Why can’t they just play one less game and balance the schedule? Teams competing for the same playoff spots should play the same schedule.
2018 Schedule
- Thread starter Jon
- Start date
Playing one less game will mean some teams get one less home game. Home games are a huge advantage because of travel.
By the way, I think the imbalance between East and West may lead to some scheduling quirks that we are not anticipating.
In the East, to get to 34 games, everyone plays other EC teams twice and the WC teams once, with a third game against two other EC teams. Except that the odd number of teams means at least one team has to play its extra game against a WC team. This year, it was Atlanta getting an extra game with Minnesota.
In the West, to get to 34 games, each team plays other WC teams twice and the EC teams once, with a third game against one other team. Except that with 12 conference games, the extra game pairs off easily, and there is nobody free to play the extra game against an EC team. In other words, this year Minnesota won’t have an extra game free to play Atlanta.
Now, I am sure there is a way around this, but I haven’t noodled on it long enough to figure out the alternatives. I suspect we may go to an odd number of games this year, or otherwise change things in ways that might surprise people.
In the East, to get to 34 games, everyone plays other EC teams twice and the WC teams once, with a third game against two other EC teams. Except that the odd number of teams means at least one team has to play its extra game against a WC team. This year, it was Atlanta getting an extra game with Minnesota.
In the West, to get to 34 games, each team plays other WC teams twice and the EC teams once, with a third game against one other team. Except that with 12 conference games, the extra game pairs off easily, and there is nobody free to play the extra game against an EC team. In other words, this year Minnesota won’t have an extra game free to play Atlanta.
Now, I am sure there is a way around this, but I haven’t noodled on it long enough to figure out the alternatives. I suspect we may go to an odd number of games this year, or otherwise change things in ways that might surprise people.
I've wondered for a while whether MLS goes to 36 games at some point. Kind of feels inevitable with how many teams are in the league now. Maybe they do give us two extra games next season.
But didn't they already charge us for season tickets this for next year under a 17 game plan? I guess they can always tack on the price on another match...
An MLS team currently plays a minimum of 34 MLS games and a maximum of 40 MLS games (Knockout Round, 2 Leg Conference Semifinal, 2 Leg Conference Final, MLS Cup).
Then you have to add in US Open Cup matches and possibly even CONCACAF Champions League matches within a calendar year.
I could see an expansion of regular season games, if the playoff schedule in reduced in number of games.
I think this works and is a likely solution. 2 teams in the East play each other 4 times, and the other 9 East team 2x. Then the remaining 9 East teams play 3 games against 2 of the 9, and 2 games against the other 7 and against the first 2. It works out.
And my guess would be Atlanta/Orlando for the 4 games.
I don’t think they want to sacrafice NJ vs DC. And if that’s the case NJ can’t play us 4 times.
Toronto v Montreal is an interesting option.
What
adam said. Red Bulls/Metrostars and DC is the oldest rivalry in the league, and the biggest in the East. I would be extraordinarily shocked if they dropped it. Toronto Montreal makes some sense, but I doubt they want to wall off the Canadian teams like that. Would rather pretend they have rivalries against Chicago and New England. Atlanta and Orlando is already real and big and neither has a real second rival. So that’s my guess but that’s all it is.
How would you rank the best away days cities?
I'm thinking of going on some trips next season. I'd think Seattle, Portland, Orlando, and Atlanta are the top of the list.
I'm thinking of going on some trips next season. I'd think Seattle, Portland, Orlando, and Atlanta are the top of the list.
Orlando is a no-brainer if you have kids and hate money enough to go to Disney during the trip. I'll take my family to a game down there when the kids are older.
After that, it comes down mostly to what clubs provide the best experience. Portland, Atlanta, Seattle certainly make that list for sure.
I'd like to make a trip out to LA when we play one of them, and the other has a home match the day before or after. Great chance to see two MLS stadiums at once, neither of which i'd probably ever go see on its own.
Not to be a dick, but I have some friends down in Austin; and let's face it, the Crew are moving, so I think depending on the stadium, that may be a worthwhile trip in the future.
Miami is such a undesirable place to go, so I probably won't ever end up there again, unless they turn out like the Dolphins fans and get run out of their stadium every time we come to town!
Off the top of my head,
Fun: Portland, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto
Eh: Houston, Vancouver, Colorado
Ok with skipping in the future: Orlando, Columbus, LA, NE, Chicago
Haven’t visited MB in Atlanta and of course Audi in DC, and we haven’t played in Minnesota so can’t comment on those.
Fun: Portland, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto
Eh: Houston, Vancouver, Colorado
Ok with skipping in the future: Orlando, Columbus, LA, NE, Chicago
Haven’t visited MB in Atlanta and of course Audi in DC, and we haven’t played in Minnesota so can’t comment on those.
I liked Vancouver because I was blown away by the quality of the amenities in the stadium. It's also in a lovely location and I'm very partial to Vancouver overall. Agree in the sense that the actual match experience is a little eerie. Feels like there is a lot of acoustic dampening there.
One of my closest friends lives across the road from Saputo so I really need to get to a Montreal match.
I concur with most recommendations, but will add that there really isn't such a thing as a bad away day if you are down to get sloppy and sing with a bunch of nutters. And any shitty stadium has the potential to be the backdrop of your most treasured memories. RFK is a total shithole but I still remember the goal that Khiry scored there with his nipple.
Away Days I've Attended:
Red Bull, Orlando, Philly, Colorado, Portland.
Portland was my favorite of the cities/stadiums I've been to. Lots of events going on around the city, lots of breweries, pubs, and restaurants. Stadium is right in the middle of the city, easy to get to. Great food and beer options, incredible atmosphere, great people.
