This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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 Monarchs announced its 2016 regular-season schedule on Tuesday. The USL club, entering its second year as a franchise, will play a 30-game schedule this season.
It will start at Rio Tinto Stadium against Saint Louis FC on March 26, kicking off the 15-game home schedule. Eleven of the 15 home matches will be at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, with two being on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem. The Monarchs will also have a match at the University of Utah in 2016 as well as a pseudo-home game against rival Sacramento Republic FC on June 11 in Reno, Nev. The two will face off at Aces Ballpark in Reno.
Rio Tinto Stadium is scheduled to undergo a six-week field renovation process starting May 1. The Monarchs will host five of the first six games of 2016 from March 26 to April 26 in Sandy before playing 12 straight games away from Utah April 30 to June 26.
Ten of the Monarchs' 30 game-days will be on the same day as RSL matches. Both hit a Texas two-step in May, as the Monarchs are at Rio Grande Valley on May 13 while RSL is at Houston on May 14.
"We are very excited to move forward in 2016," said Rob Zarkos, Monarchs President and RSL VP, Soccer Administration in a release. "Not only do we have a balanced schedule, but also one which allows us to take the Monarchs 'on tour' to Orem, University of Utah and Reno and give fans all over the Salt Lake Valley and the intermountain West the chance to experience our brand, on and off the field."
The Monarchs went 7-13-8 in their inaugural USL campaign in 2015, finishing with 29 points, but in last place in the stacked Western Conference.
Real Monarchs' 2016 regular-season schedule
» Monarchs vs. St. Louis FC, Saturday, March 26
» Monarchs vs. L.A. Galaxy II, Saturday, April 2
» Monarchs at Tulsa Roughnecks, Saturday, April 9
» Monarchs vs. Arizona United, Friday, April 15 (At Clyde Field at UVU)
» Monarchs vs. Rio Grande Valley, Saturday, April 23
» Monarchs vs. Sounders 2, Tuesday, April 26
» Monarchs at Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Saturday, April 30
» Monarchs at Timbers 2, Saturday, May 7
» Monarchs at Rio Grande Valley, Friday, May 13
» Monarchs vs. Orange County Blues, Saturday, May 21 (Ute Soccer Field)
» Monarchs at Oklahoma City Energy, Tuesday, May 24
» Monarchs at Whitecaps FC 2, Sunday, May 29
» Monarchs at Whitecaps FC 2, Saturday, June 4
» Monarchs at Sacramento Republic FC, Tuesday, June 7
» Monarchs vs. Sacramento Republic FC, Saturday, June 11 (Aces Ballpark, Reno, Nev.)
» Monarchs vs. Orange County Blues, Saturday, June 18
» Monarchs at Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Sunday, June 26
» Monarchs vs. Whitecaps FC 2, Saturday, July 2
» Monarchs at Sacramento Republic FC, Wednesday, July 6
» Monarchs vs. Arizona United, Friday, July 22 (At Clyde Field at UVU)
» Monarchs at Sounders 2, Monday, Aug. 1
» Monarchs vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Monday, Aug. 8
» Monarchs vs. Swope Park Rangers, Saturday, Aug. 13
» Monarchs vs. Timbers 2, Wednesday, Aug. 17
» Monarchs at Arizona United, Saturday, Aug. 27
» Monarchs vs. Tulsa Roughnecks, Saturday, Sept. 3
» Monarchs vs. Orange County Blues, Friday, Sept. 9
» Monarchs vs. San Antonio, Wednesday, Sept. 14
» Monarchs at Arizona United, Saturday, Sept. 17
» Monarchs at L.A. Galaxy II, Saturday, Sept. 24