MLS Schedule Released; Portland Timbers Score 11 Nationally Televised Games

Well 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)