It’s MLS schedule day, when your iCal, Google Calendar or – if you’re still keeping it old school with pen and paper – day planner gets a workout for the first time in who knows how long.
So, with the full slate finally available for our collective perusal, the time is now to start blocking off your schedule in the name of soccer.
That birthday party some acquaintance promises is going to be “an absolute blowout” but is more likely to be 15 people milling around an apartment checking their phones? That dinner party whose barely-edible fare forces you trot out insincere compliments before picking up takeout on the way home?
Send your regards. You’ve got hard and fast plans with your couch, a beverage and MLS action. Or, if you’re really lucky, you’ll be at the stadium, doing the damn thing in person.
The following is my must-see viewing schedule for the season’s first two months, the matches for the first eight weeks that – come hell or high water – I’ll pause my life to consume. Of course, I’ll watch the rest of it as well, but then maybe you actually have a life outside soccer. Good for you.
WEEK 1: LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire – Friday, March 6 (10 pm ET, UniMas)
Thought I was going to point you toward the Expansion Bowl, didn’t you? You were going to watch that anyway, but you might have skipped Friday night’s opener for some lame engagement and I’m all about establishing habits early in the season. Friday night is for MLS. Sell it to your friends as a Spanish-language pregame (or just hit the SAP button), then hit the town afterwards. Plus, it’s the defending champs sans LD against a reloading Fire side that’s aiming to prove they’re a sleeping giant instead of an MLS also-ran.
WEEK 2: New York City FC vs. New England Revolution – Sunday, March 15 (5 pm ET, ESPN2)
It's not a playoff rematch between the Revs and Red Bulls – that's not until Saturday, May 2 – but it will be NYCFC's home opener. What kind of team will Jason Kreis have in place? What will the Third Rail, the club's new supporters group, come up with to welcome their team to New York? Might there be some Frank Lampard-related tifo? What will Yankee Stadium look like? Start spreading the news...
WEEK 3: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire – Sunday, March 22 (7 pm ET, FOX Sports 1)
It doesn’t get much juicier than this when opening MLS’ latest soccer-specific stadium. Avaya Stadium is gorgeous – the largest outdoor bar in North America intrigues me greatly – and the matchup leaves nothing to be desired. Former Quakes boss Frank Yallop vs. former-and-now-current head coach Dominic Kinnear. What will San Jose’s identity be under Kinnear? What reception will Yallop get from the home faithful? Will you book plane tickets to the Bay Area on a whim to see the league’s newest cathedral?
WEEK 4: FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders – Saturday, March 28 (8:30 pm ET, TV TBD)
Mauro. Fabian. Clint. Oba. Oscar. Sigi. Playoff rematch. Let’s just stick with the one-name monikers for these guys. Here’s the underlying theme: Western Conference up-and-comers vs. the Supporters’ Shield holders. Dallas believe they’ve got a legitimate shot at knocking Seattle off their regular-season (and postseason) perch – as long as the creative genius/china doll more commonly known as Mauro Diaz stays out of the trainer’s room. Seattle? Well, the big boys know cutting challengers down to size, even on away goals, is just part of life at the top.
WEEK 5: Orlando City SC vs. D.C. United – Friday, April 3 (7 pm ET, UniMas)
Best believe the Citrus Bowl is going to be buzzing for this one. With Orlando hunting for rivals – apart from New York City FC, who they’ve made a habit of trolling on Twitter – D.C. might just be the next logical choice. They’re now the southernmost team in the Eastern Conference outside the Lions, and they just finished atop the standings in 2014. What will the first impression between these two sides be? A little bad blood in this one could go a long way.
WEEK 6: Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC – Saturday, April 11 (TBD, TV TBD)
Talk about being spoiled for choice. Forget making outside plans this weekend. But if you have to watch just one game, it has to be LA-Seattle. No, New England-Columbus. Wait, go with D.C. United-Red Bulls, or on second thought maybe Sporting KC-Real Salt Lake. Me? I’m going with the Union hosting New York City FC, partly because if you follow my guide you'll only have watched Jason Kreis’ boys once and also because this is a rivalry waiting to happen. Oh, did I mention NYCFC and Philly will do it all again at Yankee Stadium the following Thursday?
WEEK 7: Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps – Saturday, April 18 (9:30 pm ET, TV TBD)
You won’t have watched these two Western Conference contenders yet – unless, like me, your life is pretty much limited to MLS from March to early December. By now, the Moraleses (Javier and Pedro) should be in prime form, and that’s more than enough to draw me in. At home, RSL will do their usual positive-possession thing while the ‘Caps try to counterpunch on the break. You could do worse on a Saturday night.
WEEK 8: Orlando City SC vs. Toronto FC – Sunday, April 26 (7 pm ET, FOX Sports 1)
See Week 6. The fact is you aren’t going to leave the house for much of April. Stock up on potables. Canned goods, soda/beer and the like. Sunday’s slate is just stupid. The Galaxy and Red Bulls get it started, then Orlando and Toronto go to bat and Seattle and Portland finish it off in the year’s first massive Cascadia match. Just assume you’ll watch them all, but I’m most intrigued by the meat of that national-television sandwich. Kaka vs. Bradley. Need I say more?
