This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Real Salt Lake supporters can map out everything from early March to late October.
Major League Soccer on Thursday released the entire 2016 regular-season schedule two weeks after announcing home openers for the league's 20 clubs. It was known RSL opens 2016 on the road, likely inside a sold-out Citrus Bowl against Kaká and Orlando City SC on Sunday, March 6. Six days later, it was announced RSL hosts rival Seattle Sounders on Saturday, March 12, in the Rio Tinto Stadium opener.
Now for those final 32 matches.
RSL's first date with Nat Borchers and the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers comes in Week 3 in Providence Park in downtown Portland, Ore., on March 19. But nine of RSL's first 13 regular-season outings come on the road in 2016, capped off by a month-long, five-game road swing from May to June. That marathon trip incudes: Colorado (May 7), Houston (May 14), Sporting Kansas City (May 21), Columbus Crew (May 28) and lastly, Yankee Stadium against New York City FC (June 2).
Five road games in 27 days will be the club's longest road trip in franchise history.
The Rio Tinto Stadium is scheduled to undergo a new field installation May 1 that is expected to be finished June 15. The original pitch is being replaced for the first time since being installed in September 2008, when RSL was preparing to move into its soccer-specific stadium in Sandy.
Following the league's two-week break in June for the Copa America tournament, RSL hosts the Timbers (June 18), defending Supporters' Shield winners New York Red Bulls (June 22), D.C. United (July 1) and the Montreal Impact (July 9).
East Coast road trips in 2016 include Orlando City, Columbus, NYCFC, Philadelphia and Toronto FC. RSL faces rival L.A. Galaxy just twice: On the road on April 23 and at home on Sept. 7.
Six of RSL's final nine regular-season matches will be at Rio Tinto Stadium in 2016 against FC Dallas twice, Colorado, L.A., Houston and Sporting Kansas City. Like 2015, RSL's regular-season finale will be at CenturyLink Field against the Sounders on Sunday, Oct. 23.
In 2015, RSL fans were visited by eventual MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco, Kaká, David Villa and saw the Galaxy debut of Steven Gerrard in an U.S. Open Cup matchup. Rio Tinto could get its first look at Chelsea legend Didier Drogba when the Impact come on July 9, but rumors are swirling around the 37-year-old's possible retirement.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
RSL's 2016 schedule highlights
• Face Seattle, Portland, Colorado, Houston, Sporting Kansas City and Dallas three times in 2016.
• Face L.A., Vancouver and San Jose just twice in 2016.
• Host Eastern Conference clubs New York Red Bulls, D.C. United, Montreal and Chicago
• Travel to face Eastern Conference clubs Orlando City, Columbus, NYCFC, Philadelphia and Toronto
• Host defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers on Saturday, June 18.
• Five-game road trip from May 7 to June 2 will be longest in club history
• Three 3-game weeks in 2016: June 18-25 (two home, one away); July 9-16 (two home, one away); July 31-Aug. 6 (one home, two away)
• U.S. Open Cup dates: June 14 (Round of 32), June 28 (Round of 16), July 19 (quarterfinals), Aug. 10 (semifinal), Sept. 20/21 (final)
• Should RSL advance in CONCACAF Champions League, they'd face winner of D.C. United and Queretaro F.C. March 16 and April 6 in semifinal series.
• One Sunday home game in 2016: Oct. 16 vs. Sporting Kansas City. —
Real Salt Lake's 2016 schedule
• Wednesday, Feb. 24 at Tigres UANL (CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal), 6 p.m., Fox Sports
• Wednesday, March 2 vs. Tigres UANL (CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal), 8 p.m., Fox Sports
• Sunday, March 6 at Orlando City SC, noon, KMYU (Regular-season opener)
• Saturday, March 12 vs. Seattle Sounders, 2 p.m., KMYU (Home opener)
• Saturday, March 19 at Portland Timbers, 8:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, April 2 at Sporting Kansas City, 6:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, April 9 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, April 16 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 8 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, April 23 at L.A. Galaxy, 8:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, April 30 vs. Houston Dynamo, 7:30, KMYU
• Saturday, May 7 at Colorado Rapids, 7 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, May 14 at Houston Dynamo, TBA, KMYU
• Saturday, May 21 at Sporting Kansas City, 6:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, May 28 at Columbus Crew SC, 5:30 p.m., KMYU
• Thursday, June 2 at New York City FC, TBA, KMYU
• Saturday, June 18 vs. Portland Timbers, 8 p.m., KMYU
• Wednesday, June 22 vs. New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, June 25 at FC Dallas, 7 p.m., KMYU
• Friday, July 1 vs. D.C. United, 8:30 p.m., KMYU/UniMas
• Saturday, July 9 vs. Montreal Impact, 8 p.m., KMYU
• Wednesday, July 13 at Vancouver Whitecaps, TBA, KMYU
• Saturday, July 16 vs. New England Revolution, 8 p.m., KMYU
• Friday, July 22 vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9 p.m., KMYU/UniMas
• Sunday, July 31 at Philadelphia Union, TBA, KMYU
• Wednesday, Aug. 3 at Toronto FC, TBA, KMYU
• Saturday, Aug. 6 vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m., KMYU
• Sunday, Aug. 14 at Seattle Sounders, 5 p.m., Fox Sports 1
• Saturday, Aug. 20 vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m., KMYU
• Friday, Aug. 26 vs. Colorado Rapids, 6 p.m., KMYU/UniMas
• Wednesday, Sept. 7 vs. L.A. Galaxy, 7:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, Sept. 10 at Portland Timbers, 8:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Houston Dynamo, 7:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, Sept. 24 vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m., KMYU
• Saturday, Oct. 1 at San Jose Earthquakes, 8:30 p.m., KMYU
• Sunday, Oct. 16 vs. Sporting Kansas City, 5 p.m., FS1
• Sunday, Oct. 23 at Seattle Sounders, 2 p.m., KMYU (Regular-season finale)