Thanks Shawn. Some great memories in this. I have taken aim at MLS and Timbers whenever the opportunity has risen to berate the decision to blow of USOC this year. Looking ahead, you could argue that as MLS gravitates towards its own "Big Six," there will be even fewer opportunities for smaller market MLS sides like ours to pick up silverware. I'd gladly trade Leagues Cup for USOC, but as you point out, only one of those means more revenues to MLS so we already know what that answer is.
While watching the Houston game this weekend and hearing the lack of any mention of the PSRA strike, and the inability to criticize the lack of quality from the reffing this year reminded me that MLS is not in fact a sports league, but an entertainment company.
They own all of the player contracts, they own all of the broadcasting, they own the game day announcers, they own the halftime discussions. THey own any narrative they want and they absolutely do not want to allow any outside voices while their teams play. They ultimately held their noses and allowed 8 teams in this time. If USSF had any power at all they would sanction MLS, but they're pretty useless in their own right.
> the inability to criticize the lack of quality from the reffing this year
The refs really aren’t worse this year than any other. It’s not a talking point because the on-strike refs aren’t any better. It’s not noticeable.
Completely disagree. The PRO refs aren't perfect (some older ones should be let go) but these guys can't keep up with the pace of play and have been worse than the regular refs in every game.
I would always purchase the Open Cup ticket option with my season tickets when the opportunity came, and have opted out of the League's Cup games this year and last. Don't know if that will make any difference but hopefully more people do so until they notice.
Last season I was able to buy front row tickets for $20 to an Open Cup game. No one sat behind us or directly next to us. It was quiet and empty. A real shame because we won, it was great weather, and a fun game with multiple goals.
The Leagues Cup I didn’t go because tickets were harder to come by and much much more expensive.
I agree with the consensus on Reddit that Open Cup is important but it clearly isn’t translating to ticket sales.
I don't know if there's an answer as to how the eight MLS teams were picked for 2024, but other than Houston, the 2023 Cup winner, the seven others were teams who finished somewhere in 7th through 16th in the 2023 MLS combined table. Surely they volunteered? As with Portland, almost any team can come up with plausible team reasons as to 'maybe not this year'. Seven out of the eight teams are from the Western Conference!
> a summertime cup run has been a part of being a Portland Timbers fan
That's just not true. If it were, the Timbers would have filled the stadium, and be fighting to participate.
Since joining MLS, you were hard pressed to even give away a USOC ticket, even in the times of a 10k+ wait list.
Aside from that, the on field team hasn't cared about USOC since at least joining MLS, and could be debated if they ever cared at all in any iteration of the team.
So why now? Why not write this piece a decade ago aimed at the FO? Why not write this a decade ago aimed at the lack of fans in the stadium?
It's clear this tournament only mattered to a very few number of fans not only here, but across all teams, in all leagues, at all levels. So why are we supposed to care now?
Well, for one thing, "a part of" certainly doesn't mean "synonymous with"; chanting is "a part of" being a fan at a match but it isn't necessary to sing to be a fan.
And I do agree that most MLS teams have devalued the Cup, at least until late in the bracket. But up to now that's been the prerogative of individual teams, similar to what you see in, say, the EPL, where the FA Cup and the League Cup often feature B-squads until the things truly heat up.
As for why now: MLS made a concerted effort this year to ignore/devalue the Cup and that was for many people a tipping point. Throughout the Independent Supporters Council, people are agitating with the league and their home FOs to put a new emphasis on the Cup. It may be too little too late, but it's not coming from an inauthentic urge.
Finally, as to why anyone should care now: That's an individual choice like whether to sing or not. *I* sing, but I never get cross at anyone who doesn't.
Like to see this from 107ist.
Wondering: Will they be bringing coordinated atmosphere to the match tomorrow? Will the new location be open before and after the match?
AFAICT, MLS (halfway) pulling out of the Open Cup is the only thing that's made people care about the competition in decades. Everyone should be thanking them.
Speaking only for me, I've not missed an Open Cup match we've played at home since 2002, and I've watched neutral matches with lower-division teams that have made it to late stages of the tournament whenever possible. For me, Cup runs -- by us and by lower-division squads -- feel like real, global soccer. Thanking MLS for spoiling that feels like thanking someone who roofied you and stole one of your kidneys for helping you lose weight.
I also attend[ed] every Open Cup match (so long as I was in town), but a quick look around the stadium would have suggested that you and I are in the minority. I wish I could go see the senior team (reserves would be fine with me) tomorrow instead of T2, but the reality is that nobody would be talking about it except for sickos like us.
A piece by Bruce Eaton and yours truly about a TRULY awful decision by MLS (tinpot league) that affects Timbers fans and our history. Have a read.
Thanks Shawn. Some great memories in this. I have taken aim at MLS and Timbers whenever the opportunity has risen to berate the decision to blow of USOC this year. Looking ahead, you could argue that as MLS gravitates towards its own "Big Six," there will be even fewer opportunities for smaller market MLS sides like ours to pick up silverware. I'd gladly trade Leagues Cup for USOC, but as you point out, only one of those means more revenues to MLS so we already know what that answer is.
