Each want the US Open Cup and they want to win it so bad. You can’t get too upset at these clubs wanting to take the US Open Cup seriously here.

All were originally slated to hit the road in the 3rd round of the 2012 US Open Cup. The new rules of the tournament stated that a both clubs in each early round have the chance to host as it is a draw that determine who hosts – not a bid like in previous years.

But the money talks.

I suppose there was no rule stating that MLS clubs couldn’t pony up the cash and considerations to the lower division clubs to host the games instead. It started with Portland, then RSL and Seattle joined in. All made a deal to get the games at their venue, something that definitely didn’t sit well with some fans of teams like the Atlanta Silverbacks or the Minnesota Stars.

Just how is it getting done? Simple it is a three way deal with the two clubs and the USSF. RSL’s GM Garth Lagerwey told MLSsoccer.com that they had to get a sign off from the USSF to do this.

“You certainly have to have US Soccer’s sign-off and approval to get that done,” Lagerwey explained. “It’s a business deal with all three parties: US Soccer, Minnesota and us.”

“Our ownership stepped up again, and through the hard work of Bill Manning we were able to get a deal negotiated to host an Open Cup game,” said Lagerwey. “I think that shows our commitment to winning. We literally did whatever it took to give our team the best chance to win just a first round game.”

Notice the commitment to winning. That is what this all boils down to. Each MLS side want to win this. I honestly don’t have an issue with how they are going about doing this. Sure, I’d love to see the little guys host the big kahunas of MLS but I’m also down with teams going out of their way to show they care about this tournament as well.

Some little fishes will move on after the third round, it almost always happens that way. The big thing to keep an eye out is how many more times MLS clubs have to pay their way to host games.

Again, at least it shows a commitment to winning and going all out to win this tournament. At the end of the day, that’s what we’ve all really wanted for this tournament all along – for MLS clubs to actually give a damn about it.

Some potential big matches include Seattle at Portland, Houston at Dallas, and Salt Lake at San Jose.

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
FOURTH ROUND – Tuesday, June 5
New England Revolution (MLS) at New York Red Bulls (MLS): Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.; 7 p.m. ET

OR

New England Revolution (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7 p.m. ET

OR

New York Red Bulls (MLS)/Charleston Battery (USL PRO) Winner at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Hershey Park Stadium; Hershey, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET

—

Philadelphia Union (MLS)/Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) Winner at D.C. United (MLS): Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

Philadelphia Union (MLS)/Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) Winner at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET

—

Columbus Crew (MLS)/Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) Winner at Chicago Fire (MLS): Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.; 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

Columbus Crew (MLS)/Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) Winner at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer Arena; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET

—

Colorado Rapids (MLS)/Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) Winner at Sporting Kansas City (MLS): LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

Colorado Rapids (MLS)/Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) Winner at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO): Citrus Bowl; Orlando, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

—

Houston Dynamo (MLS) at FC Dallas (MLS): FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

FC Dallas (MLS)/Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) Winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at Houston Dynamo (MLS): BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

—

Real Salt Lake (MLS)/Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) Winner at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

OR

Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS): Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 7 p.m. MT

OR

Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at Minnesota Stars FC (NASL): National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. CT

—

Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)/Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) Winner at Portland Timbers (MLS): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT

OR

Cal FC (USASA) at Seattle Sounders FC (MLS): Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7:30 p.m. PT

OR

Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) vs. Cal FC (USASA): Venue TBD; Time TBD

—

Chivas USA (MLS)/Ventura County Fusion (PDL) Winner at LA Galaxy (MLS): Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

OR

Chivas USA (MLS)/Ventura County Fusion (PDL) Winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET

THIRD ROUND – Tuesday, May 29 and Wednesday, May 30
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT, May 29

Chicago Fire (MLS) at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29

Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS): LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT, May 29

D.C. United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET, May 29

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew (MLS): Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at FC Dallas (MLS): FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT, May 29

Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT, May 29

Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS): PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29

New England Revolution (MLS) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex^; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET, May 29

New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29

Chivas USA (MLS) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL); Ventura College^; Ventura, Calif.; 7 p.m. PT^, May 29

LA Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET, May 29

Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL): Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET, May 29

