For a while now we’ve said here on this blog that MLS Cup 2010 was likely going to be in one of three places, Toronto, Philadelphia or New York. Turns out that is just the case as a couple sites have reported the four (yes four) cities that are in the running for MLS Cup 2010. Apparently the league has heard bids from each city and will be picking a host in the very near future.

Those cities are three mentioned above with LA being the fourth.

Deep down I see it coming to either Toronto or New York in the end here. But let’s look at each cities’ chances here.

New York (Red Bull Arena): A brand-new stadium, which happens to be the best stadium the league has ever seen to this date, in the league’s biggest media market. I think all they had to do was show up with a couple photos of the facility and the league was probably already hooked.

The thing about Red Bull Arena is most of the cool stuff that will be around the stadium hasn’t been built yet. I’d say the league may hold off until 2011 for the MLS Cup. By then all the cool little things around the stadium should be in place and this truly will be a great venue in and out for hosting a MLS Cup.

Philadelphia (PPL Park): The new stadium on the waterfront in Chester is a nice one. The thing going against their bid (which was a good one) is the fact that the stadium won’t be finished until summer. Which also means a lot of items around the stadium may not be done by then either. My wonder is if their bid contained PPL Park (which I assume it would) or if they went bigger by going with the Linc.

Toronto (BMO Field): I saw their pitch in PDF form, and it was pretty cool. We’ve all heard about the promise of Toronto hosting a MLS Cup by 2012 but this year would make the most sense with the new grass field at the stadium. Now that the FieldTurf is gone it makes more sense to go ahead and give Toronto this game.

What could go against Toronto is the two new stadiums in the US. I still see this being the year Toronto gets to host the game…even if it means hosting a game in November in cold weather. (note: remember the first few MLS Cups, they were in nasty cold weather in the Northeast)

LA (Home Depot Center): This venue is really a fail-safe for the league. Its in the second biggest market and the stadium can easily host a good MLS Cup. This really however is probably a backup plan for the league should something go wrong with one of the three eastern bids.

After a couple weeks of wondering when Toronto FC would get their home opener announced for next season, the club came out today and announced the date and their opponent. The Reds will open the home portion of the 2010 MLS season on Saturday, April 17 against the expansion Philadelphia Union on their new natural grass field at BMO Field.

“We are really looking forward to hosting the league’s newest addition on April 17,” said senior director business operations Toronto FC Paul Beirne. “We know their supporters group, the Sons of Ben, will come to Toronto so this will be a great day; not only because it will open another season here at BMO Field, but it will be our first match on the new grass field.”

So Toronto will open next year with three road games due to the installation of this new natural grass surface. I don’t see too many TFC fans complaining about that.

Finally. Toronto FC will no longer be regarded as that club with the terrible FieldTurf. The Toronto city council voted unanimously to approve the placement of grass at BMO Field in a vote held on earlier today.

The decision means there will be one less MLS team playing on artificial turf in 2010. New York was one of the few clubs on turf in 2009 but they will be playing on grass at Red Bull Arena when it opens up next season.

Happy to finally see BMO with grass? Think it will affect the way TFC plays at home now?

Chester Stadium currently under construction. (Photo via Philadelphia Union)

Lots of attention lately has been given to the start of next season for each club. It mainly seems to boil down to two clubs that are causing the league to redo the start of the season schedule every other day.

Both Toronto and 2010 expansion club Philadelphia seem to have their own issues going on. Philly is trying to figure out where to play their first game (or two) while their new stadium is finished getting built. Toronto on the other hand is looking at the very likely chance of finally getting a grass field at BMO Field.

Yes grass. Something nearly every fan, player, writer, etc. has called for since BMO Field opened in 2007.

According to Soccer America, the new grass field is set to be voted on by the city of Toronto very soon which is causing the league to hold off plans of announcing their First Kick schedule for next year.

Back to Philly though and their opening slate for their first season. It could end up being a thing just like Toronto a couple years ago where they begin their season (reportedly in Seattle) on the road for a couple games until their new stadium in Chester is complete. That should also help the club to not have to play in a NFL stadium for a game or two.

Putting Philly on the road for a game or three wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if you ask me. Remember nearly all previous SSS owners had to begin their first seasons in their new stadiums on the road. Columbus was on the road for seven straight in 1999, LA was on the road for eight in 2003 and I believe Chicago saw nine road games in a row while Toyota Park was getting its final touches done a couple seasons ago.

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Who are these guys and why are they leading the league? (Getty Images)

Got to love the random mid-week games that Major League Soccer sometimes gives us here. Toronto FC plays host to league leader Chivas USA tonight up at BMO Field. The visiting AmeriGoats are looking to extend their league lead with another win tonight, while Toronto is hoping to bounce back and get their second win of the season.

