This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Consider the next eight months booked solid.
On Thursday, Major League Soccer announced the upcoming 2017 regular-season schedule for all 22 clubs seven weeks before each team kick off their respective campaigns the first weekend of March.
So if you're a Real Salt Lake supporter, start scouring the internet for potential away trip bargains or make sure you're free of any responsibilities for the upcoming 17 home matches at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy. The scheduling format, despite the injection of expansion franchises Atlanta United and Minnesota United, will not change in 2017.
Each club will face conference foes no less than two times and no more than three this season, while facing the 11 teams from the opposing conference just once. RSL faces Western Conference rivals L.A. Galaxy, Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City three times in 2017.
After opening the season at home against Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and defending Eastern Conference champions Toronto FC on March 4, RSL also plays host to East clubs Atlanta United (April 22), New York City FC (May 17), Philadelphia Union (May 27), Orlando City (June 30) and Columbus Crew (July 29). RSL treks East at Chicago Fire (March 11), New York Red Bulls (March 25), New England Revolution (May 13), D.C. United (Aug. 12) and Montreal Impact (Aug. 19).
An early date to circle on the calendar? Saturday, May 6, when longtime RSL star Javier Morales returns to Rio Tinto Stadium with his new club, FC Dallas. Former RSL boss Jason Kreis makes his second return to Sandy since leaving three years ago, this time with Orlando City on June 30. That match is currently the team's lone nationally-televised match — set for ESPN — in 2017. It's ESPN's first visit to Utah since Nov. 2013.
RSL's first meeting with the reigning MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders comes on Saturday, May 20, at CenturyLink Field in downtown Seattle. The Sounders don't make a visit to the Wasatch Front until Sept. 23.
RSL's first-ever meeting with new Western Conference franchise Minnesota United comes early in the schedule, with RSL making a trip to Minneapolis on Saturday, April 1, in the fifth game of 2017. Minnesota comes to Rio Tinto Stadium on June 17. The schedule has RSL booked for three-game weeks just three times in 2017: May 13-20, May 27-June 3 and Aug. 19-26.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
RSL 2017 regular season schedule
All matches will be aired on KMYU/ASN, except home match vs. Orlando City on June 30 (ESPN)
Saturday, March 4: RSL vs. Toronto FC, 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 11: RSL at Chicago Fire, noon
Saturday, March 18: RSL vs. L.A. Galaxy, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 25: RSL at New York Red Bulls, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 1: RSL at Minnesota United, 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 8: RSL vs. Vancouver Whitecap, TBD
Saturday, April 15: RSL at Colorado Rapids, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 22: RSL vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 29: RSL at Sporting Kansas City, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 6: RSL vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 13: RSL at New England Revolution, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 17: RSL vs. New York City FC, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 20: RSL at Seattle Sounders, 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 27: RSL vs. Philadelphia Union, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 31: RSL at Houston Dynamo, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 3: RSL at FC Dallas, 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 17: RSL vs. Minnesota United, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 24: RSL at San Jose Earthquakes, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, June 30: RSL vs. Orlando City, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 4: RSL at L.A. Galaxy, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 19: RSL at Portland Timbers, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 22: RSL vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 29: RSL vs. Columbus Crew, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 5: RSL vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 12: RSL at D.C. United, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 19: RSL at Montreal Impact, TBD
Wednesday, Aug. 23: RSL vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 26: RSL vs. Colorado Rapids, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 9: RSL at Vancouver Whitecaps, TBD
Saturday, Sept. 16: RSL vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 23: RSL vs. Seattle Sounders, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 30: RSL at L.A. Galaxy, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15: RSL at Colorado Rapids, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22: RSL vs. Sporting Kansas City, 2 p.m.