can you link where it's said anywhere what the 2013 schedule looks like?
I don’t recall it ever being said that if we play 1 home and 2 away at Portland, that in 2013 it would be 2 home and 1 away.
by SoundersForever on Jan 5, 2012 2:17 PM PST up reply actions
7th paragraph
“Western Conference clubs will play each other three times, totaling 24 matches. They will play four conference opponents twice at home and once away, and play the other four conference opponents twice away and once at home. The location arrangement will be reversed in 2013.”
I'll still bet against it actually happening
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I like the schedule
we can do it this year
by alexyepz on Jan 5, 2012 11:56 AM PST via mobile reply actions
April 28 - May 12
WTF?!? Five league matches in 14 days?!?!
4 of them against...
LA, Philly, FCD, RSL. WTF!??!
We
are in the group stage of CCL remember. MLS has to schedule it around those as well.
There is also a three weak break in May-June
No matches between Chivas away on 5/26 and Impact away on 6/16.
Right.
But my point was that such a break causes fixture congestion elsewhere. MLS used to not honor FIFA dates, and now that they do, the price is fixture congestion.
For the record, I think they are doing the right thing by not playing on FIFA dates.
Gotcha
I agree with you that it’s better for them to honor the FIFA dates and that it also creates some fixture congestion. There are about 34 calendar weeks in the schedule, which means about 68 windows for a game. Outside of league play, the Sounders are guaranteed 2 ‘11’-12 CCL games, 6 ‘12-’13 CCL games, 1 USOC game, plus a friendly with potentially 4 more ‘11-’12 CCL games and 4 more USOC games, for a total of up to 18 non-MLS games. The last two years the All-Star game has been on a CCL prelim date (which we actually wouldn’t have this year), so there goes another date, plus about 6 dates are gone to honor the FIFA dates. That only leaves about 43 dates for 34 league games, not a lot of wiggle room.
3 are at home though
It’s not all bad.
| Recessionproof since 2009 | Win all the trophies! | You will surely get the Karkand |
At least we have depth.
Definitely can’t afford an early-season slump this year.
How does our schedual compare to other teams?
Im at work and dont have time to look at all the scheduals.
Do the sounders have it better than say LA or RSL. What about NY.
Dave should we expect a strength of schedual article soon?
You the other contributors to this site are awesome. Thanks for your continued excellence.
Sidereal is working on strenght of schedule
Jeremiah and I tag teamed this story so he could do the national for www.sbnation.com/soccer
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Here's strength of schedule preview
Preview: Seattle has 6th easiest sched in 2012 by home/away weighted PPG. Easiest in the West. @sidereal w/ full post soon
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Can I just say?
I love the shared fanaticism of everyone poring over the schedule minutes after its released at noon on a weekday. It’s moments like this that make me love you other nut-jobs on this site.
The Seattle Sounders are just reDQulous
by Nathan Dye on Jan 5, 2012 12:19 PM PST reply actions 10 recs
Oh, we'll have more
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by Dave Clark on Jan 5, 2012 12:20 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
friendly match
when will we find out
by alexyepz on Jan 5, 2012 12:25 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Later
It probably won’t be determined until the Euro clubs know their non-league competitive committments. With Euro 2012 and the Olympics it’s a crowded summer.
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The biggest question is...
Who will get a hat trick against the Crew on May 23rd?
hmmm
montero will get it this year
by alexyepz on Jan 5, 2012 12:27 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
How
about 2 hats trick 1 by Montero and 1 by Neagle :P
El Presidente
He’s due
| Recessionproof since 2009 | Win all the trophies! | You will surely get the Karkand |
I'm surprised
that no one has said Fucito yet… ;-)
by Christopher David Maddux on Jan 5, 2012 7:22 PM PST up reply actions
Fucito doesn't score hattricks
They are undemocratic
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What is happening between May 26 and June 16th
World Cup qualifiers? That is 2 weeks off in a row.
could be a open cup
match around that time.
Here's the FIFA Calendar
http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/calendar/events.html
with two sets of international days and Euros during that time.
01-05 June International match days
08-12 June International match days
08 June – 01 July UEFA EURO 2012
and then Olympics
25 July – 09 August Olympic Football Tournaments London 2012 – Women England
26 July – 11 August Olympic Football Tournaments London 2012 – Men England
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That explains the 2 week gap.
Both weekends are FIFA dates.
Hmm
i wonder what Roger’s goal celebration will be during the 2 Portland away games?
