Whitecaps thrown into Texas heat
Team president says they have some issues with 2016 slate — as does every club
Asmall MLS rule change went largely unnoticed in December. The threshold for mandatory ingame water breaks was dropped from 32 degrees Celsius to 28 C.
Only two games required water breaks in 2015. Ten would have under the new threshold. Why is this relevant? MLS released its regular-season schedule on Thursday and the toughest stretch for the Whitecaps could well be a spell of three road games in late July and early August, including two in the sweltering Texas heat.
The Caps visit the Houston Dynamo (July 23) and FC Dallas (July 31) before facing the Colorado Rapids at altitude (Aug. 6).
With the new rules in place, if the temperature soars to 28 C, the fourth official is responsible for calling mandatory three-minute water breaks 30 minutes into each half.
“You can complain (about the schedule), and we looked at it and had some obvious concerns, but I can almost guarantee you that’s taking place at 19 other clubs as well,” Caps president Bobby Lenarduzzi said.
“We looked to try and alter those (Texas games), but it’s difficult to take a game out and put it somewhere else.”
The other big challenge for the Caps in 2016 will be a familiar one: schedule congestion.
The dates aren’t out yet for the Amway Canadian Championship or the CONCACAF Champions League, but Carl Robinson will again have to juggle three competitions.
Adding to that challenge will be the fact MLS is taking a two-week break for the Copa America Centenario (June 3-14). That means no other weekends off until October.
It just reinforces the Caps’ need to strengthen squad depth and to give their young Canadians more minutes. The Caps struggled down the stretch last season, partly because they were hit by injuries.
“We’re going to have to determine what are our priorities,” Lenarduzzi said. “I know that fans sometimes get concerned that we don’t field the best team for every game and every tournament, but that would be physically impossible.”
As for the Caps’ cap on lower bowl attendance at 21,000, Lenarduzzi said the club will continue to evaluate that based on demand.
The lower bowl at B.C. Place can hold up to 27,500, but the Caps are adamant about pushing season ticket sales higher before they release more single-game tickets.