This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
The offseason morphs into the 2017 preseason in just 52 days.
On Thursday, Real Salt Lake announced its plans for the upcoming month-long preseason camp that will start in late January and last a month with stops in three different states. RSL will report for entrance physicals on Saturday, Jan. 21, and couple of days later will hop on a plane to a familiar preseason destination. RSL will spend two weeks in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., where the club will participate in the Desert Diamond Cup hosted by minor-league franchise FC Tucson.
RSL is scheduled to face the Portland Timbers, New York Red Bulls and San Jose Earthquakes during the preseason tournament in Tucson.
Following a few days home, RSL will cross a new preseason spot off its expanding list of cities. RSL has accepted an invitation to play in the sixth preseason tournament hosted by the Portland Timbers at Providence Park, Feb. 7 through 16. RSL will again face the Timbers (Feb. 9) as well as Vancouver Whitecaps (Feb. 12) and incoming Western Conference expansion franchise Minnesota United (Feb. 15).
The final stop on the three-state tour will be California. RSL returns to Irvine, Calif., on Feb. 19 after a one-year hiatus in 2016. While in Southern California, RSL will face rival L.A. Galaxy on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., where its 2016 season ended in a 3-1 postseason loss on Oct. 26.
Opening weekend of 2017 is anticipated to be the first weekend in March. The finalized MLS schedule is expected to be released in its entirety in early January.
RSL's 2017 preseason schedule
Report to Utah
Saturday, Jan. 21: Entrance physicals in Salt Lake City
Preseason stop No. 1: Phoenix/Tucson, Ariz.
Monday, Jan. 23: Travel to Phoenix
Saturday, Jan. 28: Travel to Tucson
Tuesday, Jan. 31: RSL vs. Portland Timbers and RSL v. NY Red Bulls in Tucson, Ariz.
Friday, Feb. 3: RSL vs. San Jose Earthquakes in Tucson, Ariz.; return to Utah
Preseason stop No. 2: Portland Timbers Preseason Tournament, Portland, Ore.
Tuesday, Feb. 7: Travel to Portland, Ore.
Thursday, Feb. 9: RSL vs. Portland Timbers, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12: RSL vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 15: RSL vs. Minnesota United FC, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 16: Return to Utah
Preseason stop No. 3: Southern California
Sunday, Feb. 19: Travel to Irvine, Calif.
Tuesday, Feb. 21: RSL v. LA Galaxy at Carson, Calif.
Saturday, Feb. 25: RSL v. TBD
Sunday, Feb. 26: Return to Utah
-Chris Kamrani
Twitter: @chriskamrani