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.

It has been quite a full day for some, others are left catching up on all the twitter messages that were lost today. There are plenty of good links to discuss so let’s not waste any more time with the formalities.

First up is the lovely discussion that will be on going for the next 20 or 30 years with Major League Soccer. Yes I am actually talking about Promotion and Relegation system with the league. I bring it up since Don Garber was wise (sarcasm intended) to mention today out in London that he hopes to see that kind of system introduced to MLS down the line.

Thankfully Garber did say that the league is far too young and doesn’t nearly have the money to do such a thing at this time. So we’d have to imagine that we are at least 20 years away from such a thing. Maybe by then I’ll have a different opinion on doing it here.

Most of you know I’ve always been in the boat that it is a system that will never work here. Basically it is one of those things that if the timing is right, along with many other factors (including money) that it could work here.

I just don’t see this as something that Garber or the league is actually willing to try anytime soon though. But I do believe that this will only get the debate going that much more with those out there that believe it will work here in the States with MLS. To this day I have still yet to hear a good enough reason why the league needs to eventually switch to that kind of a system. Continue Reading…