2018 Schedule
- Thread starter Jon
- Start date
In actual schedule news...
We get to know two matches tomorrow!
I'm guessing: First game away at DC. Home opener vs. Philadelphia.
We get to know two matches tomorrow!
I'm guessing: First game away at DC. Home opener vs. Philadelphia.
I honestly don't know how you measure that. All of those are debatable. POR/SEA are small markets compared to the the others, but have national interest.
NYC/RB is a big TV market, but only one. And nobody outside of metro-NY gives a shit. Outside of this area the reaction to a game between 2 NY area teams is please broadcast anything else. Also, NY is a good soccer city but I'm starting to think it is a not so great MLS city, measured proportionally.
I still think DCU and RB is the biggest. But I can't say the alternative opinion is wrong.
Finally, by Google metric, the East coast rivalries are basically a draw with the NorthWest way behind. I offer this for FWIW; I'm not claiming this is dispositive or even a most important metric:
Well RB-DC has about 10 years on either rivalry so there would obviously be more web results.
FWIW, I'm friends with a guy who actually helps run one of the Red Bulls training programs out on Long Island. His snapchat story from their holiday party included a video of a loud "Fuck DC United" chant.
I think that rivalry will eventually take a backseat to the Hudson River Derby, and I think lately its hard to see it because DCU just hasn't been good, but I do think they are still a bigger rivalry.
I do think that if there comes a time during expansion that there is room for RB to play 3 games against either us or DC but not both, the league might give it to us.
But the presumed issue for 2018 is would the league schedule 4 Hudson River Games while dropping the DC/RB series to just 2.
I think expecting the league to do that is total wish casting, especially when DC has a new stadium and it would be their turn to host twice if they play 3 times.
2018 MLS Home Openers
Saturday, March 3, 2018:
Saturday, March 3, 2018:
- 1:00 PM ET - Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew SC (BMO Field)
- 3:30 PM ET - Houston Dynamo vs. Atlanta United (BBVA Compass Stadium)
- 7:30 PM ET - Orlando City vs. D.C. United (Orlando City Stadium)
- 8:00 PM ET - FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake (Toyota Stadium)
- 9:00 PM ET - Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire (Dick's Sporting Goods Park)
- 10:30 PM ET - San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United (Avaya Stadium)
- TBD - Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution (Talen Engery Stadium)
- 5:00 PM ET - Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles Football Club (CenturyLink Field)
- 6:00 PM ET - Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Montreal Impact (BC Place)
- 7:30 PM ET - Sporting KC vs. New York City FC (Children's Mercy Park)
- 10:00 PM ET - LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers (StubHub Center)
- 1:00 PM ET - Columbus Crew SC vs. Montreal Impact (MAPFRE Stadium)
- 1:30 PM ET - New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids (Gillette Stadium)
- 3:30 PM ET - Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles Football Club (Rio Tinto Stadium)
- 7:00 PM ET - New York Red Bulls vs. Portland Timbers (Red Bull Arena)
- TBD - Chicago Fire vs. Sporting KC (Toyota Park)
- 3:00 PM ET - Atlanta United vs. D.C. United (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
- 5:00 PM ET - New York City FC vs. LA Galaxy (Yankee Stadium)
- 3:00 PM ET - Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC (Olympic Stadium)
- TBD - D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo (location TBD)
- TBD - Minnesota United vs. Chicago Fire (TCF Bank Stadium)
- 10:30 PM ET - Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United (Providence Park)
- 9:00 PM ET - Los Angeles Football Club vs. Seattle Sounders (Banc of California Stadium)
With times on Sunday afternoon & evening, it looks like our first two games will be on national television.
Certainly, the LA Galaxy game will get big time promotion. That one is all about maximizing TV ratings, even if it means fewer fans in the seats (which continues a trend from 2017).
Certainly, the LA Galaxy game will get big time promotion. That one is all about maximizing TV ratings, even if it means fewer fans in the seats (which continues a trend from 2017).
Some notes on our first two matches...
- Shelton vs. Abdul-Salaam in Week 1. How exciting!
- First time playing a Western Conference team in Week 1 and/or Week 2
- 4th consecutive year having both matches being played on Sunday
- Shelton vs. Abdul-Salaam in Week 1. How exciting!
- First time playing a Western Conference team in Week 1 and/or Week 2
- 4th consecutive year having both matches being played on Sunday
These guys are going to be a fun addition to the league.
Red Bulls don't play opening weekend due to the odd number of teams in the league. Someone will have to be idle (almost) every week of the season, excluding some weeks when they might be able to have everyone active by taking advantage of double game weeks.
