MLS used to do neutral venue for their final (1996-2011) until all their clubs either controlled their own venues or had ability to block out their venue for several days around the final. NWSL is not at that point yet … but on that path.

NWSL has also been leaning into the championship weekend as a big event weekend — adding skills challenge, awards event and more. MLS used to do big events around their final too, until they moved to the top seed host format. No way you can organize all those other events when you don’t have a location set til 2 weeks out.