FC Dallas will officially and for the final time be saying goodbye to the Cotton Bowl this Saturday when the team hosts the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. There will be mixed emotions in the FC Dallas locker room following the match due to the nine-plus years of history the team has had there. Add into that the fact that this squad enters Saturday's match 5-0-0 at the Cotton Bowl and you can really see why the bittersweet feeling may exist for the coaches and players. However, the sweet far outweighs the bitter in this situation as the team can hardly wait to move into their new digs in Frisco - Pizza Hut Park - on August 6.
Let's shift our focus back to the Cotton Bowl, where this 5-0-0 start to begin this season is the best in team history. They will look on Saturday to join four other MLS teams in the league's history who posted 18 out of a possible 18 points in their first six matches at home (2000 Kansas City, 2000 Tampa Bay, 2001 Miami, 2002 San Jose). Overall at home, the team has posted 15 out of a possible 15 points just one other time, winning five straight from May 18 - July 13, 2002. They have won six straight home matches from August 4, 1999 - March 18, 2000, but one win came in shootout form and the team earned 16 out of a possible 18 points. Either way, this season has been historic for FC Dallas, and they will look to continue their dominance in their final match at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday.
Following the finale at the Cotton Bowl will be a three-match road trip for FC Dallas as they will travel to New England on July 16, Real Salt Lake on July 23 and the MetroStars on July 27. They will then be home for Opening Day at Pizza Hut Park on August 6 versus the MetroStars.
This match on Saturday can also dictate who will be coaching the Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game when the league battles with Fulham FC of the English Premier League in Columbus on July 30. The MLS point-leading team will have their coach man the bench for the MLS All-Stars during the weekend's festivities. Currently, FC Dallas is two points ahead of New England as the two teams head into action this Fourth of July weekend. FC Dallas will host San Jose and New England will travel to Los Angeles on Monday. Head Coach Colin Clarke will be in if FC Dallas wins or New England loses or ties. If FC Dallas ties and New England wins and the two teams each have 34 points, then the Revolution will send Head Coach Steve Nichol due to the tie-breaker of goal-differential which New England would win.
For tickets that are just $10 to this important and historic match at the Cotton Bowl, call (888) FCD-GOAL.
Below are a few different facts about Major League Soccer at the Cotton Bowl heading into this weekend's match:
First MLS Match at Cotton Bowl - April 14, 1996 (Dallas beat San Jose 1-0 in a shootout).
First MLS Playoff Match at Cotton Bowl - September 26, 1996 (Dallas lost to Kansas City 3-2 after Preki scored the game-winner in the 89th minute).
Last MLS Match at Cotton Bowl - July 2, 2005 (FC Dallas will host San Jose Earthquakes).
Most Games Played by Player at Cotton Bowl - Jason Kreis (117)
Most Goals Scored by Player at Cotton Bowl - Jason Kreis (50)
Most Red Cards by Player at Cotton Bowl - Leonel Alvarez (3)
Most Wins by Goalkeeper at Cotton Bowl - Matt Jordan (36)
Most Shutouts by Goalkeeper at Cotton Bowl - Matt Jordan (20)
FC Dallas All-Time Record at Cotton Bowl - 75-42-10 in 127 regular season matches
FC Dallas All-Time Goals Scored at Cotton Bowl - 229 regular season goals
