MLS Schedule Released; Portland Timbers Score 11 Nationally Televised Games
by Geoff Gibson on Jan 5, 2012 11:31 AM PST
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PrintWell I told you guys it would be coming today and here it is! The entire 2012 MLS Schedule has been released in full including the television schedule for each game. It's quite extensive actually.
So, first, before we get to the hard dates, it's worth pointing out the the Portland Timbers will be featured in 11 nationally televised games, (9 if you don't include Galavision). Three matches will appear on ESPN/ESPN2, six on NBC/NBC Sports, and two on Galavision (which will also air locally for those of us who don't speak Spanish.
The big news here is that all three of the Seattle Sounders matches (2 at Jeld-Wen, one away) will be MAJOR features with the first, on June 24th, airing on ESPN, the second, on September 15th, airing on NBC, and the third, on October 7th, airing on ESPN once again. That's three big channels. The NBC one is most exciting due to it being an over the air channel that most people have access to.
Other notables:
- We will not see the Montreal Impact at home this year.
- Only a single home game against the LA Galaxy
- We'll be seeing the Vancouver Whitecaps at home twice as with the Seattle Sounders.
- We will not see the New York Red Bulls at home this year.
The full schedule and breakdown is after the break.
Schedule Breakdown:
Home Dates by Day of the Week:
Monday (1), Tuesday, (1), Friday (1), Saturday (11), Sunday (3)
Road Dates by Day of the Week:
Tuesday (1), Wednesday (4), Saturday (9), Sunday (3)
Home Dates by Month:
March (2), April (2), May (3), June (1), July (3), August (3), September (2), October (1)
Road Dates by Month:
March (2), April (2), May (1), June (2), July (3), August (2), September (3), October (2)
Western Conference Opponents Played Twice at Home:
Chivas USA, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Western Conference Opponents Played Twice Away:
Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake
Eastern Conference Opponents at Home:
Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Sporting Kansas City, Philadelphia Union
Eastern Conference Opponents Away:
Houston Dynamo, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC – Timbers do not travel to an Eastern Conference opponent after Aug. 19.
National TV Matches (12):
ESPN (2), ESPN2 (1), Galavisión (2), NBC (1), NBC Sports Network (6)
2012 Portland Timbers Schedule (home matches in bold, CAPS)
|
Date |
Opponent |
Kickoff (Pacific) |
Television |
|
Monday, March 12 |
PHILADELPHIA UNION |
6:30 p.m. |
ESPN2 |
|
Saturday, March 17 |
@FC Dallas |
5:30 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Saturday, March 24 |
@New England Revolution |
1 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Saturday, March 31 |
REAL SALT LAKE |
7 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Saturday, April 7 |
CHIVAS USA |
7:30 p.m. |
KPTV |
|
Saturday, April 14 |
@LA Galaxy |
7:30 p.m. |
KPDX |
|
Saturday, April 21 |
SPORTING KANSAS CITY |
7:30 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Saturday, April 28 |
@Montreal Impact |
11 a.m. |
KPDX |
|
Saturday, May 5 |
COLUMBUS CREW |
7:30 p.m. |
KPTV |
|
Tuesday, May 15 |
@Houston Dynamo |
5:30 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Sunday, May 20 |
CHICAGO FIRE |
4 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS,Galavisión |
|
Saturday, May 26 |
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC |
7 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Sunday, June 17 |
@LA Galaxy |
4 p.m. |
KPTV |
|
Sunday, June 24 |
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC |
2 p.m. |
ESPN |
|
Saturday, June 30 |
@Colorado Rapids |
6 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Tuesday, July 3 |
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES |
7:30 p.m. |
KPTV |
|
Saturday, July 7 |
@Real Salt Lake |
6 p.m. |
KPDX |
|
Saturday, July 14 |
LA GALAXY |
8 p.m. |
NBC Sports Network |
|
Wednesday, July 18 |
@Chivas USA |
1 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Saturday, July 21 |
@FC Dallas |
6 p.m. |
KPTV |
|
Saturday, July 28 |
CHIVAS USA |
8 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Sunday, Aug. 5 |
FC DALLAS |
4 p.m. |
NBC Sports Network |
|
Wednesday, Aug. 15 |
@Toronto FC |
4 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Sunday, Aug. 19 |
@New York Red Bulls |
4 p.m. |
KPTV, Galavisión |
|
Saturday, Aug. 25 |
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC |
7:30 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Friday, Aug. 31 |
COLORADO RAPIDS |
7:30 p.m. |
NBC Sports Network |
|
Wednesday, Sept. 5 |
@Colorado Rapids |
6 p.m. |
NBC Sports Network |
|
Saturday, Sept. 15 |
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC |
12:30 p.m. |
NBC |
|
Wednesday, Sept. 19 |
@San Jose Earthquakes |
7:30 p.m. |
KPDX |
|
Saturday, Sept. 22 |
@Real Salt Lake |
5 p.m. |
NBC Sports Network |
|
Saturday, Sept. 29 |
D.C. UNITED |
7:30 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Sunday, Oct. 7 |
@Seattle Sounders FC |
6 p.m. |
ESPN |
|
Saturday, Oct. 20 |
@Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
1 p.m. |
ROOT SPORTS |
|
Saturday, Oct. 27 |
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES |
3:30 p.m. |
NBC Sports Network |
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Cascadia Cup
Sounders website reports:
With the change in the schedule format, it also changes the format for the Cascadia Cup standings. The winner of the Cascadia Cup will now be determined by the first home and road matches between each team.
Not sure how they came to that conclusion, since the winner of the cup is supposed to be determined by the supporters groups, but I guess this wouldn’t be the first time the Sounders’ FO upstaged ECS.
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
That is how it was done in USL when there was an unbalenced schedule.
