A dream final between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls that would have featured two of world football's most glamorous names in David Beckham and Thierry Henry failed to materialise, denying fans and league officials the showcase they had hoped for.
Instead, the MLS championship will feature Dallas and Colorado, two modest teams without a single designated player, in a match that is likely to attract few casual fans on a busy sporting Sunday packed with attractive viewing options.
"Who would have thought at the beginning of the year that FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids would be in the championship game?" wondered Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman to reporters.
Banners at the entrance to the grounds tout the "Everything You Want to Know About Sex Show" occupying the convention centre next to BMO Field, and not the game.
"It's a very competitive sports market and we are the newest kid on the block so without doubt we have to fight hard and be creative and make good decisions and invest properly to break through the clutter," MLS commissioner Don Garber told Reuters.
"But we're doing a pretty good job, the league is much further along than we thought it would be and we just need to stay focused and keep the league growing."
Tickets to Sunday's final range from $65 to $200 - more than double the top price of $85 for last year's final in Seattle that pulled in 46,011.
"I expect a sellout and hopefully all those people who bought those tickets as part of season-ticket packages come out to support the league," said Garber.
"It's two teams from other parts of North America but this is a great soccer marke
