MLS moves to 34-game schedule in 2011 - no break for Gold Cup or other internationals

[nfitz]

MLS moves to 34-game schedule in 2011

With two new expansion clubs joining the fray in 2011, Major League Soccer will expand its regular season schedule to 34 games from the current 30-game season.

The 2011 campaign will kick off on Saturday, March 19, 2011, and the 34 matches will be played in the span of 32 weeks with the regular season coming to a close on October 22.

The league also announced that it will not break for the CONCACAF Gold Cup or any other international competitions next year. In 2010 there was a two-week hiatus in MLS league play during the World Cup group stage.
The 2011 postseason format, the date for MLS Cup 2011 and the format for the 2011 regular-season sechedule will be announced by MLS at a later date.

[TFCRegina]

On the plus side, next year the Whitecaps will be losing players to Gold Cup duties, and not just us. It should actually lead to fewer TFC players getting called up.

[MKR]

i fail to see a plus side.

[rocker]

I'm glad they are keeping the balanced schedule for at least one more year.

I want to know what this means for season's tickets. I hope they remove the friendlies and replace them with these league games (wasn't 1 friendly "worth" the value of two matches anyways?).

[SilverSamurai]

On the plus side, next year the Whitecaps will be losing players to Gold Cup duties, and not just us. It should actually lead to fewer TFC players getting called up.

Who?!
None of their current squad plays for the CMNT...

[Carts]

EPIC FAIL...

MLS must break for FIFA dates to grow...

This could be one of the league's / Garber's worst decisions...

Carts...

[Carts]

i fail to see a plus side.

MLSE sees one...

Two extra home games on our season ticket package...

So even before they raise the price, I gotta fork up an extra $200 - so my seats are over the $2000 mark...

Add in MLS Cup and price hike, and it'll be close to $2500...

Jesus!

Carts...

[rocker]

EPIC FAIL...

MLS must break for FIFA dates to grow...

This could be one of the league's / Garber's worst decisions...

Carts...

they may still break for FIFA dates... just not CONCACAF or international competitions. You can't stop MLS for 2-3 weeks because of full competitions. FIFA dates? sure.

[Carts]

they may still break for FIFA dates... just not CONCACAF or international competitions. You can't stop MLS for a week or 2 because of full competitions. FIFA dates? sure.

If they break for FIFA - I'll be happy...

But I'm guessing they would have announced this now...

I hope I am wrong in my thoughts...

THEY MUST BREAK FOR FIFA DATES!

Carts...

[AL-MO]

1 step forward, 2 steps back.

[Dave67]

I was already concerned I would not be able to afford my seats next year. Now they are adding 2 games? My ticket rep tells me prices are not going up but things are a bit confusing at the moment with possible options to opt in and out of friendlies and the Canadian Championship etc...

Apparently our renewals will be up sometime Friday - Monday so everything $ wise should be clear.

[DavydMT]

agreed with Carts and AL-MO, break for international dates is a MUST

[werewolf]

[Fort York Redcoat]

FF to next season: 1 ticket available for every TFC game played on a Canada home game or Gold cup match that's drivable...

Hey MLS

FUCK YOU!

[SilverSamurai]

they may still break for FIFA dates... just not CONCACAF or international competitions. You can't stop MLS for 2-3 weeks because of full competitions. FIFA dates? sure.

GC is a FIFA sanctioned tourney so clubs have to let players go, the same as they would on FIFA dates. Makes it even worst since the GC is the regional tourney that MLS is part of...

I don't see the problem. Why not just double up on games for 2-3 weeks, take a 2 week for the GC.
Then for the FIFA dates, play games on Wed instead of say a weekend. Players are let go on Thursday to join their clubs for the weekend.

[rocker]

GC is a FIFA sanctioned tourney so clubs have to let players go, the same as they would on FIFA dates. Makes it even worst since the GC is the regional tourney that MLS is part of...

I don't see the problem. Why not just double up on games for 2-3 weeks, take a 2 week for the GC.

Gold Cup is 21 days... 3 weeks... I just don't see how we can shut down a whole league for 3 weeks at a time of year when the conditions are the best for soccer. I'm sympathetic. But even shutting down for 2 weeks is not the same as not playing on every national team date.

It would have been easier with 16 teams and 30 league games. Now we've got 18 teams and 34 league games. I proposed ditching most friendlies as a solution. That would make things easier. But stopping for 3 weeks would just screw up everything.

Not to mention dealing with weeknight schedules if a team makes Champions League. you gotta leave weeknights open for those games, since Mexican teams (and others) need their weekends for their league games.

[guelphguy1965]

More games means more money for season tickets? Frakk I thought it was bad enough that we are going to pay 8% HST on tickets next year that we didn't have to pay before. Maybe I am wrong about HST being included for sporting events. Can someone prove me wrong about HST please? I could use 'some' good news :-(

[TFCRegina]

Who?!
None of their current squad plays for the CMNT...