So at first I thought fixing the Cascadia thing would be easy...
…but it’s a little tricky. We have to give up a home game to get, say, Portland an extra time at home (moving Portland/Seattle seems to make the most sense since they have 4 Cascadia games at home and we have 2.) That means we’d have to give up a game with either SJE, LAG, RSL, or COL, while at the same time that team would have to give up a home game with Portland. That would eliminate SJE (they only have one home game with Portland so can’t give that up), but would actually work with LAG, RSL, or COL.
So the easiest (fewest games impacted) switch then would be:
- Sounders host Portland on either 6/24 or 10/7
- Sounders away twice to LAG, RSL or COL
- Portland home twice with LAG, RSL, or COL (same team as above)
It is a little hard for me to see why the Cascadia GMs weren’t able (or willing) to arrange this, it seems like there are enough options that one combination should have worked. (By my count, just the above suggestion gives 24 different scenarios that would result in changing only 3 games and giving Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver each 3 home Cascadia games.)
Home field
I think MLS should have been accomidating to the Home team balance in Cascadia, but there are a LOT of factors in these things.
Most importantly to me is that we host the Dec 1 MLS Cup.
There are a lot of factors, but they'd only have to change 3 games to make it work
To me, it just seems a bit funny that the Cascadia GMs weren’t able to work something out with the league.
Depends on where your priorities are
We have less travel this way and play 2 of the strongest home teams in the league at our home twice. Yes we sacrifice the balance of the Cascadia Cup but to be honest its the lowest priority for me. The rivalry is still there with or without it.
We already will have tons of travel because of CCL and USOC, why intentionally add more?
Let's not get ahead of ourselves
USOC may or may not add travel to our schedule—we don’t know at this point.
One thing to consider is that this is in a sense a two-year schedule. If we play Portland and Vancouver both on the road next year, then presumably we play them both at home next year, which could mean more travel next year. And for all we know, we’ll have just as much CCL and USOC travel in 2013 as in 2012. It’s even possible that we’ll have more CCL/USOC travel in 2013. However good the schedule might be this year, it’s probably going to be that bad next year.
If the league made the simplest possible change to the schedule, we’d be trading a Portland trip for a trip to LAG, RSL, or COL. Given the elevation in RSL and COL, I think it would make a lot of sense to attempt to play just one of those teams twice on the road in any given year. Plus, if it was RSL, the flight to Salt Lake is two hours at most, hardly an arduous journey.
that is how it goes
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by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 5, 2012 1:29 PM PST up reply actions
All bets are off for 2014, though
Potentially there will be a 20th team in the league and MLS could decide to do just about anything with the schedule that year.
Next year
barring any change to MLS, which would be something really and truly different.
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by Dave Clark on Jan 5, 2012 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I get your point...
…but 2013 is on track to be the first year since 2006 with no expansion team. (And at this point it seems unlikely that someone would put a bid together quickly enough for next season.)
My most anticipated change?
“Damn, we screwed up keeping Dallas and Houston in separate confereces”
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by Dave Clark on Jan 5, 2012 1:39 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Sure, but that one seems so obvious...
…that they must have some reason for doing that and whatever that reason is, they can probably live with it for one more year. Of course, maybe the GMs don’t really care as much about having a fair schedule as I think.
once
team 20 is announced they’ll probably move Houston back
MLB just figured out that it was dumb
I expect MLS does the same. Although I bet the amount of travel Houston would have to do would go up a lot.
I figure that the MLS suggested that Houston move back West
And they said no. More travel and more difficult opposition.
They
may have no choice when team #20 comes unless the league decides to move someone else instead.
I think there's some merit to this
The West conference has a ton of teams in the Pacific time zone, which can be problematic for a team in the Central time zone. For Houston, being in the East means a lot more reasonable kick-off times for local fans to watch away games, which probably means higher ratings, which could turn into a bigger TV deal.
Claim a religious exemption
Go banana!
by Disco_Stew on Jan 5, 2012 1:06 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I can see how this schedule works pretty well for CCL
All three MLS teams get relief for the first series. Then the second series, I haven’t checked TFC or LAG, but the Sounders get no relief from the MLS schedule, but at least they would be playing an MLS opponent, presumably with the same handicap. (Which wouldn’t be the case for the Sounders vs. Santos.) We also have a bye week between the two CCL finals games. We’d have to play mostly reserves against Colorado at home the week before, but that’s a relatively small sacrifice given the value of a miscellaneous league game compared to a continental final.
