With one weekend slate of games remaining in the month of June, the MLS campaign is heading into July with half of the season complete for most clubs.
While some teams make their push to reach the playoff cut line, others around the league are making both positive and negative news. Seattle Sounders FC forward and United States Men’s National Team mainstay Clint Dempsey was fined and suspended three games by the MLS for tearing up a referee’s notebook during a 3-1 defeat against the Portland Timbers in a fourth-round US Open Cup match. The first-place Sounders will be without Dempsey the rest of the month.
In more exciting news, New York City FC has acquired play-making Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who plans to join the club on Friday. NYCFC now has Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Villa to boast a ton of international experience, although they might be past their prime.
The MLS is having no problems making headlines during a down time in the sports calendar. The top games remaining in June, in terms of average MLS ticket prices on the secondary market, are listed below, with information provided by TiqIQ.com.
Most Expensive: 6/28/2015 | Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC | Providence Park | Average Price: $163.30 | Get-in Price: $129
As mentioned, Dempsey will be out for this contest between the two west coast rivals. Portland recently defeated Seattle in their US Open Cup match and should have the upper hand once again as they host this matchup without Dempsey in the lineup. Portland trails Seattle by four points in the Western Conference standings and has an excellent opportunity to chip away on Sunday. Seattle’s fans can take their world-class support on the road with Hipmunk.com, by booking Portland flights for this weekend’s clash. Enjoy the city of Portland before the match by booking hotels in Portland, starting from $51.
6/26/2015 | FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo | Toyota Stadium | Average Price: $140.19 | Get-in Price: $49
These two Texas teams are battling for position near the playoff cut line, as FC Dallas holds onto the final spot with 23 points in 16 games played. Houston is three points behind with one less game played and could make things all square with a road win on Friday night.
6/28/2015 | New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls | Yankees Stadium | Average Price: $95.46 | Get-in Price: $32
It’s shaping up to be rivalry weekend in MLS, as the third-most expensive tickets on the secondary market features another in-state matchup. Both of these teams have 17 points and are behind the Columbus Crew in the sixth spot for the last and final playoff spot. The addition of Pirlo only makes this game more interesting, as the Red Bulls have been struggling lately. NYCFC endured a horrid start, but seems to be putting things together at the right time. Their first win against the Red Bulls can go a long way in the playoff race.
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