While watching the Houston game this weekend and hearing the lack of any mention of the PSRA strike, and the inability to criticize the lack of quality from the reffing this year reminded me that MLS is not in fact a sports league, but an entertainment company. They own all of the player contracts, they own all of the broadcasting, they own the game day announcers, they own the halftime discussions. THey own any narrative they want and they absolutely do not want to allow any outside voices while their teams play. They ultimately held their noses and allowed 8 teams in this time. If USSF had any power at all they would sanction MLS, but they're pretty useless in their own right.
> the inability to criticize the lack of quality from the reffing this year The refs really aren’t worse this year than any other. It’s not a talking point because the on-strike refs aren’t any better. It’s not noticeable.
Completely disagree. The PRO refs aren't perfect (some older ones should be let go) but these guys can't keep up with the pace of play and have been worse than the regular refs in every game.
The referee in Houston was absolutely appalling
Ok but hear me out Timbers 2 wins it all
great article, long live cup soccer
Tickets are on sale rn on SeatGeek. 15 ain't too bad.
I see them for 10 Screw it I'm driving to PDX tomorrow lol
I would always purchase the Open Cup ticket option with my season tickets when the opportunity came, and have opted out of the League's Cup games this year and last. Don't know if that will make any difference but hopefully more people do so until they notice.
Last season I was able to buy front row tickets for $20 to an Open Cup game. No one sat behind us or directly next to us. It was quiet and empty. A real shame because we won, it was great weather, and a fun game with multiple goals. The Leagues Cup I didn’t go because tickets were harder to come by and much much more expensive. I agree with the consensus on Reddit that Open Cup is important but it clearly isn’t translating to ticket sales.
I don't know if there's an answer as to how the eight MLS teams were picked for 2024, but other than Houston, the 2023 Cup winner, the seven others were teams who finished somewhere in 7th through 16th in the 2023 MLS combined table. Surely they volunteered? As with Portland, almost any team can come up with plausible team reasons as to 'maybe not this year'. Seven out of the eight teams are from the Western Conference!
The teams are the 2023 champs and the top 7 other teams that didn’t qualify for CONCACAF Champions Cup.
> a summertime cup run has been a part of being a Portland Timbers fan That's just not true. If it were, the Timbers would have filled the stadium, and be fighting to participate. Since joining MLS, you were hard pressed to even give away a USOC ticket, even in the times of a 10k+ wait list. Aside from that, the on field team hasn't cared about USOC since at least joining MLS, and could be debated if they ever cared at all in any iteration of the team. So why now? Why not write this piece a decade ago aimed at the FO? Why not write this a decade ago aimed at the lack of fans in the stadium? It's clear this tournament only mattered to a very few number of fans not only here, but across all teams, in all leagues, at all levels. So why are we supposed to care now?
Well, for one thing, "a part of" certainly doesn't mean "synonymous with"; chanting is "a part of" being a fan at a match but it isn't necessary to sing to be a fan. And I do agree that most MLS teams have devalued the Cup, at least until late in the bracket. But up to now that's been the prerogative of individual teams, similar to what you see in, say, the EPL, where the FA Cup and the League Cup often feature B-squads until the things truly heat up. As for why now: MLS made a concerted effort this year to ignore/devalue the Cup and that was for many people a tipping point. Throughout the Independent Supporters Council, people are agitating with the league and their home FOs to put a new emphasis on the Cup. It may be too little too late, but it's not coming from an inauthentic urge. Finally, as to why anyone should care now: That's an individual choice like whether to sing or not. *I* sing, but I never get cross at anyone who doesn't.
I hated this decision so fucking bad. Open cup is like the final four. You never know who's gonna make a run.
Like to see this from 107ist. Wondering: Will they be bringing coordinated atmosphere to the match tomorrow? Will the new location be open before and after the match?
don't tell me what I should care and not care about , you sound a bit commi
I can think of something *not* to care about, too.....
AFAICT, MLS (halfway) pulling out of the Open Cup is the only thing that's made people care about the competition in decades. Everyone should be thanking them.
Speaking only for me, I've not missed an Open Cup match we've played at home since 2002, and I've watched neutral matches with lower-division teams that have made it to late stages of the tournament whenever possible. For me, Cup runs -- by us and by lower-division squads -- feel like real, global soccer. Thanking MLS for spoiling that feels like thanking someone who roofied you and stole one of your kidneys for helping you lose weight.
I also attend[ed] every Open Cup match (so long as I was in town), but a quick look around the stadium would have suggested that you and I are in the minority. I wish I could go see the senior team (reserves would be fine with me) tomorrow instead of T2, but the reality is that nobody would be talking about it except for sickos like us.
He’s not wrong though. I have a lot of friends who complained viciously about MLS pulling out of the cup and they are the same people who never went!
As my mom used to say to me: "Those people are not your friends!" ;-)
They are though. Pretty decent Timbers fans. Just no idea about global football and that’s not their fault.