LA plays opening weekend
Against Salt Lake
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
I missed that
That seems a bit odd. Maybe LA’s more worried about CCL group stage congestion. (Certainly it seems like they’d be more worried than TFC about that.)
Kinda weird that we never have a home game on 4th of July.
Would be great to have a fireworks show after the game.
At
least its not against LA this time around.
I actually miss that.
I visited my uncle each of the last two years down there, after I introduced him to Sounders in 2009.
Anti-favortism
This is the curse of having great fans in MLS. There is no need for MLS to waste any of the desirable home dates on us because we’ll show up in droves regardless. So we’ll rarely, if ever, get a home game on Memorial day weekend or on the 4th for example. Likewise, they have no problem scheduling our playoff games on weeknights or even on Halloween night(!).
That said, I do like having away games around holidays. It makes it easier for away fans to travel to them (a level of support most other teams dream about). Last season, I attended my first away game at RSL on Memorial day weekend. I’ll be going back this year for the 4th.
by K61 on Jan 6, 2012 7:20 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, I think it is better that way
It is nice to have longer weekends for away travel. And even if you do not travel to away matches, it gives an opportunity to use long weekends for non-football stuff. I assume many families like it that way.
I know my wife loves it
She goes to a third of the home games. Loves us having camping options.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
Also worth mentioning
is that it looks like 6 games with Arlo! :D
Sounders 'til I die
by SounderJunkie on Jan 5, 2012 1:19 PM PST reply actions 4 recs
This is the best news so far this off season
This schedule is amazing. Less travel, none east coast after July. Last year we took 2 points at home in Cascadia and 6 away… And best of all FOUR opportunities for away support with (fingers crossed) higher away quotas.
Section 120, Row G, Seat 13
by _zorbthegeek on Jan 5, 2012 1:33 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I didn't think of that
Instead of opening up more seats for traveling Sounders, they’ll just give us more games to invade!
I Like It
I’m going to go ahead and predict that we end up with the Supporter’s Shield this year.
Despite the lack of even home and away settings for Cascadia (which doesn’t worry me at all and is simply a slight annoyance – just look at our points in the Cascadia Cup this last year) the Sounders are set up for a special season . The league has worked to accommodate us with our CONCACAF schedule and lessened the travel for the team considerably for which I am thankful. No road games on the East Coast after mid July? Sounds good to me.
Some of the best home teams in the MLS coming to the Clink? Works for me too. Fun road trips around Cascadia? Certainly!
Less miles on travel is a plus, especially if we have to travel extensively for the Open Cup and Champions League.
Furthermore getting Arlo White and NBC for several matches should be great and the added exposure to the league this year leads me to believe it is going to be another banner year for the MLS. Having success in this, the first year with the NBC Sports Network and with multiple widely publicized competitions, will further position us as the club to beat and the standard bearer for the MLS.
I am very, very excited to see how far our Sounders can go this year and I love
Roast Duck is a delicacy.
by PurpleHeart on Jan 5, 2012 1:38 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Typical me.. forget to finish my last sentence ".. and I love how this year sets up for us."
Roast Duck is a delicacy.
Very excited for the season
But with a potential nightmare road schedule in 2013 in our conference, we need to take em all this year!
Nos audietis in somniis, Nos audietis in altum: You will hear us!
Arlo
Arlo on bigtime national NBC broadcast down in Portland should be must-see TV.
Solution: Award Cascadia Cup every 2 years
Ultimately, schedules are balanced at the end of the 2nd year of this scheduling format (3 home/ 3 away) . So then why not just count points cumulative from two seasons of play? Every game counts and rivalries would be heighten even more during “Cup Years” (ala Election Years, World Cup Year, etc.)
The problem with this is that
we do not know for sure that they will reverse the home and away designations for 2013. They said they would, but this is MLS after all.
Summer Schedule
One thing I’m not liking as much is the June, July, August, September schedule is 7 home and 11 away. Guess I’ll get my fill of Seattle Sunshine in the early months…
I don't mind that
It’s nice to have some summer weekends free for camping and hiking in the beautiful PNW and I seem to always wind up with 2-3 weddings to travel to every summer.
I'm just remembering
How wet I was after the Portland game last year. I like my free weekends in the summer as well, but I also like wearing my short sleeve Sounders jersey vs. peeling off three drenched layers.
Anyone think there's any chance that ABC (ESPN) combats NBC next year with a few network games of its own?
