"It's something we're continuing to assess. The current costs, and I don't believe them -- I think they're ridiculous -- are $8 million to put in a natural turf. My question is: Can we do it and have it be really good as well? Artificial is getting better and better and the artificial we're putting in this time is going to be much more resistant to heat for afternoon games, which was one of our issues before."

-- Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson on a natural grass field, the missing piece at Providence Park, into which $85 million has been spent on its current renovations. He pointed out several issues unique to the stadium -- draining, lighting and a college football contract -- that complicate the move. (The Athletic)

June 5: Jamaica (friendly) at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
June 9: Venezuela (friendly) at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio
June 18: Guyana (Gold Cup) at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn.
June 22: Trinidad & Tobago  (Gold Cup) at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio
June 26: Panama (Gold Cup) at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
June 30: Quarterfinal (Gold Cup, if necessary) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
July 3: Semifinal (Gold Cup, if necessary) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
July 7: Final (Gold Cup, if necessary) at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.

"It's semi-frustrating that we've been having these conversations with the NWSL for at least a year now, and we have a strong indication that we are going to get the franchise. We don't have in our hands a preliminary letter [awarding us the team]. Yeah, I find it a little frustrating, frankly. We're trying to get going and every moment that goes by without a letter of award from NWSL, it gets a little more difficult to accomplish that."

-- Connecticut real estate investor Mark Greenberg on the efforts to bring an NWSL expansion team in 2020 to Windsor, Connecticut, where plans to build a soccer stadium for the team are on hold while its awaits approval from the NWSL board of governors, which meets in May. The plan would be for World Cup and Olympic winner Kristine Lilly to serve as president overseeing the soccer side and Mohegan Sun Sports -- which owns and operates the WNBA's Connecticut Sun and the National Lacrosse League's New England Black Wolves -- handling the business side (ticketing and marketing). Also spearheading the expansion bid are T.J. Clynch and long-time soccer executive Thom Meredith. (The Equalizer)