Sockers Set Dates for Finals

The Sockers will open the MSL championship series next Thursday at the Sports Arena, it was announced Wednesday.

They will play either the Cleveland Crunch, which they beat in last year’s championship series, or the Dallas Sidekicks, the only other MSL team to win a championship since the Sockers shifted from the North American Soccer League in 1984.

The Sidekicks lead their semifinal series, 3-1, with Game 5 scheduled for Friday in Cleveland. The Sockers beat the Baltimore Blast, 4-1, in their semifinal.

Game 2 of the championship series also will be at the Sports Arena, either May 2 or May 3. The Sockers are awaiting word from sports arena management on the building’s availability for May 2, the preferable date because Saturday walk-up ticket sales historically are at least 1,000 higher than any other day.

Tickets are on sale now at the arena box office and Ticketmaster locations. They can also be purchased by calling 278-TIXS.

For Games 3, 4 and 5, the series will shift to either Cleveland (Tuesday or Wednesday, May 5 or 6, Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, if necessary), or Dallas (Tuesday, May 5, Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, if necessary).

If Games 6 and 7 are needed, they will be played at the Sports Arena Tuesday, May 12, and Friday, May 15.

Not coincidentally, player contracts for the 1991-92 season expire at midnight May 15.