MLS announced home openers for the 2013 season on Tuesday, and Sounders FC will kick off on Saturday, March 2, against the Montreal Impact at CenturyLink Field.
It will mark the fifth time in as many seasons that Seattle has played its first game at home. If you remember, the first three were stand-alone league openers on national television.
This time there will be six games around MLS played on opening day. Three more will be played on Sunday, March 3.
According to a league release: “Times and broadcast information for these games will be announced in the coming weeks as part of the complete 2013 regular season schedule announcement. Each club will again play 34 games during the regular season.”
Remember, Seattle is also playing Mexico’s Tigres UANL in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal on March 5-7 and 12-14. It appears as though there’s at least a chance the Sounders could have a bye in Week 2 to focus on CCL.
Serving suspensions in the March 2 opener will be Osvaldo Alonso (red card in the team’s last playoff game) and Marc Burch (use of a gay slur in postseason).
Here were the game provided (home teams listed first):
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WEEK 1
Saturday, March 2
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Montreal Impact (CenturyLink Field)
Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City (PPL Park)
FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids (FC Dallas Stadium)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC (BC Place)
Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Chivas USA vs. Columbus Crew (The Home Depot Center)
Sunday, March 3
LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire (The Home Depot Center)
Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls (JELD-WEN Field)
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (Buck Shaw Stadium)
WEEK 2
Saturday, March 9
Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (venue TBD)
D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake (RFK Stadium)
Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Park)
WEEK 3
Saturday, March 16
New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United (Red Bull Arena)
Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire (Livestrong Sporting Park)
Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC (Olympic Stadium)
Columbus Crew vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Crew Stadium)
WEEK 4
Saturday, March 23
New England Revolution vs. FC Dallas (Gillette Stadium)