I get asked the same question over and over. Where will the Montreal Impact play their Champions League quarter-final in February?
First of all congratulations to the Impact for a job well done. Navigating through the CONCACAF minefield to get to this stage is a huge accomplishment. Now the hard part begins.
Here's the way it works. The four second-place teams including Montreal, will be thrown into a pot and the four first-place teams will be thrown into a pot. The teams will be drawn and matched that way. The only rule is that teams from the same group cannot face one another. The draw takes place December 10.
Back to that February fixture. Impact officials say they have two options. The first option is Olympic Stadium. The second option is Olympic Stadium. If there were a third option, it would be Olympic Stadium as well. There is simply nowhere else to play. The thought did cross their minds ever-so briefly about setting this match-up in Florida. But that was quickly dismissed. It has to be in Montreal.
But there's a problem with the Big 'O'. In 1999 a section of the fabric roof tore open due to heavy snow during an auto show. Since that time the stadium has been closed for the most part during the winter months due to safety reasons.
So what to do?
The Impact believe they can get the necessary approval to stage this match with the proviso that if there is heavy snow, the match gets pushed back by a day. Officials claim that snow can be removed quickly and efficiently if need be. And let's face it -- the stadium needs any and every event it can get. How ironic is that? Events don't want to go there in the summer because of the roof. And they can't go there in the winter because of it.
Mark this one in your calendar. Good as gold. Montreal versus someone at Olympic Stadium between February 24 and 26.
And yes, we're told there will be no football lines. Hallelujah.