I do believe.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Jan 5, 2012 11:43 AM PST up reply actions
Almost the same
In the USL era it was the final home/away matches, not the first home/away. That way the games later in the season are the potentially important ones.
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
by Andrew Wheeler on Jan 5, 2012 11:45 AM PST up reply actions
This makes more sense to me
although the Seattle FO probably should not presume to know at this point until the summit anyway.
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
Either way, it's the supporters groups' determination, not the Sounders FO's.
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
by Andrew Wheeler on Jan 5, 2012 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
That was only in 2007 when the situation was a bit different
In 2007 Cascadia teams had different numbers of matches against each other. For example, the Sounders played four times against the Whitecaps but only three times against the Timbers, I’m not sure how many matches there were between the Timbers and Whitecaps. Anyway, obviously in the 2007 situation all matches could not have been counted.
In 2008 each Cascadia team had one home and two away matches against one opponent, and vice versa against the other opponent. The schedule was unbalanced, but all matches counted. However, it was not as unbalanced as in 2012 when each team has a different number of home matches.
However, initial comments in various blogs and discussion boards in Seattle seem to be in favor of counting all matches in 2012 as well. It remains to be seen what the SGs decide.
personally I am fine either way
althoguh I would prefer it to be the last road or home games that count, not the first if that is the way it goes.
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
Sounders website is not who determines the Cascasia cup format.
The supporters do.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
Interesting...
And I think a good move for MLS. December shouldn’t be a hands-off month entirely.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Jan 5, 2012 12:00 PM PST up reply actions
It's gonna sting...
But the bright side is that Seattle and Vancouver at home twice should help.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Jan 5, 2012 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
I dig all the weekend games
I was worried I might have to miss games due to work travel, not anymore!
And take plenty of tissue paper so they can dry their eyes after the game.
Apparently over 80% of the games are on the weekend or holidays.
More than 83 percent of all MLS games will take place on weekends or holidays, with every day of the week having at least one scheduled match during the year. The nine MLS games scheduled for Saturday, April 28, are set to break the league record for the most games in one day (previously eight, on March 26, 2011).
MLS initially did not schedule any games on FIFA fixture dates, but the league afforded the option, only by mutual club consent, of moving a game to one of those dates when other scheduling conflicts could not be resolved. Thus a small number of games do occur on select FIFA fixture dates.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/05/mls-reveals-2012-schedule-including-mls-cup-december
[Last two paragraphs]
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
Seattle plays
5 or 6 on Wednesday.
And take plenty of tissue paper so they can dry their eyes after the game.
I guess my point was
I don’t have to miss any games! wooo hooo!
And take plenty of tissue paper so they can dry their eyes after the game.
I just wish MLS would pick better ranges of times
I will probably get direct kick again even though they aired most of the games at the exact same time.
It would be great to spend a rainy spring day in Portland watching a day of MLS matches but none are on in the morning and most seem to start at 4:00 PT
If they varied the start times like they do in college football fans would be able to see more games.
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
As a non-season ticket holder
what games should I absolutely pick up tickets to? I’m thinking of going to at least 5 or 6. I’m thinking both Seattle obviously, LA, Philly, and finale vs. San Jose. Also thinking of hitting the road with the TA @ Seattle, @LA, and if I can afford it, @NY. Heard the TA had a blast last year in the Big Apple.
Vancouver away is tons of fun too
Whitecaps supporters were really great last year putting together a pre-day of mixer where we all had lots of fun.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Jan 5, 2012 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
RSL and Colorado
Both of those you can drive to if you don’t mind driving 12-18 hours. Plus the SG’s are fun to be around, at least the Rapids SG’s were awesome.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
that is a good list of home games to pick
Dallas or the Crew might make good additions to that list if you want a sixth home game
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
Yes.
So the Timbers only play each Eastern Conference team once and each Western Conference team three times.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
There is one more team in the league this year
so instead of preserving the home-and-away schedule of last year by being rational and grouping travel in such a way that far flung teams go to the same region for successive games, thus minimizing trips, they totally messed with the schedule and weighted it regionally, so west coast teams don’t have to travel as often.
I’m not a fan, but there’s no need to rehash this argument for the eleventy billionth time. It’s just not the way I would have done it.
by pdb on Jan 5, 2012 2:49 PM PST up reply actions
I'm not sure your way is that easy to do
Stadium availability, FIFA dates, USOC dates, etc.
I’m not crazy about the unbalanced schedule either but I understand why they’re doing it and I think it does benefit our club, given that most of their travel will be in the Pacific or Mountain time zone.
Supporters who gripe about it should ask the players what they think about playing a balanced schedule in North America.
We're going to turn it on, we're going to give you the power.
by yepyou'reright on Jan 5, 2012 5:40 PM PST up reply actions
Conference focus.
Three games a piece with conference rivals. One game only for non-conference rivals.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
I think our twice away schedule is brutal
I would much prefer our twice at home schedule be our twice on the road schedule.
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
Gets no easier in 2013 either
Twice away SEA and VAN. But home twice for LAG and RSL. I think each year the advantage/disadvantage will balance out.
We're going to turn it on, we're going to give you the power.
by yepyou'reright on Jan 5, 2012 5:42 PM PST up reply actions
Vancouver soes not worry me
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
Are you sure it will just flip like that?
I have not seen that anywhere before…
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
when do they usually start selling single game tickets?
and how impossible will it be to get them for the season opener do you think?
this is the city of destiny
You would have to camp-out for them
Last year I believe it was about 2 weeks after the schedule was released So I would venture to say Mid January but most likely late January.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
http://twitter.com/#!/MerrittPaulson/status/155116379417214977
@Ashmeister36 no date set. likely end of feburary sales event (possibly tues 28) like last season
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
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