MLS Cup Conference Final Delayed Because Nobody Could Measure The 18-Yard Box

A number of people worked together at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium to prepare the field for the Eastern Conference final. They didn’t get it right.
November 22, 2016

The Montreal Impact changed from their normal home venue, the Saputo Stadium, to the Olympic Stadium for their 2016 MLS Cup Eastern Conference Final, and it looked like a stroke of genius. Instead of playing in front of 20,801 supporters, the Impact raised the attendance for Tuesday night’s first-leg match to over 61,000.

Unfortunately, the Olympic Stadium’s grounds crew wasn’t on the same page. 

Kick off was slated for 6:00 PM MT, but they’ve had to paint over the existing lines, measure the correct dimensions of the 18-yard box, mix new paint and draw new lines. It also didn't help that the referee got stuck in traffic and couldn't arrive early to the game to check out the dimensions.

It’s all happening in Montreal.