I don't see this being a big deal until the last 2 weeks, especially Decision Day. Somebody won't play on Decision Day, which will be odd, Presumably that team will have finished its season the previous week. It would be best if it is a team that is out of the playoff picture by then, though that can be hard to predict and perhaps not worth the insult.
I don't see this being a big deal until the last 2 weeks, especially Decision Day. Somebody won't play on Decision Day, which will be odd, Presumably that team will have finished its season the previous week. It would be best if it is a team that is out of the playoff picture by then, though that can be hard to predict and perhaps not worth the insult.
I just want a Tony Robbins pregame speech video. There ownership group has many unique individuals. Also wouldn't mind some Will Farrell content.
All good bets. Probably my choices. But it's tough. Of the 8 teams to miss the playoffs in 2016, 6 made them in 2017. And ideally you would want a team that not only misses the playoffs but is out of contention at least the week before Decision Day.
Okay, since nobody else has done this, here goes an attempt to figure out when our home games might be played.
Here are the possible windows for when we could play at home, based on the Yankees schedule and assuming a 48-hour turnaround time.
Sun, Mar 4 - Sat, Mar 31 (this covers 5 weekends; includes FIFA international dates Mar 19-27)
-> March 4 - @ SKC
-> March 11 - LAG
Wed, Apr 11 - Sat, Apr 14
Sat, Apr 28 - Wed, May 2
Tue, May 15 - Wed, May 23
Fri, Jun 1 - Sun, Jun 10 (2 weekends)
Sat, Jun 23 - Wed, Jun 27 (World Cup begins immediately before on June 14; Group Stage ends June 28)
Fri, Jul 6 - Wed, Jul 18 (2 weekends; World Cup ends July 15)
Fri, Aug 3 - Tue, Aug 7
Tue, Aug 21 - Sat, Aug 25
Tue, Sep 4 - Wed, Sep 12 (FIFA international dates Sep 3-11)
Tue, Sep 25 - Sun, Sep 30
Mon, Oct 1 - Sun, Oct 21 (subject to Yankee playoff requirements; in the past our October games have been limited to Decision Sunday only; includes FIFA international dates Oct 8-16)
This covers 19 weekends (not including the first weekend, which we know is an away game). Three weekends are on FIFA international dates, when the league usually runs an abbreviated schedule. One weekend is during the group stage of the World Cup, when there might be fewer games. Three weekends are during MLB playoffs (one of which is a FIFA international weekend). Two weekends have short windows that end on a Saturday, so turnaround time might be an issue.
Overall, I think that leads to 15-17 weekends when there might reasonably be home games, 3 of which are in March. There are also 8 good candidates for midweek games (Wednesday or Thursday) outside the early season.
Here are the possible windows for when we could play at home, based on the Yankees schedule and assuming a 48-hour turnaround time.
Sun, Mar 4 - Sat, Mar 31 (this covers 5 weekends; includes FIFA international dates Mar 19-27)
-> March 4 - @ SKC
-> March 11 - LAG
Wed, Apr 11 - Sat, Apr 14
Sat, Apr 28 - Wed, May 2
Tue, May 15 - Wed, May 23
Fri, Jun 1 - Sun, Jun 10 (2 weekends)
Sat, Jun 23 - Wed, Jun 27 (World Cup begins immediately before on June 14; Group Stage ends June 28)
Fri, Jul 6 - Wed, Jul 18 (2 weekends; World Cup ends July 15)
Fri, Aug 3 - Tue, Aug 7
Tue, Aug 21 - Sat, Aug 25
Tue, Sep 4 - Wed, Sep 12 (FIFA international dates Sep 3-11)
Tue, Sep 25 - Sun, Sep 30
Mon, Oct 1 - Sun, Oct 21 (subject to Yankee playoff requirements; in the past our October games have been limited to Decision Sunday only; includes FIFA international dates Oct 8-16)
This covers 19 weekends (not including the first weekend, which we know is an away game). Three weekends are on FIFA international dates, when the league usually runs an abbreviated schedule. One weekend is during the group stage of the World Cup, when there might be fewer games. Three weekends are during MLB playoffs (one of which is a FIFA international weekend). Two weekends have short windows that end on a Saturday, so turnaround time might be an issue.
Overall, I think that leads to 15-17 weekends when there might reasonably be home games, 3 of which are in March. There are also 8 good candidates for midweek games (Wednesday or Thursday) outside the early season.
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