Fans leave BBVA Compass Stadium after the Houston Dynamo vs. Toronto FC match was postponed due to severe weather on Saturday, August 14, 2016 in Houston. Photo: Victor Araiza/Prost Amerika
The Houston Dynamo vs. Toronto FC match that was scheduled for Saturday night in Houston has been postponed. The teams will now play their only encounter of the 2016 Major League Soccer regular season on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. CT (9:15 p.m. ET, MLSLive/TSN 4 in Canada).
Originally scheduled to kickoff around 8 p.m. CT, the match was delayed around 7:15 p.m. due to lightning around BBVA Compass Stadium.
Fans waited in the hallways of the stadium during the delay and some began to leave as the hours went by. Updates were given about every 15 minutes through the stadium communication systems stressing the league’s intention to play the game on Saturday night.
This the third Houston Dynamo home match this season delayed by severe weather conditions. The May 14 scheduled encounter against Real Salt Lake was postponed to the following day while the June 18 match vs. D.C. United was only pushed back to a later start time.
Houston Dynamo President Chris Canetti said the following through a club statement:
“We were in constant communication with the Major League Soccer office and followed protocol in determining the playability of tonight’s match. We made every conceivable effort to play this game as per the league’s direction. The forecast showed that the lightning in the area would cease around 9:30 p.m., which would have allowed us to play, but unfortunately the storm cell continued to produce unexpected lightning well into the night. After exhausting every possible opportunity, the league had no choice but to ultimately postpone the game until tomorrow in the interest of fan and player safety.
“I want to thank the fans that came out tonight and stuck around for hours in hopes that we would get the game in, and I apologize that we weren’t able to do so. We sincerely appreciate your loyalty and dedication.
Tickets for the Saturday match will be honored on Sunday night. Fans who cannot attend can seek a refund beginning Monday at 9 a.m. by calling 713-276-GOAL.