Cal FC (USASA) at Portland Timbers (MLS): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT, May 30^

Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Seattle Sounders (MLS): Starfire Sports Complex^; Tukwila, Wash.; 7 p.m. PT^; May 30^

Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS)^: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 7 p.m. MT^, May 29

^ Note: Changed from original May 16 announcement

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
THIRD ROUND – Tuesday, May 29
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Laredo Heat (PDL): Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex; Laredo, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

Chicago Fire (MLS) at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire (MLS): Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.; 7:30 p.m. CT

K.C. Athletics (USASA)/Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO) Winner at Sporting Kansas City (MLS): LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT

D.C. United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET

OR

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA) at D.C. United (MLS): Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO)/Chicago Fire PDL (PDL) Winner at Columbus Crew (MLS): Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. ET

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO)/El Paso Patriots (PDL) Winner at FC Dallas (MLS): FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

Fresno Fuego (PDL)/Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) Winner at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) Winner at Philadelphia Union (MLS): PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at New England Revolution (MLS): TBD; Time TBD

OR

New England Revolution (MLS) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Hershey Park Stadium; Hershey, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

Reading United AC (PDL) at New York Red Bulls (MLS): Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.; 7 p.m. ET

OR

New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Chivas USA (MLS) vs. Ventura County Fusion (PDL); TBD; Time TBD

OR

Chivas USA (MLS) at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7 p.m.

PSA Elite (USASA) at Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS): The Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

OR

LA Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET

Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL): Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Tuesday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

Jacksonville United (NPSL) at Colorado Rapids (MLS): Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.; 7 p.m. MT

Cal FC (USASA) at Portland Timbers (MLS): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT

OR

Portland Timbers (MLS) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Park; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET

Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

Georgia Revolution (NPSL) at Seattle Sounders (MLS): Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7 p.m. PT

Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Minnesota Stars FC (NASL): National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS): Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 7 p.m. MT

The competition will feature a Modern Professional Era (1995-present) record 64 teams, including every US-based professional club in the American soccer pyramid from Major League Soccer (16 teams), the North American Soccer League (6 teams), and USL PRO (10 teams). The remaining 32 spots will be filled by amateur clubs from the Premier Development League (16 teams), United States Adult Soccer Association (9 teams), National Premier Soccer League (6.5 teams), and US Club Soccer (0.5 team). An NPSL club will square off with a representative from US Club Soccer for a spot in the 2012 competition.

Another major change will be in the hosting format. The bidding process has been stripped out through the quarterfinals. Each team can apply to host each round and if both teams’ venues meet USSF’s standards, the federation will conduct a blind draw to determine the host. In the past, in addition to meeting USSF venue standards, teams would have to submit a financial bid, and the team that bid the most was awarded the home game. The old bidding method will still be used for the semifinal and finals of the tournament.

Lastly, another change will be when the competition begins. The first four rounds of the 2012 Open Cup will taking place on consecutive weeks. The tournament will begin on May 15 – the earliest the Open Cup has begun in the Modern Pro Era – with the 32 amateur clubs matching up in geographic fashion.

The winners of those games will move on to Round 2 the following week, May 22, where the 16 NASL and USL PRO clubs will enter.

The week after that, on May 29, Major League Soccer will take on the Second Round winners. With the number of teams, a fourth round will added and will take place June 5. The Cup hasn’t had a fourth round since a four-year run from 2003-06.

Three weeks later, the tournament will hold the Quarterfinals on June 26, followed by the Semifinals on July 10, and the Open Cup Final on either August 7 or 8.

Over the last few years, the tournament has come under constant criticism for the way MLS teams enter the tournament. Previously only six teams would automatically qualify for the tournament based on their previous year’s finish in the standings. Two other teams would join them in the bracket once they went through the MLS qualifying round.

That will be no more once this is approved by all parties involved.

In addition to adding eight extra spots for MLS teams, it would also include the 16 U.S.-based teams in the NASL and USL-Pro.

The tournament would open in mid-May with 32 amateur teams producing 16 winners that would face the NASL and USL-Pro teams in Round 2. The winners of that round would then play the MLS teams in Round 3. The goal is to finish the tournament by August – a full month (or maybe even a month and a half) then it does now when it finishes in October. The hope is to avoid schedule issues for the MLS teams involved late in the year.

