10 Football Stadiums That Could Host a Future MLS Cup Game

On November 21st, the MLS cup final will be played, for the first time in Canada, at BMO Field in Toronto.

Last year, Real Salt Lake and the L.A. Galaxy slugged it out for Major League Soccer's top prize at Qwest Field in Seattle. Normally a football stadium, Qwest Field drew a respectable attendance of 46,011, the largest crowd for the MLS cup since 2002.

The 2009 season marked only the second time the MLS cup has been played at football-specific stadium since 2003, thanks to the rise of soccer-specific buildings across North America. While I like the idea of more smaller soccer stadiums housing MLS teams, I believe the championship game should be played at a more bigger facility.

So with the 2010 edition dawning, I got thinking: Which football stadium could host the MLS cup final in the near future? 

Note: The following stadiums have never hosted the MLS cup or hosted it only once.

Chances are, you're probably laughing at this suggestion right now, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems keen on putting every sporting event imaginable at his already legendary football palace.

Last February, the stadium hosted the NBA all-star game. Before the Cowboys kicked their first season in the new stadium, it hosted CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, and is a venue part of the U.S.' 2022 FIFA World Cup bid. (The host nations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup will be announced on December 2.)

Jones has even said he'd like have the NHL Winter Classic take place here. (Go ahead. Laugh again if you want.)

A championship game here in for the MLS could spell the largest crowd to ever watch the MLS cup, and the most-watched MLS cup game on television.

Before the original San Jose Earthquakes moved to Houston, this was the stadium they called "home." The stadium hosted the first ever MLS game back in 1996 between the Earthquakes (called Clash at the time) and the D.C. United.

So while the stadium may not set the home-run record of an attendance for the MLS cup (seats less than 30 000 for soccer) the MLS could try to take a blast from the past, and put the cup game here where this league's debut game was held.

With the Montreal Impact of the USSF being promoted to MLS in 2012, a cup game in Montreal is now in the mix. When the Impact hosted Santos Laguna of Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals, in March 2009, the match drew more than 55 000 in attendance, making this a plausible venue for big soccer events.

However, one of the issues of having the game at the "The Big O" is the CFL's Montreal Alouettes may have a home playoff game here on the weekend of the MLS cup, and it's certain that the Als wouldn't be happy about having the game at Molson Stadium, where the play their regular season games.

If that is the case, then Olympic Stadium can be wiped off this list, and if Montreal were to host the MLS cup, it would be at Saputo Stadium, the home stadium of the Impact.

The Rose Bowl, where one College Football's most prestigious New Year's Day game is played, has plenty of soccer history to the stadium.

In 1994, the stadium hosted the World Cup Final, and the Women's World Cup Final in 1999. The stadium was home to the L.A. Galaxy before they moved into the soccer-specific Home Depot Center.

The 1998 MLS cup final was played here, the game between the Chicago Fire and the D.C. United didn't draw well in terms of attendance, as the game drew an audience of 51,350, well short of the stadium's capacity of 90,000.

So you be the panel: Should the MLS take another shot at hosting a championship game at the Rose Bowl?

BC Place Stadium has housed the BC Lions of the CFL since 1983, and was home of the Vancouver Whitecaps of the old NASL, just before the league folded.

The stadium which was hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, is under renovation, and the newly-renovated BC Place will be the home of the "new" Vancouver Whitecaps which will begin play in the MLS next year.

The same issue as Olympic Stadium is in the mix, however: If the Cup is to played on the same date of a BC Lions home-playoff game, who gets the first option?

"The Grand Old Lady" has never hosted an MLS match before, but has played host to several soccer games before including friendlies, CONCACAF tournaments, and another one of these stadiums on the list for the U.S. 2022 World Cup bid.

But just like the Rose Bowl, the same question face the coliseum: Can it fill more than 60 percent of the stadium for the MLS' biggest game? (Count out the involvement of any California team.)

The New Meadowlands Stadium has yet to host a soccer game, but the old Giants Stadium hosted numerous soccer events, including the final of the CONCACAF Gold cup, and matches for the '94 World Cup.

The New York Red Bulls also played at the old Giants Stadium, since the MLS' inaugural campaign in 1996, when they were called the Metrostars, before moving into their new home, Red Bull Arena at the start of this season.

The stadium can host the cup while the Jets and Giants are on the road, or have a bye week.

While Meadowlans Stadium is an elaborate site to have the MLS cup, look for the MLS to put their championship game at Red Bull Arena before talks arise about putting the match at the Meadowlands (or any other stadium that I mentioned or will mention on this list).

The home of the Houston Texans has been known to host several soccer games each summer. The stadium was home to several matches of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005 and 2007.

Just last summer, the MLS all-stars hosted Manchester United and drew over 70,000 people in attendance.

How about the MLS championship being settled here?

The home of the New England Patriots has also served as the home of the Revolution since opening in 2002.

Gillete Stadium is home to largest crowd to ever attend the MLS cup Final with 61,316 in the stands for the 2002 match. (Thanks to the presence of the hometown Revolution.) Foxboro, MA has hosted the championship game for MLS three times, one of three cities to host the match that many times.

How soon until they get another shot at hosting the game?  

Before moving out of Soldier Field to Toyota Park in 2006, the Chicago Fire played their home games here.

Soldier Field has hosted matches of the 2007 and 2009 editions of the CONCACAF Gold cup, and was a venue for the '94 World Cup. The stadium has never played host to an MLS Cup match ever, so will it get it's turn eventually, or will the MLS award it's final game to Toyota Park if Chicago ever gets the game?

Soldier Field has the smallest capacity of all NFL stadiums with 61,500, so the MLS wouldn't really have to worry about a half-empty stadium for the final. (The least attended MLS cup game was the 2005 final which drew 21,193 at Pizza Hut Park.)