I may try to do some live twittering later on during this game (and the USOC game between Dallas and DC), but no live blogging. If you haven’t added WVH to your twitter you can do so to get quicker updates from me here.

As always feel free to post your game predictions for tonight below.

1. What will John Carver do without Dwayne De Rosario?

In all honesty I think Carver and TFC will be fine for a couple games without DeRo. Sure he is their offensive leader but I see a guy like Amado Guevara stepping back up and leading this club on the offensive side of things.

But on the flip side of things, losing DeRo could also mean more pressure on the backline for Toronto, which has been pretty bad in the last couple games. With the way Preki’s club has been playing thus far this season it could be a long night for the fans at BMO Field.

2. Will Chivas continue their dominance of Toronto?

Let’s face it, even in the short couple of years Chivas has owned Toronto. Especially in Toronto. Two games in BMO Field and the homeside has only scored a single goal to the AmeriGoats five.

I think for them to continue their streak against the Canadian side they need to control the pace of the game from the start and attack the backline down the middle. Chivas has done a good job so far this season getting players in the box and forcing more shots than most defenses want to give up in the penalty area. Chivas hasn’t been pretty but they have been effective this season in the offensive third of the field.

3. Player to keep an eye on.

For me its actually two guys, Carl Robinson and Sam Cronin for Toronto. Those two have to step up and control the defensive side of the ball in the middle of the pitch for TFC tonight. If they can keep the pressure of the backline and rookie keeper Stefan Frei you could see Toronto have more success on the offensive end due to better amount of chances.

Quick Thoughts:

No doubt it is hard to pick against Chivas right now. The AmeriGoats have played above and beyond what most expected them to do this season. Fun part is they’ve been doing it without the help of some key starters and with a cast of guys that we had never heard of before until this season.

With the league’s best defense going against one of the more shaky attacks you’d have to think it smells like three points for the visitors right? I think so. Normally I would call a draw for a game like this but I see Chivas moving forward here with another three points and Toronto continuing their slide here at home. Until TFC can prove to us all that they can put together a full effort for 90 minutes consistently it will be hard to pick them in these games.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 2, Toronto 1

With the sale of midfielder Maurice Edu still in holding over a work permit, Toronto FC is trying to figure out what to do with that $5 million transfer fee. Apparently they are looking to go green, as in installing natural grass at BMO Field.

Mo Johnston, director of football for Toronto FC, said Tuesday he may try to use his club’s share of Edu’s US$5-million transfer fee to replace the FieldTurf at BMO Field with natural grass.

Most people have complained to the end over the FieldTurf at BMO Field but with the sale of Edu, the club looks to answer those complaints.

If the club was to replace the stadium turf, it would need to build a nearby practice facility with turf to meet commitments to the city of Toronto, which provided the stadium land in exchange in part for a year-round facility that could be used by local residents. In winter, a bubble is put over the field to allow that.

We all know that the club will receive a hefty allocation portion for the sale of Edu with part of the fee going to the league. But the rest actually goes to the club for operations and club programs such as youth programs.

Honestly this is great news, while I haven’t been against the turf as much as most people have I know this would be a great move for this club.

What do you make of this news? About time or do you think they were waiting for a sale of a player like Edu?

I feel as though the day after the MLS All-Star game I need to start announcing clean ups in aisle nine or something. So many stories from the game and the surrounding festivities this week. I kind of think we all underestimated just how big of an event this really truly was this year.

First off, I usually hate this current format for the All-Star game. A ’select’ side of MLS players against a club in preseason form. But last night’s game just looked and felt better than some of the previous ones I’ve watched in this format. I don’t know if it was just the overall level of play out of the MLS side, or the quality game (3-2 scorelines are always entertaining), or if it was just because Toronto was one hell of a host.

But getting back to reality for second, it was a good win, not a great one for the league. Beating a club that typically finishes in the middle of the EPL won’t raise too many eyebrows about how the league is coming along in other parts of the world. It will look good for a day or two and then everyone will go about their merry way come Sunday when the week 18 games kickoff.

I loved the starting lineup for the league, even though the first 20 minutes were largely a total bore. But that is expect in a friendly of this nature. But once the goals started and things got moving in the second half with all the subs, the game kind of got this electric feel to it. It didn’t hurt to see three Canadians out there and have the home crowd got absolutely bananas for Dwayne de Rosario’s game winning penalty kick.

In all I think this game was a success and this week was a success for the league. So let’s look back on some more thoughts and news from the week and try to finish up that clean up that I first mentioned. Continue Reading…