Sporting Park will be the venue for the MLS Cup final between host Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake on December 7, 2013. (Photo: Mexsport)

 

KANSAS CITY, Kansas -- Regardless what transpires and who wins Saturday, one thing is certain: MLS Cup will be one of the coldest domestic championship games in CONCACAF history.

With forecasts calling for a kickoff temperature of 21 degrees (F) and a wind-chill factor of 12 degrees, host Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake will not just be battling themselves, but the elements as well.

The prize is the Philip F. Anschutz trophy and a berth in next year's CONCACAF Champions League. 

For Sporting's 1-0 second-leg win over the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference finals on November 23, someone mistakenly turned on the sprinklers at Sporting Park, leaving a slight frost on the field.

“There was a little miscommunication, and someone put a little bit on there.  In the second half, because the temperature dropped a little bit and it was at nighttime," Kansas City coach Peter Vermes said. "There was a little bit of a frost that came on the field. That’s not going to happen this time around. We do have a sub-air system that will continue to blow hot air underneath. The more dangerous thing for the player is when the field freezes. I don’t see that happening.” 

But goalkeeper and captain Jimmy Nielsen realized that he could not escape the elements. 

“It was ridiculous cold [two weeks ago],” he said. “I’m a goalkeeper, I’m standing in there. My gloves have to be wet so I can catch the ball. I’m not saying I had a tough time to enjoy it, but it was very, very cold.

“I have Scandinavian blood in me but they’re building indoor arenas in Denmark so we can play indoor when it’s very cold. I prefer around 65 if I can order that on Saturday please.”

The game could very well be Jason Kreis' final game as RSL coach.  With his contract expiring, Kreis reportedly will become the head coach of NYC FC, an MLS expansion team that will begin playing in New York City in 2015.

"This might be the last match that I get to coach with this group," he said.  "I will soak it up for sure, every single moment of it.  But that decision is yet to be made.  It's something that I've done a pretty decent job at, being on the back-burner and will continue to do so for another 48 hours.”

Costa Rican international striker Alvaro Saborio, RSL's leading goal-scorer who missed the Western Conference final series after pulling a leg muscle in the second leg of the conference semifinals, is fit to play.

"For the last two weeks he has trained fully," Kreis said.  "I believe what we have seen so far puts him in contention to be considered for the 18."

NOTES: Sporting Kansas City will face Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals of the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League … Real Salt Lake fell to Mexico’s Monterrey 3-2 on aggregate in the final of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League