By RYAN TOLMICH
Orlando City and New York City FC are set to kick off their inaugural MLS campaigns with the added benefit of facing another team with no wealth of MLS experience: each other.
The two franchises will start their 2015 seasons against one another on March 8 at the Citrus Bowl for Orlando City’s first home MLS contest. For their part, NYC FC’s home opener will occur one week later when Yankee Stadium plays host to the reigning Eastern Conference champions, the New England Revolution.
The MLS season will officially kick off on March 6 with a matchup featuring the defending MLS Cup champions. The LA Galaxy begin their title defense at home against the Chicago Fire to start off the league’s new Friday night game of the week.
In addition, the San Jose Earthquakes will officially open Avaya Stadium on March 22 against the Chicago Fire, while TFC will wait until May 10 to reopen a renovated BMO Field.
Take a closer look at the released schedule below:
WEEK 1
Friday, March 6
LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire (StubHub Center) – 10 p.m. ET, Unimas
Saturday, March 7
D.C. United vs. Montreal Impact (RFK Stadium) – 3 p.m. ET, RDS1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC (BC Place) – 6 p.m. ET, TSN1 and RDS2
Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew SC (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado Rapids (PPL PARK)
Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake (Providence Park)
FC Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Toyota Stadium)
Sunday, March 8
Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC (Orlando Citrus Bowl) – 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Sporting Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls (Sporting Park) – 7 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1
Seattle Sounders FC vs. New England Revolution (CenturyLink Field) – 9:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1
WEEK 2
Saturday, March 14
Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Toyota Park)
Real Salt Lake vs. Philadelphia Union (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Columbus Crew SC vs. Toronto FC (Columbus Crew Stadium)
Sunday, March 15
New York City FC vs. New England Revolution (Yankee Stadium)
WEEK 3
Saturday, March 21
New England Revolution vs. Montreal Impact (Gillette Stadium)
Colorado Rapids vs. New York City FC (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
Sunday, March 22
New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United (Red Bull Arena)
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire (Avaya Stadium)
WEEK 4
Saturday, March 28
Montreal Impact vs. Orlando City SC (Olympic Stadium)
WEEK 10
Sunday, May 10
Toronto FC vs. Houston Dynamo (BMO Field)
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What do you think of the scheduled home openers? Which game are you most looking forward to?
Share your thoughts below.
Ouch! Toronto should have just played in the stadium formerly known as Skydome during one of the first 9 weeks.
Anyone know is the new Fox/ESPN/WhateverItIs streaming feature will be available to Xfinity users?
From what i understand, if you don’t have cable with ESPN, only the games on espn3 will be available. The app is watchespn. In the app, provide your xfinity credentials.
See the discussion at this link:
http://m.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/05/12/what-mlss-new-media-rights-deals-mean-match-streaming-mls-live
Yes. Cant wait.
Great group of games. Expansion battle. RSL-Timbers, Sea-NE, Sporks-Rbull
The TV looks promising right off the bat. My number one fear is that Fox starts using Fox2 or Fox Plus…no reason for the fear…other that it would stink.
I think it’s justified. Fox’s coverage is generally the worst in my opinion.
I meant your fear is justified, not putting the games on networks where no one can see them.
I agree with Slow here, Fox coverage is the worst NBC had the best MLS coverage then ESPN. I get BEIN sports now, and I like the them more than I used to like Fox. Frankly, I don’t watch FOX – I watch the Champions Leagues I on ESN Deportes.
BeIN Sports is top quality programming. The only people hating on the network are those whose cable providers don’t carry it. And Kay Murray & Terri Leigh are easier on the eyes than Wynalda and Barton.
Every game will available on the WatchESPN app, right?
hahaha there are 4 shields that are the same. who’s shield is who’s!?!?!
One of the blue and red ones is Dallas. No idea which one but hey. Boring colors. =/
They’re in alphabetically order: Chicago-to-Vancouver
These are beautiful logos. I designed them myself.
That explains the phallus.
You’re header picture still includes Chivas. In our hearts forever.
RIP, Goats.
The reason why the full schedule hasn’t been released yet is that NYCFC can’t lock down dates in Yankee Stadium. Hate ’em already!
Always found it interesting how this league handles things like some teams only have to play one “home opener,” obviously their own, while others play three.
No one here can argue that home-field doesn’t play into things. Even MLS can’t deny that.
CBA, hurry in.
Toronto doesn’t play a home game for over a month into the season.
Ho Hum.
They are expanding/renovating the stadium. However I will be interested how it gets handled since they are also hosting Pan Am Games.
Yes, I was up there last week and saw work had started on the expansion.