Colorado was interesting. Awesome experience to go, especially if you enjoy hiking and nature. Rocky Mountain National Park was incredibly beautiful. However, it is 2.5 hours away from the main city. The city itself is as if a bunch of hippies were given a ton of money to build a civilization in the middle of nowhere. Airport is also an experience, re: Nazi wall murals.
Orlando was decent, not amazing. If you want to go to Disney and Universal, then it's worth it. City/nightlife is okay, not too much going on in Florida. If a nature person, I'd recommend going on an air-boat tour over swamps and such (Kissimmee area). Got to see a few gators, which was sweet.
Philly is Philly. Red Bull is Jersey. No need to explain the situations there.
For whatever reason I still haven't been to a Revs or DCU game. Would've been interesting to go to one and shake in the bleachers, but maybe I'll head down and see the new arena. Would like to go to Seattle, Atlanta, and maybe Dallas or Houston over the next few years.
Red Bull, Orlando, Philly, Colorado, Portland.
Portland was my favorite of the cities/stadiums I've been to. Lots of events going on around the city, lots of breweries, pubs, and restaurants. Stadium is right in the middle of the city, easy to get to. Great food and beer options, incredible atmosphere, great people.
Colorado was interesting. Awesome experience to go, especially if you enjoy hiking and nature. Rocky Mountain National Park was incredibly beautiful. However, it is 2.5 hours away from the main city. The city itself is as if a bunch of hippies were given a ton of money to build a civilization in the middle of nowhere. Airport is also an experience, re: Nazi wall murals.
Orlando was decent, not amazing. If you want to go to Disney and Universal, then it's worth it. City/nightlife is okay, not too much going on in Florida. If a nature person, I'd recommend going on an air-boat tour over swamps and such (Kissimmee area). Got to see a few gators, which was sweet.
Philly is Philly. Red Bull is Jersey. No need to explain the situations there.
For whatever reason I still haven't been to a Revs or DCU game. Would've been interesting to go to one and shake in the bleachers, but maybe I'll head down and see the new arena. Would like to go to Seattle, Atlanta, and maybe Dallas or Houston over the next few years.
If possible I'd like to go to Portland, Seattle, and SKC in 2018. As well as DC and Orlando.
Portland and Seattle are funky places. Not for everyone. Great atmospheres on game day
I personally dislike Kansas City but the gameday atmosphere is the best I've been to. The downtown of KC is very manufactured. I don't like it at all and it's not a place worth visiting unless you really have to be there. The stadium is out of the way too so get a rental car
Orlando's stadium is a little out of the way as well. It's on the fringes of the worst neighborhood in Orlando. It's nowhere near Disney, but you could sneak a Disney trip out of it of course. The stadium is closer to downtown, but not near it all like the basketball arena is
Gillette is the worst place to go. Good luck getting there. It took me 3 hours to go about 20 miles for US-Haiti a couple of summers ago. And the place is dead. It's like a glorified outdoor mall next to a football stadium. No need to visit
Montreal is a great place to visit - again, the stadium isn't near it all. Don't go until after April and don't go after September. It's brutal. Great place to go and a cool little stadium
I will absolutely visit Audi Field in DC next Summer when it opens. DC is a great city.
Haven't been to MB Stadium yet, but Atlanta is huge. Tons to do - lots of eclectic neighborhoods with history.
Houston is a dump of a city. Don't bother going there either if you don't have to. The stadium is really cool too, and from the ones I have seen, may be the most beautiful architecturally speaking of all the MLS stadiums.
LA is LA, but the Galaxy don't play in LA. Looking forward to checking out the new LAFC stadium.
I've been to Denver. It's nowhere near downtown either. You'll need a car for that one or a very expensive uber ride. It's also not worth visiting.
I personally dislike Kansas City but the gameday atmosphere is the best I've been to. The downtown of KC is very manufactured. I don't like it at all and it's not a place worth visiting unless you really have to be there. The stadium is out of the way too so get a rental car
Orlando's stadium is a little out of the way as well. It's on the fringes of the worst neighborhood in Orlando. It's nowhere near Disney, but you could sneak a Disney trip out of it of course. The stadium is closer to downtown, but not near it all like the basketball arena is
Gillette is the worst place to go. Good luck getting there. It took me 3 hours to go about 20 miles for US-Haiti a couple of summers ago. And the place is dead. It's like a glorified outdoor mall next to a football stadium. No need to visit
Montreal is a great place to visit - again, the stadium isn't near it all. Don't go until after April and don't go after September. It's brutal. Great place to go and a cool little stadium
I will absolutely visit Audi Field in DC next Summer when it opens. DC is a great city.
Haven't been to MB Stadium yet, but Atlanta is huge. Tons to do - lots of eclectic neighborhoods with history.
Houston is a dump of a city. Don't bother going there either if you don't have to. The stadium is really cool too, and from the ones I have seen, may be the most beautiful architecturally speaking of all the MLS stadiums.
LA is LA, but the Galaxy don't play in LA. Looking forward to checking out the new LAFC stadium.
I've been to Denver. It's nowhere near downtown either. You'll need a car for that one or a very expensive uber ride. It's also not worth visiting.
That's cool, I never heard of SKC being a good atmosphere. Is it the fans or the architecture?
Fans mostly. Great set up. Beautiful stadium though.
I hate the city though. Not as bad as Omaha, but it's bad
LA is a good place to be in February. 
Edit: someone remind me to give you all the date tomorrow because I'll forget about this post.
Edit: someone remind me to give you all the date tomorrow because I'll forget about this post.
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