MLS Makes Mistake With RSL Playoff Scheduling
Oct 7, 2019, 4:28 PM
Photo courtesy: Real Salt Lake
SANDY, Utah – After their 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday afternoon, Real Salt Lake finished in third place in the Western Conference and will host the Portland Timbers in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The match will take place on Saturday, October 19 at 8 p.m. It is the first time that RSL has finished in the top four in the west since 2014.
Nick Rimando will get at least one more game at Rio Tinto Stadium. A stadium that has proved valuable for himself and the team this season. RSL will look to capitalize on having home-field advantage by having a sold out crowd pushing them to victory.
October 19. 8 PM. Be there.
🎟️| https://t.co/Lgx03fcWHo pic.twitter.com/3PCWXeY28T
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 7, 2019
The Mistake
Major League Soccer has made a big mistake. Utah is a state that thrives on two things in the fall: college football and the Utah Jazz. Fortunately, the Jazz season doesn’t start until October 23 and their final preseason game is on October 16. Although, Utah, BYU, Utah State and Weber State all have home games on the same day in which MLS scheduled the playoff game against Portland. Sunday, October 20 was an option for RSL to play their postseason match but MLS chose Saturday.
Utah hosts Arizona State with kick-off scheduled at 4 p.m. in what is expected to be a must-win for the Utes if they want any chance of winning the Pac 12 South Division.
The Cougars will face Boise State at LaVell Edwards Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 8:15 p.m. in which the Cougars will hope to take down yet another top 25 opponent in 2019.
The Utah State Aggies host a Mountain West Conference game against the Nevada Wolf Pack with the game beginning at 8:15 p.m.
Finally, the Weber State Wildcats will be at Stewart Stadium at 2 p.m. against Big Sky Conference opponent, Northern Arizona.
Where Will Fans Go?
RSL fans are an interesting bunch. Much like the Utah Jazz, the fanbase consists of Utes, Cougars, Aggies and Wildcats along with other local college teams such as Southern Utah and Dixie State. With College Football dominating the Utah market, one would assume that Rio Tinto Stadium will not be as loud or as full as the MLS expected.
The match between RSL and Portland will be broadcast on ESPNNews.
