The opening dates of Philadelphia Union’s 2017 MLS season have been announced. And, once again, the Union will be on the road.
The team opens 2017 on the road against Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, March 5 at 9:30 pm ET.
Then, on Saturday, March 11, the Union will host Eastern Conference champions Toronto FC at Talen Energy Stadium at 4:30 pm for the 2017 home opener.
Broadcast information for both games will be available at a later date.
An announcement on the league website says the complete 2017 schedule will be released in January, “prior to the 2017 SuperDraft,” which takes place in Los Angeles on Jan. 13.
Prior to 2017, the Union have opened their season on the road five out of seven years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016), going 1-3-1 in those five road openers. In the two times the Union opened a season at home (2013, 2015) they are 0-1-1. The team has a 4-2-1 record overall for home openers.
Not only on the road. It is a candidate for longest road trip of the year. Were they to leave directly from Clearwater – which is unlikely given past practice – it would be the longest trip of the year.
80 days until the home opener.