Major League Soccer and the Colorado Rapids released their 2011 regular season schedules today.The 2010 MLS Cup champion Rapids open their 16th season hosting the expansion Portland Timbers at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, March 19 at 7 pm MT.
The Rapids will look to continue their seven-game home opener unbeaten streak against a Portland side coached by Rapids Gallery of Honor inductee John Spencer. Colorado are 3-0-1 in home openers since moving into Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and have outscored their opponents 10 to 4 in those matches.
Each of the League’s 18 clubs will play 34 matches, facing each of the other clubs once at home and once on the road. Fans will be able to watch all 306 MLS games live via the national broadcast partners, regional telecasts, the Direct Kick television package (available via select satellite and digital cable providers) and/or on www.MLSsoccer.com via Match Day Live. The Rapids’ complete television schedule will be released at a later date.
Notable elements of the 2011 Rapids schedule include:
• In a rematch of MLS Cup 2010, the Rapids first travel to Pizza Hut Park to take on FC Dallas on April 9 with the second regular season match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on October 1.
• Colorado ’s biggest and best fireworks show will be back for a 16th straight edition when the Rapids host the Houston Dynamo on July 3rd.
• For a fourth time in the last five years, the Rapids play their Rocky Mountain Cup rival Real Salt Lake in their home finale, scheduled for October 14 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park .
• Concurrent to the regular season schedule, the Rapids in 2011 will also participate in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in games beginning in March/April as well as the CONCACAF Champions League group stage which is expected to begin in August. The match dates for these two tournaments will be announced at a later date.
• The Rapids will be showcased on ESPN2 twice during the season on July 3 and October 14, both home matches, marking the first time that ESPN has aired a regular season game from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since 2008. Colorado also will have nationally televised games on Galavision on April 3 and June 11.
Colorado Rapids season tickets are on sale now at ColoradoRapids.com or by calling (303) 825-GOAL (4625).
Single game tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale Saturday, February 19 at 10 am MT. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park Box Office, via phone by calling 303-53-HORSE, or online at ColoradoRapids.com. Single game tickets start at just $22 for all Rapids home games.
Rapids season ticket holders will have an opportunity for a special advance sale of Rapids single game tickets again this year. The advance sale for full season ticket holders will be on February 14. Rapids half season and partial season ticket holders will have their special advance sale opportunity of single game tickets on February 17. For more information of these special advance sales, call (303) 727-3414 or visit ColoradoRapids.com.
2011 COLORADO RAPIDS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Home games in CAPS
(all times MT)
DATE OPPONENT TIME NATIONAL TV
Sat, March 19 PORTLAND TIMBERS 7:00 pm
Sat, March 26 Chivas USA 8:30 pm
Sun, April 3 D.C. UNITED 5:00 pm GALAVISION
Sat, April 9 FC Dallas 6:30 pm
Wed, April 13 Real Salt Lake 7:00 pm
Fri, April 22 SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 7:30 pm
Sat, April 30 CHICAGO FIRE 7:00 pm
Wed, May 4 Houston Dynamo 6:30 pm
Sat, May 7 New England Revolution 5:30 pm
Sat, May 14 D.C. United 5:30 pm
Sun, May 22 TORONTO FC 5:00 pm
Wed, May 25 New York Red Bulls 6:00 pm
Sat, May 28 SPORTING KANSAS CITY 7:00 pm
Sat, June 4 PHILADELPHIA UNION 7:00 pm
Sat, June 11 Portland Timbers 8:30 pm Galavision
Sat, June 18 LA GALAXY 7:00 pm
Sun, June 26 Columbus Crew 6:00 pm
Sun, July 3 HOUSTON DYNAMO 7:00 pm ESPN2
Wed, July 6 Sporting Kansas City 6:30 pm
Sat, July 9 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 7:00 pm
Sat, July 16 Seattle Sounders FC 2:00 pm
Wed, July 20 NEW YORK RED BULLS 7:30 pm
Sat, July 23 NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 7:00 pm
Sat, July 30 Philadelphia Union 5:30 pm
Sat, August 6 COLUMBUS CREW 7:00 pm
Sat, August 13 San Jose Earthquakes 8:30 pm
Sat, August 20 CHIVAS USA 7:00 pm
Sat, August 27 Chicago Fire 6:30 pm
Fri, September 9 LA Galaxy 8:30 pm
Sat, September 17 Toronto FC 5:30 pm
Sat, September 24 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 7:00 pm
Sat, October 1 FC DALLAS 7:00 pm
Fri, October 14 REAL SALT LAKE 8:30 pm ESPN2
Sat, October 22 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5:00 pm
