WASHINGTON, D.C. - With their 1-1 draw against New England earlier tonight, D.C. United is assured of finishing the season with at least a second seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs and has earned home field advantage for the 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. In the series, United is assured to play the second match at RFK Stadium on October 29 at 6:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast to a nationwide television audience on espn2.
Playoff packages are now on sale to season ticket and other plan holders, while group tickets will be available for purchase on September 15. Two-game strips will be available to current plan holders or to those who put in a deposit for a 2007 plan, under the following options: Field ($250), Club/Boxes ($150), Mezzanine ($80, $60 youth), VIP ($70, $46 youth), Premium ($50, $40 youth) and Spectator ($40, $30 youth). Each playoff strip purchase will include the limited edition 2006 Blackout t-shirt. Additionally, a special playoff 4-pack is now available. For $120 (+ shipping), fans will receive four premium tickets and four 2006 Blackout t-shirts. Fans are encouraged to visit dcunited.com or call 202-587-5000 to order. Individual tickets will go on sale October 1.
Tonight's result leaves the Revolution (8-8-11, 35 points) without the ability to match United's current point total of 52 (14-3-10). D.C. United is also guaranteed to finish ahead of Kansas City (9-13-6, 33 points) New York (6-9-11, 29 points) and Columbus (6-13-8, 26 points). The Black-and-Red can now work to secure the first seed in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters Shield - which goes to the team with the best record in all of Major League Soccer. In order to guarantee the first seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, United must gain or the Chicago Fire (10-9-8, 38 points) must lose two standings points. A win or a draw by United in Chicago Sunday afternoon will satisfy that requirement. The magic number to guarantee the Supporters Shield over FC Dallas (14-9-4, 46 points) is 10.
This season's appearance will be D.C. United's eighth in the MLS Cup playoffs. United missed the playoffs during only three seasons, 2000-2002. With four championships ('96, '97, '99 & '04) and five MLS Cup appearances (a loss in '98), United is the most successful team in MLS history.
