After a lot of rumours, the Vancouver Whitecaps’ first MLS opponent was <a href=“http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/first-kick-home-openers-revealed-2011”>officially released today</a>. Despite playing in a new league, the opposition is a familiar one for Vancouver fans; they’ll be hosting Toronto FC at Empire Field in their first MLS game on Saturday, March 19.
This move seems a bit odd from a scheduling perspective. Yes, Toronto FC is going to be one of Vancouver’s greatest MLS rivals (along with Seattle and Portland) , and the clubs do have a fair bit of history from clashes in the Voyageurs Cup over the past few years (<a href= “http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?752-Voyageurs-Cup-format-to-change”>even if they may not</a> <a href=“http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2010/12/16/1879420/voyageurs-cup-drops-round-robin-format-will-play-two-semifinals”>face each other this year</a>). However, from a hype perspective, the season opener at home was going to be a big deal regardless of opponent.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Bringing in Toronto FC in the season’s first clash might elevate the local levels of excitement slightly, but fans were going to be pumped up for the Whitecaps’ first MLS clash even if they were playing Sporting Kansas City. This game was going to get tons of media coverage and TV ratings regardless of who took the field against Vancouver. I guess Toronto FC’s involvement should help bring in more viewers from Eastern Canada, but I’d imagine a lot of TFC fans would have been tuning in for the Whitecaps’ debut even if it didn’t involve their team.
To me, it might have made more sense to start with a less thrilling team and save the marquee matchups for later in the season. Toronto – Vancouver is going to draw massive amounts of hype and interest regardless of when it’s played; it’s tougher to say the same about teams like FC Dallas or the Chicago Fire. Rivalries against those squads may develop over time, and there’s enough fan interest in the Whitecaps in Vancouver that most games should sell out regardless of opponent (especially at the reasonably small Empire Field; B.C. Place <a href=“http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/cfl/blog/cfl_experts/post/B-C-Place-set-for-September-opening-Buckley-sa?urn=cfl-289663”>is set for a September opening</a> and should allow them to bring in bigger crowds for the last few games of the year), but I can guarantee you that a game against Kansas City isn’t going to inspire as many casual fans or attract as much media buzz as a clash against Toronto or Seattle. Facing TFC should be a stellar opener for Vancouver, but from an overall perspective, it might have made more sense not to put all the best eggs in one basket.