MLS Cup 2007: Revolution Offer Free Transportation

The Revolution are vying for their first ever MLS Cup Title this year in their fourth trip to the big game. Earlier this fall, the team won the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup by beating Dallas FC in the title game.

The free transportation is part of a push by the New England organization to grab as much advantage over the Western Conference champion Dynamo as possible. The stadium is a relatively short commute for New England fans, as opposed to those from Houston, and the team as a whole is familiar with RFK stadium. Many New England fans made the trip to Texas to see the Revolution win the US Open, and the team anticipates an even greater turnout in Washington.

RFK was built with crowd noise in mind, with a cantilevered roof that is designed to hold off elements while keeping in noise. While it has aged itself out of the business of the National Football League, it would seem a perfect venue for Major League Soccer: even with a small crowd, the noise level creates an almost European soccer atmosphere.

Building on this slight advantage, the team will likely try to play the game as a home team, and will try to create as much of a pro-Revs atmosphere as possible by taking quick corner kicks and other such tactics.

The 2007 MLS Cup is a rematch of the 2006 MLS Cup where the Houston Dynamo - the relocated, renamed, and rechristened San Jose Earthquakes - narrowly defeated the Revolution. It was their first year in Houston and, technically first year in the league as the name "Earthquakes" and the history of the franchise stayed in San Jose, much like the NFL did with the name "Browns" when the Baltimore Ravens left Cleveland. The MLS treated the Dynamo as an expansion franchise, just as the NFL treated the Ravens.

The Dynamo will likely be without forward Brian Ching, who suffered a calf injury in the Western Conference championship game against the Kansas City Wizards. He was last years MLS Cup most valuable player and scored what was eventually the game winning goal. The Revolution, on the other hand, are generally healthy as a team.

The Revolution are 0-3 in MLS Cup appearances, including a heartbreaking loss in 2002 to the LA Galaxy in Foxborough, MA at Gillette Stadium.

While the Boston Red Sox are raising ticket prices for 2008, the New England Revolution are offering free transportation to MLS Cup 2007 in Washington DC.

The Revolution are vying for their first ever MLS Cup Title this year in their fourth trip to the big game. Earlier this fall, the team won the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup by beating Dallas FC in the title game.

The 2007 MLS Cup will be played Sunday, November 18 at RFK Stadium in Washington.

The free transportation is part of a push by the New England organization to grab as much advantage over the Western Conference champion Dynamo as possible. The stadium is a relatively short commute for New England fans, as opposed to those from Houston, and the team as a whole is familiar with RFK stadium. Many New England fans made the trip to Texas to see the Revolution win the US Open, and the team anticipates an even greater turnout in Washington.

RFK was built with crowd noise in mind, with a cantilevered roof that is designed to hold off elements while keeping in noise. While it has aged itself out of the business of the National Football League, it would seem a perfect venue for Major League Soccer: even with a small crowd, the noise level creates an almost European soccer atmosphere.

Building on this slight advantage, the team will likely try to play the game as a home team, and will try to create as much of a pro-Revs atmosphere as possible by taking quick corner kicks and other such tactics.

The 2007 MLS Cup is a rematch of the 2006 MLS Cup where the Houston Dynamo - the relocated, renamed, and rechristened San Jose Earthquakes - narrowly defeated the Revolution. It was their first year in Houston and, technically first year in the league as the name "Earthquakes" and the history of the franchise stayed in San Jose, much like the NFL did with the name "Browns" when the Baltimore Ravens left Cleveland. The MLS treated the Dynamo as an expansion franchise, just as the NFL treated the Ravens.

The Dynamo will likely be without forward Brian Ching, who suffered a calf injury in the Western Conference championship game against the Kansas City Wizards. He was last years MLS Cup most valuable player and scored what was eventually the game winning goal. The Revolution, on the other hand, are generally healthy as a team.

The Revolution are 0-3 in MLS Cup appearances, including a heartbreaking loss in 2002 to the LA Galaxy in Foxborough, MA at Gillette Stadium.
The 2007 MLS Cup will be played Sunday, November 18 at RFK Stadium in Washington.

REFERENCE:

"Revolution owners offer free ride to MLS Cup," URL: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/
soccer/2007-11-14-1676069992_x.htm

"Revs will feel at home at RFK Stadium," URL: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/
story?id=481823&root=mls&cc=9999