The Year of the Snake

By: Andrew | February 3rd, 2010

chinese-zodiac I hereby formally submit a request for official revision to whomever is in charge of updates, edits, and such of the Chinese Zodiac Calendar. According to my research, the Year of the Snake runs from February 10, 2013 through January 30, 2014. However, this must be amended immediately so as to conform with the recently released Major League Soccer 2010 season schedule, beginning on Thursday, March 25, 2010 when the Union visits that NFL stadium in Seattle, and concluding on Sunday, November 21, 2010 with the MLS Cup (my prediction on whether the Union will be participating or not to come at a later time). Granted, it’s about 4 months shy of a full calendar year, but that’s a minor detail.

So, how does the 30-game regular season look for the Union?

03.25.2010 (THURS) – Seattle Sounders FC (A) 9:30P [ESPN2] *
– BYE WEEK –
04.10.2010 (SAT) – DC United (H) 6P [FSC] *
04.15.2010 (THURS) – Toronto FC (A) 7P [ESPN2] *
04.24.2010 (SAT) – New York Red Bulls (A) 4P
05.01.2010 (SAT) – LA Galaxy (A) 10:30P
05.08.2010 (SAT) – Real Salt Lake (A) 9P
05.15.2010 (SAT) – FC Dallas (H) 4P
05.29.2010 (SAT) – Houston Dynamo (A) 8:30P [FSC]
06.05.2010 (SAT) – Chicago Fire (A) 8:30P
06.10.2010 (THURS) – Kansas City Wizards (A) 8P
– WORLD CUP BREAK –
06.27.2010 (SUN) – Seattle Sounders FC (H) 5P [ESPN2] †
07.03.2010 (SAT) – Chivas USA (A) 10:30P [FSC]
07.10.2010 (SAT) – San Jose Earthquakes (H) 5:30P [FSC]
07.17.2010 (SAT) – Toronto FC (H) 3:30P
07.21.2010 (WED) – Colorado Rapids (A) TBD
07.31.2010 (SAT) – New England Revolution (H) 3:30P
08.05.2010 (THURS) – Columbus Crew (H) 8P [ESPN2]
08.08.2010 (SUN) – FC Dallas (A) 7P [FSC]
08.11.2010 (WED) – Real Salt Lake (H) 7:30P
08.14.2010 (SAT) – Colorado Rapids (H) 4P
08.22.2010 (SUN) – DC United (A) 2P
08.28.2010 (SAT) – New England Revolution (A) 7:30P
09.04.2010 (SAT) – Kansas City Wizards (H) 3:30P
09.11.2010 (SAT) – Chicago Fire (H) 6P [FSC]
09.18.2010 (SAT) – San Jose Earthquakes (A) 10P
09.25.2010 (SAT) – Chivas USA (H) 4P
10.02.2010 (SAT) – Houston Dynamo (H) 4P
10.07.2010 (THURS) – LA Galaxy (H) 8P [ESPN2]
10.16.2010 (SAT) – New York Red Bulls (H) 6P [FSC]
10.24.2010 (SUN) – Columbus Crew (A) 4P

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS | 10.28.2010 (THURS) – 11.14.2010 (SUN)
MLS CUP 2010 | 11.21.2010 (SUN) [ESPN]

* denotes home opener
† denotes home opener at Seaport Drive

Right now there seems to be some minor discrepancies between the schedule posted on MLSnet.com versus that on the Union’s website (at least at the time of this posting). I’ve tried to coordinate the two and come up with something of relative accuracy. The exact date (and opponent) of the 2010 All-Star game (to be held in Houston) has not yet been determined, but will take place sometime after the World Cup break, maybe sometime around July 21st, hence the TBD timing for the Rapids game. I’ve only listed broadcasts on the ESPN networks and FSC, assuming the others will be picked up by 6abc as part of their broadcast deal with the team.

The Union will have a “bye” in the second week of the season, with their second regular season game ever taking place 16 days after their first. They will participate in FOUR home openers: two away at Seattle (MLS First Kick) and Toronto (on their brand new grass pitch), and two home at the Linc and PPL Park. Eight of their first ten games of the season will be away from home, meaning the schedule has been back-loaded with home games (crucial for a potential playoff run). There will be a brutal stretch between the end of July and mid-August, playing five games in two weeks with a trip down to Dallas breaking up the four-game home stand.

And some other minor noteworthy home games: heading up to the Pink Cow’s bedpan on April 24th, Bobby Convey’s homecoming on July 10th, versus the 2009 MLS Cup Champions on August 11th, the Beckham/Donovan Show comes to town on October 7th, and the final home game of the season versus the Pink Cows on October 24th.

It’s gonna be a helluva ride! Now is the time on The Offside when we dance!