Imagine, a Saturday day game on ABC followed by Sunday night soccer on NBC.
from a visiting fan
Do you guys ever have a fireworks game? Rapids play in Seattle on the 7th of July, if yes that’d be great to know. Thanks Sounders!
by themilll83denver on Jan 5, 2012 8:46 PM PST reply actions
Haven't had one yet
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
May 24 to Sept 7 - 5 home games out of 15!!!
We got screwed. 5 home games through the whole summer. 10 games before May 15 or after Sept 15. 5 of those games in Mar and Oct. Our schedule is completely front and back loaded. Team is on the road ALL SUMMER. We barely get to see our team play during 3 -1/2 of the nicest months of the year. What are we supposed to do all summer – go see the Mariners play??!!
Home CCL dates, US Open Cup matches, reserve matches...
There’s still a lot for a Sounders fan to watch.
@ritual605
by Greg Pirkl Lives on Jan 5, 2012 9:36 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
I guess that is one way of looking at it...
Another is that we have a much easier travel schedule and have one of the easier schedules in the Western Conference.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 5, 2012 9:40 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Want more warm summer nights at the pitch
Yeah, I’ll go to CCF and whatever Friendly they throw in, but I’d like a few more league games to get me through the summer. I can handle it, but my wife doesn’t like freezing her ass off in March. Sounders are the best outdoor summer sports entertainment in Seattle – we just don’t get much of it this year.
by seabryan on Jan 5, 2012 11:00 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Unfortunately...
We aren’t going to have the perfect schedule. No one is. To pick nits at what seems to be one of the more preferable schedules from a competitive standpoint really just makes us look petty.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 6, 2012 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
Freezing your ass off is relative
At least there won’t be snow on the ground in Seattle this March, which many MLS cities won’t be able to claim.
Don't speak too soon
We’ve certainly had snow on the ground in March before.
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Jan 6, 2012 11:27 PM PST up reply actions
Summer is where the FIFA dates are
For at least four weeks of the summer, the team’s neither at home nor on the road.
There only two weekends that have FIFA dates in the summer
In addition, there is a FIFA date in October.
Starting season on St. Patty's Day!! Love it, wearing the green works out perfectly.
That being said, the countdown is on to March 7th. Can’t wait!
Why is Huston not switching back to the West, which they'll likely have to do whenever they add the 20th team anyway?
If this new schedule was intended to emphasize rivalries, it doesn’t make sense for Dallas and Huston to only play once, instead of three times.
The league is the clubs
I don’t know how it works in the MLS, but you’d think changes like this would need an unanimous decision.
At the very least my understanding is that decisions like these are made by a body (the name escapes me) where all the clubs are represented. The idea that Don Garber makes these decisions is just false.
competition committee
I’m pretty sure that’s who makes the decision. We’ve asked about this before and the response we get is usually along the lines of “well, who says we wouldn’t have to change it again when team No. 20 comes?” Even though everyone expects team No. 20 to be in the East, they don’t seem to be in any rush to move Houston back before that becomes official. I don’t know what other motivations are at play there, but … I don’t expect it to change until a 20th team is added.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 7, 2012 8:46 AM PST up reply actions
I thought Competition Committee prepares the proposals and does not have representatives from all clubs
And then they are approved by another body. that has representation from all clubs.
But this is a very vague recollection of something I read. I guess I’m putting it out here in case somebody can confirm that.
Anyway, the Competition Committee consists of Clark Hunt, Sunil Gulati, Greg Kerfoot, Adrian Hanauer, Andrew Hauptman, Todd Durbin and Nelson Rodriguez (according to this Ives article http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2011/11/mls-commissioner-don-garber.html). You’d think that a group with such a limited representation would not have the final say.
- Clark Hunt is the Chairman of Hunt Sports Group and thereby represents FC Dallas and Columbus Crew.
- Sunil Gulatio of course the President of USSF.
- Greg Kerfoot is owner of the Whitecaps.
- Adrian Hanauer we all know.
- Andrew Hauptman is owner of Andell Holdings, which is behind Chicago Fire.
- Todd Durbin is the MLS Executive Vice President of Player Relations and Competition.
- Nelson Rodriguez is the MLS Executive Vice President of Competition, Technical and Game Operations
Only 5 clubs represented directly.
So if the Supporters Shield is gone
does that CCL spot just go to the team with the most points?
Welcome to the Sound Pound...
The Supporters' Shield is not gone
People are just saying it’s less important. Nothing is really changing except the perception.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 6, 2012 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
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