Tuscan Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Has anyone emailed or called either the Islanders' or Whitecaps' front offices to ask for an explanation from their end? This is my biggest question: Why is the USL fighting against transparency to the fans of the league?? I just don't understand this approach by then league, to black the fans out of these matters. They deserve to know what is going on, if it is a problem with their club's management then they deserve to be able to question the management. This game is still about the fans to some degree, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 When do tickets go on sale and will they add a few thousand bleacher seats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael McColl1402635582 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 That USL email says nothing in a very long winded way. I'm sure FSW had a big say in this. If I was a PR fan I'd be fuming as well. Simple solutions would be neural venue (where no one would turn up!) or two legged final. Why they're only now starting to think of doing this beggars belief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Problem is this sets a bad precedent. You fight like hell all season long to get the best record so you can host a playoff game. Same thing with the BC Lions. They wanna finish First to host the Western Final at BC Place and get 55,000 again. But with this, you can fight like hell to get the best record over the course of the season and get the most wins you can, and then the League can step in and take home field advantage away from you? Total bushleague. The sooner the Whitecaps graduate to MLS the more respect they'll get from local media also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calgary Boomer Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I also found it interesting that all 4 teams still submitted bids to host the final. If the first place rule was put in 2 years ago to reward teams for finishing first, then why would the other 3 semi finalists need to submit bids? It seems pretty clear though, that the championship will eventually be a two legged affair, and this year's debacle will make it a reality a lot faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 There's no confirmation on the Whitecaps website about the Final being here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I get the distinct feeling this is about $$$ and Kerfoot better able to throw more money on the table than Serralta. And if it is the case, in the future they should just call a spade a spade and save people the hassle of competing and let them know the host is whoever contributes to their employee bonus plans better. And if you read his email, you'll realize Tim Holt is lurking here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Boy Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Bill There's no confirmation on the Whitecaps website about the Final being here.... Its in the Province & Sun, Bill...so it must be true! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 There is something fundamentally wrong with how this is playing out. You cannot fight like hell all year to get the best record and have the home game taken away from you for administrative reasons. That doesn't even happen in the CFL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moncho Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Bill There is something fundamentally wrong with how this is playing out. You cannot fight like hell all year to get the best record and have the home game taken away from you for administrative reasons. That doesn't even happen in the CFL This league is not that serious. You guys do well in trying to play elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jeffery S. Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 What pisses me off is that this becomes an excuse for bad blood from Puerto Rico, they come with a chip on their shoulder, will give them an excuse if we win, even totally fairly by three goals, and may even be reason for a ref to come along and try to even things out in their favour. I know it is way better for Caps to play at home and think it will be an exciting game, but if the league were more honest about why it is in Vancouver (we have thrown out the rule and have decided to go on the quality of each bid, for example) I think most would feel better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmcmurph Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Bill There's no confirmation on the Whitecaps website about the Final being here.... Strange because it was there last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I think they are negotiating with BC Place to move the Final into the dome. If they can change the venue so easily, they can change the date. Move the game to Saturday. Then they can do the Home and Interior Show Move In after. http://www.bcplacestadium/calendar.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moncho Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S. What pisses me off is that this becomes an excuse for bad blood from Puerto Rico, they come with a chip on their shoulder, will give them an excuse if we win, even totally fairly by three goals, and may even be reason for a ref to come along and try to even things out in their favour. I know it is way better for Caps to play at home and think it will be an exciting game, but if the league were more honest about why it is in Vancouver (we have thrown out the rule and have decided to go on the quality of each bid, for example) I think most would feel better. I, and most of Islanders fans I assume, have no bad blood towards Vancouver, but are of course pissed at the league bosses, or whoever the "culprits" are. I think we should have a good match between these two sides, and I hope the refereeing is up to par. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 sorry, here is the BC Place calendar. It'd be tight but I think they could squeeze in the game Saturday... http://www.bcplacestadium.com/calendar/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piltdownman Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 The reason they moved the game to Sunday from Saturday was that FOX couldn't get the broadcast truck on Saturday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 All 4 semi's won by the home team. Home teams scored 8, visitors 0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboAl Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Well, it looks like it's too late for anyone to do anything; the Caps are selling tickets. Just curious, has there been any reaction (official or otherwise) from the Islanders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 smart strategy by the Caps to start selling tickets immediately; puts the league in a position where there's no way to go back to Puerto Rico now... we've got Puerto Rico right where we want them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 quote:Originally posted by tmcmurph "Finally, our decision to award the hosting rights for this event to the Vancouver Whitecaps is in no way, shape or form a slight on Puerto Rico." Pure BS! It is the biggest "slight" you can do to a team is to give home field to their competition. Welcome to the minor leagues Puerto Rico! I'll be so glad when the Caps and Impact are out of this league. If there is one thing that makes the MLS look good it is the USL and that is hard to do! I strongly disagree with Puerto Rico losing the home advantage for the final. That being said everyone claiming that USL is run in an amateur way and MLS is not is forgetting some of the wonderful decisions/policies of the MLS: -allowing (and refusing their request to reschedule) TFC to play a league game while missing 9 regulars due to international commitments -paying many of its players a below USL/below McDonald's level salary and significantly bringing down the playing level of the league -removing an already very lax Canadian quota on the behest of a incompetent manager who made minimal effort to abide by it (and who has not put together a superior team under the new rules) -allowing TFC fans to throw stuff on the field for over a year which naturally this year led to the logical consequence of dangerous objects being thrown on the field -allowing teams to play in stadiums with football lines on the field -not being able so far in Champions League play to book one victory despite having four teams entered in the competition I am sure I could think of a lot more minor league things about MLS given a bit more time, those are just the ones of the top of my head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael McColl1402635582 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 ^^^^^^ Can't argue on any of those points Grizzly It's all this stuff that make it so difficult to get proper media recognition and coverage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmcmurph Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 quote:Originally posted by GoF ^^^^^^ Can't argue on any of those points Grizzly It's all this stuff that make it so difficult to get proper media recognition and coverage Ditto but giving the home field away to the second place team is a new low in my world. I love the Caps but this would make me livid if it was the other way around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael McColl1402635582 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Taking my Caps hat and scarf off for a minute. It's a kick in the teeth for Puerto Rico as a club and their fans. Why admit them to the League in the first place if there are problems with them ever hosting something? Also, if it was a two legged affair then they would be hosting one leg of it obviously. So what's the difference between that and hosting the whole shebang? That said, so pleased it's in Van as I would be gutted not to be there for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Boy Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Is it the furthest distance between two teams in the same league anywhere or in any sport in the world? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piltdownman Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I think Russian basketball has that honour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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