January 4 – The Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final, which last year featured David Beckham’s Los Angeles Galaxy, will continue to be played at a neutral venue, it was announced today.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said the league discussed changing the format to reward the higher-seeded team with the advantage of playing at home in the annual championship match of the United States top-tier league.
But MLS decided to keep the neutral venue, saying it provides an “exciting environment” for fans and allows for easier planning.
Last year’s final, which was held at Seattle’s Q-West Stadium, attracted a crowd of 46,011, a figure boosted by Beckham’s appearance, although he was unable to prevent Galaxy losing 5-4 to Real Salt Lake in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw.
The league plans to announce the site for the 2010 MLS Cup in the next few months.
A venue and date have not been determined yet, although it is expected to be played in late November, most likely the weekend prior to Thanksgiving.
Garber said: ”Following a detailed review and careful analysis of both options, we have elected to continue with a neutral-site format for MLS Cup 2010.
“We believe this format will provide an exciting environment for our fans while also allowing the necessary planning time for our key constituents.
“We will continue to assess the possibility of playing MLS Cup at the home stadium of the higher seeded team in the future.”
Related stories
November 2009: Beckham cup final appearance sparks ticket rush