On Tuesday, MLS announced the home openers for the 2016 season.
Philadelphia Union’s home opener does not arrive until the third week of the season.
The team opens the season on the road against FC Dallas on Sunday, March 6 at 3 pm. Dallas finished the 2015 regular season at the top of the Western Conference before losing to 2015 MLS Cup champions Portland Timbers in the Western Conference finals in post-season play.
The Union are on the road again the following weekend, this time to face 2015 Eastern Conference champions and MLS Cup finalists Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 12.
The team’s home opener finally takes place at Talen Energy Stadium on Sunday, March 20 against New England Revolution.
Kickoff times for the Columbus game and the home opener against New England, as well as the rest of the 2016 schedule, will be announced on a later date.
Union sporting director Earnie Stewart said in a press release, “From every level in our organization, we’re eagerly anticipating the start of the 2016 season. We now have a few dates circled on our calendar and we truly cannot wait for March 20 to arrive to welcome back the best fans in MLS for another season.”
The Union have a 1-3-2 record in season openers, which includes a loss and a draw in season openers at home. Their record for home openers is 3-2-1.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Union confirmed it will open the 2016 preseason against NASL side Jacksonville Armada on February 6 at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
We could face the real possibility of being 0-3 right out of the gate.
Yeah, but at least we won’t freeze our asses off until March 20!
Freezing doesn’t bother me. I like using my scarves as… a scarf.
Wow I laughed way too much at this.
+1. Big time.
That’s a brutal opening schedule. Road games against the #1 seed from the West and the eventual Eastern Conference champ? Yikes. Work your magic Earnie.
If we base our thinking, as all of us are probably doing, on how we performed last year against the league, against whom do we NOT say yikes?
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A much more cogent point is that if none of the loans and out-of-contract situations resolve in our favor, there will be fifteen (15) new players on the roster when it opens the season. In that extreme case more than half the team will be new. To restate it, potentially more than half the team is unknown to those of us outside Stewart-Curtin-Albright’s confidence at this time.
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That’s a lot of uncertainty.
That lack of cohesion alone is a yikes. I’ll be impressed if the team can tally over 40 points this year.
It’s not just the roster either OSC…new formation also. My guess is that we’re looking at involving a 2nd forward and a move of Barnetta to the middle. Still need an outside MF on the right and a non-target F. Will be interesting.
I like this. After three games we could have 0, 1 or 3 points. (Not seeing more than that.)
That will help keep everyone’s expectations in check and we will resist the urge to crown Earnie a savior right off the bat.
“That’s great, I want to start the season off by picking up the least amount points as possible,” said no supporter ever.
+1 (point after 3 games)
Just to be clear, I was going for supreme sarcasm.
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*Target missed*
Ahh, my bad. Thought it was odd coming from you.
I’m sure Jim is thrilled.
THANKS MLS!! First you deny our homegrown claim, then you kick us in the nuts with this start!! HA!
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Seriously, if we have a point coming into the opener, I’ll be impressed.
What, no opener at Providence Park ?
Slackers…….
Enough Negadelphia! Here’s how the season starts. The Union have had one season opener in Texas and came away with a 0-1 win. Nothing else to base things on, so let’s assume they repeat. Columbus will be spending their pregame getting all sorts of praise for making the championship game and will be worn out by game time. Should be another Union win. Even if New England signs Jermaine Jones he is suspended so they should be easy pickings. I just don’t see how the Union get less than 9 points from the first 3 games (unless I wake up between now and then).
It looks tough, but there is a ton of turnover league wide every year. Just like everything else with this team, let’s give it time to see how t plays out.
The reality is , is that any team can beat any team in the MLS. This has been shown time and time again. This team could come out and win the 1st 3 games, the union could be more prepared then ever under Ernie. I’m gonna wait and see. Can’t wait for the season to start up again.
Here’s what I’m certain of… our beloved club begins playing again in matches that matter 10 weeks from now.