I thought we went to Vancouver holding all the cards, ready for three points. It turns out we'd forgotten one: Stupidity. No, the Whitecaps and the MLS had that card firmly in hand, and that's why we now have no clue (until later this week, when we'll find out) when we'll actually play this Vancouver match.
You see, those brilliant 'Caps decided that their lovely plastic pitch at the Empire Field wasn't good enough for those rich English dynamos (two of those things are true) Manchester City so the club decided that, hey, why not install grass? You know, so those English guys aren't mad, or something. Here's what Vancouver's site had to say about the pitch being put in:
Because of its temporary nature, the sod being installed at Bell Pitch consists of an earth and sand base, which restricts drainage and helps maintain the freshness of the pitch. Specific to soccer pitch standards, the grass is cut at 1 ¼ inches to ensure optimum conditions for a fast-paced display of the finest soccer skill.
And, you know, it never rains in the Pacific Northwest, right? I could be wrong about that, but I bet a pitch that restricts drainage is actually a great idea! The 'Caps have to get it ready for their MLS-organized friendly with Man City, and it doesn't rain in Vancouver, so let's do it!
So Real Salt Lake — and a slew of fans, I understand — will return home without a match, and we'll have to return later. We get another (another!) game in hand, and they get their precious friendly.
Here's what Vancouver now has to say about it:
“The forecast for Sunday and Monday looks promising and we fully anticipate Monday’s match against FA Cup winners Manchester City FC will go ahead as planned,” added Barber.
Brilliant.
Just brilliant.
Comments