So, I entered procrastination mode at work and took a closer look at this.
The weekends in play are as follows.
- First Round MLS Playoffs (Oct 19-20) and very end of AL/NL Championship Series
- Second Round MLS Playoffs (Oct 26-27) and middle of World Series
The MLS Conference Championship is least 3 days after Game 7 of a World Series and MLS Cup is a week later.
First Round MLS Playoffs
The MLB Divisional Series end no later than Oct 10. By experience, we know that if the Yankees make the ALCS, they will move the NYCFC game that weekend whether or not they would be hosting games on or near the given MLS playoff date. The ALDS will end no later than Oct 10, so we would know at least 9 days in advance if there is a conflict.
The Mets are 2 games out of a Wild Card game. For there to be a conflict at Citi Field, the Mets would need to make the playoffs, win the Wild Card game and then win the divisional series. If the Mets do all that, they will
not be hosting any playoff or World Series games within 3 days of the MLS playoff game because the Mets will not have home field advantage in either series. Whether the Mets will be willing to host NYCFC in between the ALCS and World Series is anyone's guess (the Yankees would not).
The third choice is Hartford. UConn hosts a football game on 10/19. It's not clear whether that would allow an MLS Playoff game on 10/20. Yale, incidentally, does
not host a football game on 10/19, so the Yale Bowl in New Haven would be available.
It is worth noting that if we finish first in the East, we will not be playing a game on this date in any event.
Second Round MLS Playoffs
If the Yankees make the World Series, we will not be playing this game in Yankee Stadium. We will know whether they make the World Series no later than one week in advance.
If the Mets make the World Series, we will not be playing this game in CitiField.
The stadium in Hartford will be available that day. The stadium in New Haven will not.
Updating the above for the moronic playoff schedule that was just announced.
The weekends in play are as follows.
- First Round MLS Playoffs (Sat-Sun, Oct 19-20) and very end of AL/NL Championship Series
- Second Round MLS Playoffs (Wed-Thur, Oct 23-24) and the World Series
- MLS Conference Championship (Tue-Wed, Oct 29-30) and the end of the World Series
The MLS Cup is more than a week after the end of the World Series.
First Round MLS Playoffs
The MLB Divisional Series end no later than Oct 10. By experience, we know that if the Yankees make the ALCS, they will move the NYCFC game that weekend whether or not they would be hosting games on or near the given MLS playoff date. The ALDS will end no later than Oct 10, so we would know at least 9 days in advance if there is a conflict.
The Mets are 3 games out of a Wild Card game. For there to be a conflict at Citi Field, the Mets would need to make the playoffs, win the Wild Card game and then win the divisional series. If the Mets do all that, they will
not be hosting any playoff or World Series games within 3 days of the MLS playoff game because the Mets will not have home field advantage in either series. Whether the Mets will be willing to host NYCFC in between the ALCS and World Series is anyone's guess (the Yankees would not).
The third choice is Hartford. UConn hosts a football game on Saturday. It's not clear whether that would allow an MLS Playoff game on Sunday. Yale, incidentally, does
not host a football game on Saturday, so the Yale Bowl in New Haven would be available both days (although Yale just installed artificial turf). Columbia hosts a game on Saturday, but its turf stadium at the northern end of Manhattan (17,000 seats) would be available on Sunday.
It is worth noting that if we finish first in the East, we will not be playing a game in this round in any event.
Second Round MLS Playoffs
If the Yankees make the World Series, we will not be playing this game in Yankee Stadium. We won't know whether they make the World Series until fairly close to the playoff game - anywhere from 3 days to 8 days. The lower end might not be enough time to shift the venue, so it's possible the pull the trigger to move the venue before the ALCS is over.
If the Mets make the World Series, we will not be playing this game in CitiField; with the same analysis that applies to the Yankees above. It is worth noting that these dates conflict with the first four games of the World Series, so it doesn't matter whether either team is home or away.
Because this game is mid-week, the stadiums for UConn, Yale and Columbia would all be available.
MLS Conference Championships
If the Yankees make the World Series, it is possible for us to host a game on Wednesday, Oct 30 if the Yankees do not have home field advantage. The last game for the "visiting" team is Oct 27, which is 3 days before the playoff game. Of course, this would not leave any cushion in the event of a rain or other delay.
The same analysis holds for the Mets and Citi Field.
Because this game is mid-week, the stadiums for UConn, Yale and Columbia would all be available.
It is also possible that MLS would agree to push this playoff game by a day or two in order to wait for a stadium to become available. The league has done this in the past - Seattle is one example.