A lot could change though depending on whether or not the NASL receives sanctioning by the USSF. The NASL did not compete in the 2011 tournament, according to USSF, due to the fact that the 2011 format was already finalized prior to the NASL being awarded a one-year provisional sanctioning.

This is a positive step for this tournament that needed a facelift. Getting all US-based MLS teams involved in the main bracket is a big start and finishing the tournament earlier in the year is also a big plus.

Under the proposal being discussed by MLS and U.S. Soccer officials, all 16 U.S.-based MLS clubs would enter the competition together at an earlier stage, likely the round-of-32. There, they would play 16 survivors from the minor and amateur leagues. It is unclear whether MLS teams would be kept apart in the draw, as they are now, or be allowed to face each other immediately.

The qualification system would end, forcing each MLS entrant to win five matches, rather than four, to claim the title.

I doubt the bidding will really go away anytime soon but hearing that the MLS qualifying round is certainly a positive thing to hear. There is no reason why all 16 US-based MLS clubs shouldn’t be in the main bracket as it is. Hopefully this will get teams to care a little more about this tournament.

Seattle lifted their third straight USOC last night, others should take note. (Photo via Seattle Sounders Communications)

First off, congratulations to the Seattle Sounders FC on their third straight US Open Cup title. Its a feat that has to be commended since three-peats in sports happen so rarely anymore.

That said, other teams have to start taking note of this competition. I think the 2011 edition of the USOC was better than previous ones since a few more clubs got a little more into it than in the past. It seems over the last few years that Seattle, DC, and Chicago really take it serious with a few others mixed in depending on if they had to qualify through the ridiculous process that MLS teams have to go through in this tournament.

Like this year you had Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas get a little more into this competition.

For teams like this, the USOC is in some ways the easiest way to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League. As long as that incentive is still hanging around to the victors of this tournament, you’ll see some teams like Seattle and Salt Lake push a little harder.

But back to the main point, teams have to get serious in 2012 in this tournament. Sure the bidding process takes a little bit of the fun out of it for some and we all know Seattle, DC and probably now Kansas City will do whatever they can to make sure they have some home cookin’ in the later rounds. But teams have to begin to throw out the idea that this competition is below them.

For ages it has been that teams having to deal with this tournament, the regular season and other competitions like SuperLiga and the CCL is too much. The travel, roster issues, injuries (dude everyone has those), and salary cap restrictions. All excuses made at some point by MLS clubs in the USOC.

Seattle is proving today that you can be competitive in all competitions and not exhaust your roster to the fullest. They’re in the playoffs, off to the knockout stage of the CCL and are still within a beat of the Supporters’ Shield. They threw out the age old excuses that travel and roster complications go into this tournament and handled it with class.

As rosters continue to expand and the salary cap continues to grow, MLS teams have no more excuses for putting in a solid effort in this competition. I love an underdog as much as the next guy but we should never see a Richmond Kickers make it through to the semifinal round.

I’m not saying this would be the case everywhere but teams that have to qualify into the main bracket next year should take it more serious. I know not everyone is a Seattle right now or even on their level in MLS (other than LA and maybe RSL) but the ability to not have the mindset that this competition is an annoyance and a hassle to your roster has be there.  Not only do you have the CCL berth on the line but winning a trophy like this is always a boost to your club and the fans. Believe me, fans love trophies. You can’t tell me this morning that Red Bull fans wouldn’t take a USOC trophy today over winning last night’s LA game.

I still believe the USOC has a ways to go before it is truly great. I’ve gotten into those points before and honestly, I don’t feel like reprinting them here. Possibly the biggest thing that can make the USOC really great is if all MLS teams have a shot at making it that way. Throwing out the qualifying process for MLS teams and letting them all be apart of the stupid bidding process will make it better.

At the end of the day though, the excuses front coaches, club front office members and even players has to stop. Hopefully fans around the country begin to take note of how Seattle has done it over these last three years. Their owners may have more money to spend on hosting games but at least they are doing it for their fans.