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Galaxy face Fire, Timbers host Red Bulls in 2013 MLS opening weekend

Defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy will take on the Chicago Fire at Home Depot Center and the New York Red Bulls will face the Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field in two of the headlining match-ups of the opening weekend of the 2013 MLS season.

Major League Soccer announced the home openers for all 19 teams, and the New England Revolution will be the team with the longest wait for a home opener, facing FC Dallas at Gillette Stadium on March 23rd.

Sebastien LeToux will make his return to PPL Park as a Philadelphia Union player on March 2nd when the Union take on Sporting Kansas City. Philadelphia will be involved in another home-opening reunion on March 9th when Conor Casey returns to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to take on the Colorado Rapids.

The Red Bulls will have to wait until March 16th to open Red Bull Arena as they take on arch-rival D.C. United in their first home match.

Here are all 19 MLS home openers for the 2013 season:

WEEK 1

Saturday, March 2:

Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City (PPL Park)

FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids (FC Dallas Stadium)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC (BC Place)

Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United (BBVA Compass Stadium)

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Montreal Impact (CenturyLink Field)

Chivas USA vs. Columbus Crew (The Home Depot Center)

Sunday, March 3:

LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire (The Home Depot Center)

Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls (JELD-WEN Field)

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (Buck Shaw Stadium)

WEEK 2

Saturday, March 9:

Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (venue TBD)

D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake (RFK Stadium)

Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)

Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Park)

WEEK 3

Saturday, March 16:

New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United (Red Bull Arena)

Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire (Livestrong Sporting Park)

Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (Rio Tinto Stadium)

Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC (Olympic Stadium)

Columbus Crew vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Crew Stadium)

WEEK 4

Saturday, March 23:

New England Revolution vs. FC Dallas (Gillette Stadium)

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What do you think of the match-ups?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Trying to create a little DC-Houston rivalry? Home opener last year, 5 total games, 2 tense playoffs, DC’s Hainault foul complaints…

    Reply
  2. There’s no possible way for the Galaxy to have a game in LA on March 3 then a game the next day in Costa Rica. Either the MLS opening of the CCL match will have to be moved.

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      • Haha… very concise, well thought out comment Charles.

        Personally, no matter what team it is… I back the MLS team in international comp. I’d REALLY like to see MLS do everything it can to prioritize making sure the teams representing the league in CCL are set up for success. Its critical to taking the next step in marketing their product and gaining credibility to a greater audience and sponsors as well as recruiting potential talent into the league.

      • Lol, talking about two games on back to back days wouldn’t be whining for anyone. You however, are doing a fine job of whining about whining.

      • Says the conspiracy spouting Seattle fan. What were the excuses for LA knocking Seattle out of the playoffs again? Biased refs? MLS favoritism? Cheating?

  3. I’d assume the reason why western teams are getting the earlier openers is because it’s more likely to be a little warmer in those parts compared to the great lakes teams and the teams out east.

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  4. Isn’t the Galaxy already scheduled to play in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League against Herediano the next day on March 4?

    http://www.concacafchampions.com/page/CL/TeamRelatedLink/0,,12856~2272~3,00.html

    While it is true that the Galaxy played the games mostly with their reserves during group play, you would think MLS wouldn’t want to force them to play 22 different players between opening day on March 3 and the quarterfinals game on March 4.

    Reply
    • LA’s and Seattle along with Houston don’t have to play their CCL matches until March 5th and it can be played the 5th thru the 7th. I think LA will likely play on Thursday March 7th along with Seattle and Houston will likely play on Wednesday March 6th….although Seattle could end up playing on the 6th since they play their MLS opener on Saturday the 2nd

      Reply
      • Thanks. I learned elsewhere that the scheduled date on the CCL site is simply the start of that week and they can schedule it anytime during the 5-7 (Tuesday through Thursday) window. The problem with the 7th is it’s not clear when and whether the MLS will schedule their second league game. It would be nice if CCL qualifying teams got a bye in one of the first two weekends, but that would make too much sense. If they have a game the second weekend too and a return trip the following week, then the fixture congestion is set up for the MLS teams to fall.

      • That would be great if only they had built a stadium with 18,000 seats. Unfortunately that only 72% of their 25,000 seat stadium. So if you’re grading attendance based on actually filling the stadium NYRB get a C-. Yeah Science!!!

      • Another season ticket holder. Unfortunately the place is half empty more often than it is sold out (I believe it was sold out 4 times last season, maybe 5). Comments pointing that out may be “hating” but they’re also accurate. NYRB needs to do better when it comes to putting butts in seats.

      • I’m not a season ticket holder, but have been to every game this past season, thanks to my friends. The place looks empty because its 25,000 plus seats. However NYRB gets 18,000 plus a game. Which would put it at the top of the league. Also considering where they are located and soccer not really being talked about, I consider that not to be to bad. Also Travis you do know that NJ is not NY right? I live in queens and really don’t like to travel as much, however I go to the games. I am the minority, the Majority wont go to a game.

      • The only way NY sells out is if another NY team is put in Queens, and a Brooklyn team is also put in MLS. The rivalry would fill like the London derbies,taking the train would really bring some feeling into it. Although taking the NY train, is like going to a freak show.

      • Have to disagree. There are enough people in the NYC area that selling out a 25k stadium for most, if not all, games should not be a problem. But it is. And for many games there are far less than 18k regardless of the announced attendance.

        I know the stadium isn’t the most conveniently located but Yankee stadium isn’t any better and Yankees get 50k up in the Bronx 80+ times a year at prices way way higher than RBA. Now I know the Yankees aren’t a fair comparison but we’re only talking about getting 25k 17 times a year. That should be doable.

      • Sorry buddy, but NYRB is nowhere near top of the league. Seattle Sounders have held that record every year since joining MLS.

      • i am well aware that NJ is not part of NY but it is generally considered to be part of the same metro area. i get that you are defending your teams attendance but NY should by default be able to fill that stadium due simply to the sheer volume of people in the area

      • Haha yeah. I live across the bridge from RBA and go to most home games. “Sold out” games aren’t actually sold out either, usually when they fill up the bottom tier they call it sold out.

        I read an interesting article about soccer fanhood in the NY Metro area. A majority of the people that appreciate soccer in our area are either starf*ckers who root for EPL or La Liga behemoths, or are expats from abroad whose loyalties are to a side from their country of origin. RBNY goes unnoticed.

    • It really is interesting that only Philly and Houston are at home in the east out of 9 games the opening weekend. Having to make up for that 3 of 4 are home in the east in Week 2 and 5 of 6 in Week 3.

      Reply
    • @TFC Dude.

      The answer to your question is weather. True they could have played in Montreal at Olympic Stadium but having season openers in March is going to mandate most of the matches in warm cities.

      Reply

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