It’s March, but you wouldn’t know it throughout much of the country.
As climate change wreaks havoc on what we consider normal weather, temperatures have varied widely around the U.S. On opening day in MLS, Orlando City hosted NYCFC with highs reaching into the upper 80s. In Colorado, the Rapids hosted Portland in temps that dipped to 18 degrees, a record low for an MLS match.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! pic.twitter.com/9Bolnv10dY
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 5, 2019
But that doesn’t explain the folks down in Houston overreacting over a little chill.
The Houston Dynamo are hosting UANL Tigres in a Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 40s by kickoff, slated for 9 p.m. local time.
The stadium is bracing for the cold by offering “heating stations” along with hot chocolate and coffee on the concourse.
We want to make sure you're warm and #Concacaffeinated for a chiily 9 p.m. kickoff tomorrow night!
We'll have coffee, hot chocolate and heating stations available at #HOUvTIG: https://t.co/mqdsky7zZZ pic.twitter.com/qS5SP3eTpr— BBVA Compass Stadium (@BBVACompassStdm) March 4, 2019
Temperatures are expected to be in the low 40s by kickoff! The Dynamo will be providing hot chocolate, heating stations, and coffee throughout the concourse. Also: bring a jacket!#SCCL2019 #ForeverOrange pic.twitter.com/H24G7amzvn
— The Foxtrot (@DynamicFoxtrot) March 5, 2019
C’mon guys, it’s not that cold. Do you really need heating stations when you've got red-hot Concacaf Champions League action to watch?
To be fair to Houston, my hometown, 40 degrees in the Bayou City feels a whole lot colder than 40 degrees in Colorado, where I now reside. So it will certainly be chilly. Sadly, BBVA Compass Stadium isn’t offering the hot chocolate and coffee for free, though it's free to sit under the heaters (after you pay to get into the stadium).
But compared to what Denver Commerce City experienced Saturday, the 40 degrees will feel nice and balmy.
Down a man, down twice in the game, never gave up. #Rapids96 | #SnowClasico3 pic.twitter.com/bQhWnyIEzG
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 3, 2019
The Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers played the coldest game in MLS history last night - 18°F
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 3, 2019
The Dynamo vs Tigres match will be one of four featuring MLS clubs in the quarterfinals of the CCL, which also has three Liga MX squads left (and one from Panama).
Despite the proximity between the clubs, this is the first meeting between Houston and UANL. The late kickoff likely won't keep Tigres fans away, but it remains to be seen how many Dynamo fans brave these frigid temperatures.
First-ever meeting against one of our closest neighbors tomorrow.
— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) March 4, 2019
The return leg will be on March 12 in Nuevo León, Mexico. The winner faces either New York Red Bulls or Santos Laguna in the semifinals April 2-11.
Note: If you don’t believe in climate change, please stop using the internet. You’re probably also a flat earther, anti-vaxxer and Bigfoot lover and need to learn how science works.