Terry Dunfield hasn't featured in the CMNT?

They'll be bringing up Canadians and signing out of contract ones to their squad. They will lose players to the tournament. Mark my words.

[Oldtimer]

Hopefully TFC cuts out the friendly.

[Carts]

Hopefully TFC cuts out the friendly.

Since I don't see them losing the friendly, I wish they give us an option...

Season Tickets = MLS Games...

Opt in for Canadian Championship Package = discount on entire pack...

Friendly = further discount...

CONCACAF = further discount (even if we don't qualify, still get the % off the entire package as you're committing to purchase)...

Carts...

[Oldtimer]

More games means more money for season tickets? Frakk I thought it was bad enough that we are going to pay 8% HST on tickets next year that we didn't have to pay before. Maybe I am wrong about HST being included for sporting events. Can someone prove me wrong about HST please? I could use 'some' good news :-(

You're wrong. The 8% provincial portion of the HST replaced a 10% entertainment tax for sporting events. So its actually 2% less.

[nfitz]

More games means more money for season tickets?

If a couple of the game become opt-in, then you shouldn't have to pay more .. than the usual increase.

Frakk I thought it was bad enough that we are going to pay 8% HST on tickets next year that we didn't have to pay before. Maybe I am wrong about HST being included for sporting events. Can someone prove me wrong about HST please? I could use 'some' good news :-(

It's a Bad News, Good News thing.

Bad News. Yes, you now pay a 13% HST.

Good News. Previously you paid 5% GST and 10% PST on sports (and movie) tickets.

I guess all politicians are TFC fans ...

[Carts]

You're wrong. The 8% provincial portion of the HST replaced a 10% entertainment tax for sporting events. So its actually 2% less.

Nice!

Why didn't Dalton say that while getting grilled about the HST? We'd all have been happy!

Carts...

[SilverSamurai]

Gold Cup is 21 days... 3 weeks... I just don't see how we can shut down a whole league for 3 weeks at a time of year when the conditions are the best for soccer. I'm sympathetic. But even shutting down for 2 weeks is not the same as not playing on every national team date.

It would have been easier with 16 teams and 30 league games. Now we've got 18 teams and 34 league games. I proposed ditching most friendlies as a solution. That would make things easier. But stopping for 3 weeks would just screw up everything.

Not to mention dealing with weeknight schedules if a team makes Champions League. you gotta leave weeknights open for those games, since Mexican teams (and others) need their weekends for their league games.

I think the entire 3 weeks off (4 if you include the pre-training time) is unrealistic due to the different weather we have here.
They should at least stop during the group stage IMO.
I agree about scrapping friendlies though.

Terry Dunfield hasn't featured in the CMNT?

They'll be bringing up Canadians and signing out of contract ones to their squad. They will lose players to the tournament. Mark my words.

That would be a good thing. more canadian players getting international experience is never a bad thing.
The GC will likely be a more Euro based squad, but with some NA players too.

You're wrong. The 8% provincial portion of the HST replaced a 10% entertainment tax for sporting events. So its actually 2% less.

And who do you think is going to keep the 2%?

[nfitz]

And who do you think is going to keep the 2%?

In sales since July. MLSE.

In 100 years ... the profit margin for MLSE will be exactly what it always was.

Sure, in the short term, it doesn't all filter through ... but in the long term it will get there.

MLSE must also purchase a lot of things that they paid provincial sales tax on ... and now pay HST which they get refunded by the government, unlike PST. Slowly that should all filter through to, and drop prices another percent or two ...

I never understand these "it won't be passed on" statements. Because Ontario exists in some special place outside the laws of economics?

Okay ... sorry for the rant ... it's a pet peeve ... yes, I saw the smiley ...

[Fort York Redcoat]

MLS has said ad nauseum they created the league for development of the US squad. What about US support assholes? You shut down the league and you shit your pants that no one would watch Gold Cup give up and forget about their MLS side and watch Baseball? Pathetic. Grow a pair. Grow the bloody game. You'd do a damn sight better than spotlighting the leagues players late in the calendar year during playoffs vs a whole bunch of competition in the sports landscape.

[Brooker]

UGH...

[Keystone FC]

Of course they say there will be no breaks for NEXT YEAR, so there is a window of opprotunity for the teams to voice their displeasure (which they will) and I'm sure they will break for the 2014 WC. Other than that...we better get a good training staff that can keep our guys fresh for 34 matches...plus.

[gmacpheetfc]

Paul B says no friendlies next year
17 home matches
4 NCC matches
4 CCL matches all to be included in Season ticket pack

[Pachuco]

They took a free game last year which was the first round of the Champions League away from us this year AND increased ticket prices. MLSE fuck off and you can go ahead andnot raise ticket prices this year even with the added two games.