Major League Soccer revealed its opening 2009 schedule on Tuesday, with New York visiting Seattle in the first match of the season, on March 19th.
Here are the schedule for week one, and the subsequent home openers:
WEEK 1
Thursday, March 19
New York Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders (ESPN2)
Saturday, March 21
Columbus Crew at Houston Dynamo (FSC)
Chicago Fire at FC Dallas
Toronto FC at Kansas City Wizards
Colorado Rapids at Chivas USA (FSC)
New England Revolution at San Jose Earthquakes
Sunday, March 22
D.C. United at Los Angeles Galaxy (Telefutura)
Here are the rest of the home openers:
WEEK 2
Saturday, 28
Toronto FC at Columbus Crew
San Jose Earthquakes at D.C. United
New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls
Kansas City Wizards at Colorado Rapids
Week 3
Thursday, April 2
Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake
Saturday, April 4
Seattle Sounders FC at Toronto FC
FC Dallas at New England Revolution
Sunday, April 5
New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire
What do you think of the schedule? What match-up are you most looking forward to? Are you happy or unhappy with your team's scheduled home opener?
Share your thoughts below.
to C -BUS fans,don’t let some wannabie hooligans spoil ur away trips .just how supporters go to ur stadium u guys will end up going to theirs.Last thing i would like to see is one of ur fans shoot down at chicago for some bullshit some of ur shitty fans (hooligans)lol
I hear this year a certain Fire “Fan leader” is pushing for the Brimstone Cup name to be changed.I guess he isnt happy that section 8’s (more like his) right and privelage to hoist the brimstone has been revoked these past 7 seasons.Word has it he wants his face plastered on the cup (ticket sales in section 8 and MLS TIFO in general would be non existent without him!)and is willing to file a lawsuit against Dallas fans before the first game, no word on exactly what he wants it called, but early guesses are “Douchebag Cup”.
I hope the US @ El Salvador game on March 28th is a 10pm kickoff so we can watch it in the parking lot.
As a long-time Sounders fan, I am stoked to see that we were honored with the season opener. Expect > 24 kilobutts for the match. I look forward to seeing how the new side performs.
Very savvy of MLS/ESPN to start off with Seattles home/franchise opener. It ought to be a great environment. And do you think we might see Drew Carey that night in the booth?
That’s great news, the Fire has another 5 goal victory to open the home season in 2009.
If Seattle has the 18,000 season ticket holders they say, that opening night on ESPN2(or ESPN3, watch ESPN Classic make a major announcement soon folks, hint! hint!) is going to look awesome. Then I can go to the home opener for NYRB on the 28th with the 12,000 other fans that care about the team. Geez, can they erect RB Arena fast enough? Another season in Giants (Felons) Stadium? C’mon!!!!
Interesting to see on the first weekend what *should* have been the MLS Cup final: Crew vs. Dynamo
red bulls vs. Shittle
BORING!!!!
When does Chicago go to Seattle and Toronto? That’s what I want to know!
Ives,
You’re killin me, man :-). Hope you had a good Thanksgiving.
Hey Jason, perhaps the excitement over those two trophies will translate into your city actually supporting the team.
But probably not. Crew to San Diego in 2010!
I grew up in Seattle, used to live in NY and now live back in Sea-Town. My only hope is that the Red Bulls play as poorly as they did when I lived in NY. My respect to all you Metro/RBNY fans. It’s been a tough 13 years. I can’t wait to see Red Bull Arena!
Hey Jason – I’m sure they’re beautiful – well more ‘nice’ than anything, that one is pretty ugly. I definitely can’t argue with the fact that the team deserved them this year (also congrats on getting your DP signed – nice move). I will say though – give TFC 12 years and then we’ll see where we’re at.
I grew up a Sounders fan, but now live in NJ and have Red Bulls season tickets. This will be the best/worst game I can imagine…probably best to get it out of the way early.
Season hasn’t even started and the trash talk has already started.
Brings a tear to my eyes boys. Love it! 🙂
Not the happiest that Chicago doesn’t get our home opener until the 3rd week, but at least we open somewhere warm. Here’s to hoping week 2 is in the sun as well!
GO FIRE!
What sucks is knowing in December that I am going to miss opening night for the Sounders in March, if it is a 6pm start like the local paper says.
Hey Ives,
It looks like FSC is broadcasting two games on the first saturday of the 2009 season. Are they going to keep it up with showing two games on saturday for the ’09 season, or is this just a start of the season extravaganza?
Keep the info coming, for all of us behind our desks…
Come on you Rapids!
Already looking forward to taking the trip north to Toronto, been trying to hit a new stadium every year.
Well, the Columbus players will get a dose of real fans in their season opener at Houston.
Coincidently, that happens to be the juiciest matchup on the opening platter. Hopefully the Dynamo are sharp from CCL games.
Actually, I’d take a few opening losses to MLS competition to advance in the CCL.
Hey Ben!
When you and your “real” fans come, we will show you our two new trophies. They are pretty nice.
Columbus Crew Fans
“Gives them another week to practice hitting shots inside the goalposts instead of off the goalposts.”
Ouch.
Tim, there are 15 teams in 2009 so one had to sit in week one. It turned out to be Real Salt Lake. Gives them another week to practice hitting shots inside the goalposts instead of off the goalposts. (Kidding)
What happened to RSL in week 1?
With violence and racism?
I kid because I love – I know those few bad apples don’t reflect Columbus as a whole, or it’s fans. Really I think this will be another fun game, especially to (sort of) open the season – assuming we don’t get too carried away in K.C.
Ben/Toronto,
we are looking forward to having you and showing you how real fans treat their visitors again.
Love,
Columbus
I was really hoping the Fire would open up in Seattle…guess I’ll have to wait to visit….
Sorry folks, the DC-LA game was cut off the post. DC is at LA on March 22
Maybe the league is holding out the Gals for the first month to let Golden Balls and Landycakes get back from their European adventures (just kidding)
Dear Columbus – I (and 2500+ of my friends) will see you in week 2 and show you what real fans are like again.
Love
Toronto
I’m most looking forward to:
New York Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders, March 19
New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls, March 28
New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire, April 5
Sorry Ives but their must be some mistake surely this was the 2008 schedule with NY at Chicago to open things up……
Oh man, I can’t wait for that first game. It’s going to be crazy here in Seattle.
OK, so this season MLS decides to stoke the emergent Fire – RBNY rivalry flame (pun intended) early. The Fire’s season opener is a Brimstone Cup match, too, even though that rivalry isn’t much of one anymore.
when is the galaxy home opener?