According to the Web site pepsishowdown.us, the championship game of the 32-team Pepsi Showdown boys soccer tournament -- between Larkin and Loyola -- is billed as a doubleheader with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Oct. 5.
Well, that's kind of true.
According to tournament organzier Joe Trost, it still will be considered a doubleheader. At least the tickets were sold that way. However, the two games won't actually be played on the same day. All tournament teams instead have been invited back the following week to watch the Fire host the Columbus Crew. At some point in the afternoon that day, all the Pepsi tournament semifinalists will be recognized.
Last year, the Fire game and the high school championship match was played on the same day. The Fire game was played first and apparently, there were some problems that arose when fans of the high school game were not allowed into the parking area until 45 mintues after the MLS matchup. One team bus was even ordered to pay for parking to get in and wasn't happy about it.
Playing the games on different dates this year is something Trost says is an experiment.
"We are trying it a week apart this year to see if it works out better," Trost said. "We are trying something new here and if it works out well we hope it will be something consistent from this point on."
For the kids/athletes, I thought part of the allure of making it to the championship game of the high school tournament was getting to play on the same day as the Fire. It doesn't look like that is going to be the case anymore. Still, what an awesome experience for Larkin and Loyola it must be to get to play in a world-class 20,000-seat stadium. Regardless, if anyone is there or not!
The Pepsi Showdown Tournament is in its fifth year.
Let the kids play the same day as the Fire! How hard can it be to coordinate this?
Regardless, it will be cool for those guys to play on that field, whatever the day.