Fans of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup can mark their calendars for this year’s 100th tournament – at least tentatively.
First-round matches are set for May 14 and the 2013 final will be Oct. 1 or 2, according to a schedule posted on the US Adult Soccer Association Region II website. TheCup.us is currently seeking confirmation.
The posted schedule is listed as “still to be reviewed and ratified by the Open Cup Committee.” US Soccer hasn’t yet released the official schedule.
Matches during the first three rounds are scheduled for the last three Tuesdays in May, with competition shifting to Wednesdays for the fourth round, quarterfinals and semifinals.
The semifinals have two possible dates, Aug. 7 or 21 – the later date to be used only if one of the semifinalists is playing in the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League the week of Aug. 7.
While the tournament will start early for the second straight year, the final is scheduled for eight weeks after the Aug. 7 semifinal date – for comparison, the 2012 final was played on Aug. 8.
One note in the information the Region II website indicates that if one of the finalists is not from MLS, US Soccer will “consider rescheduling to an earlier date if we can find a break in the participating teams’ schedules.”
Here’s the schedule as posted:
Sunday, April 28: Qualifying deadline
Tuesday, May 14: First round
Tuesday, May 21: Second round
Tuesday, May 28: Third round (MLS teams enter)
Wednesday, June 12: Fourth round
Wednesday, June 26: Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Aug. 7: Semifinals
Wednesday, Aug. 21: Semifinals (only if a team is in the CONCACAF Champions League the week of Aug. 7)
Tuesday, Oct. 1 or Wednesday, Oct. 2: 100th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final
The deadline to enter the Region II Open Cup is March 17, with the draw on March 18 and first-round matches scheduled for 2 p.m. March 30. Wisconsin champion Croatian Eagles, the reigning USASA National Open champion, and RWB Adria, the only team that entered the Illinois competition, have already qualified for the Region II tournament.
What happens with the two extra USL-Pro teams?
There are now 18 teams that would come in at the Second Round by last year’s format.
Brendan, I’m sure they are taking all of these things into consideration. They may leave some teams out, have qualifying etc. There’s a lot of flexibility there.
Great scoop. Already put them on my calendar for Sporting KC to go all the way.
Well if the USOC committee doesn’t add anymore NPSL sides, I would put Phoenix & TB Flames into the 1st round since they are expansion sides.
I think that’s a good idea. There’s always some flexibility when it comes to stuff like that. Putting expansion teams in a round earlier could definitely fill in some holes. I’m starting to wonder, based on a lack of qualifying participation, maybe the USASA should just stick to 8 instead of 9 spots. That might free up an extra slot. Some states are great with participation (East NY, East PA, Mass. etc.) but most of them are not (Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Connecticut, the list goes on)
I know that 2013 is a full schedule with WCQ’s, Gold Cup in July and of course #CCL, I am actually happy that some of the dates have been seperated.
I know that Rounds 1 thru 3 are back to back to back, but I’m glad that the rest of the dates are seperated alot and some breathing room has been created. Also glad that the final will be on October 1st.
I get asked a lot …”what can be done to fix the tournament”? There’s no magic bullet, just a lot of little things, but one of the little things I think would help is to put at least one week in between each round. Teams trying to arrange (and pay for) travel on short notice …not to mention the hosts who have to organize a home game, promote, and sell tickets in less than a week. As someone who used to work for a lower division team, it’s just a little overwhelming whether you are the host or the visitor. Not to mention for me, who has to try to find and coordinate 16 reporters in less than a week.
There are obviously calendar challenges (always has, always will be), but you could put a week in between and still finish by August.
Agreed. I think it would be best to have a week inbetween the earlier rounds to help out those teams who will host the games.
Wynalda says ATL is aiming to WIN the cup, not just make a good run, like Cal FC did. So brace yourselves, suckaz…
Seattle will crush Wynalda along with whatever team he happens to be dragging with him. Again.
Seattle? The spoiled, rich, home game buying brats who got schooled by SKC last year? Nah. We’ll take care of those bozos. No problem.
@Shaggy, Do you really think that winning 1-1(3-2) on PKs is really a “schooling”? I do believe those Seattle “home buying bozos” would have won with the home field advantage which some other bozos bid on with an “equal in merit” bid… inconsistant scruples?