MLS unveils home openers for 2017, first games for Atlanta, Minnesota

Major League Soccer unveils the home openers for each of the league's 22 teams in 2017.

Author:
SI.com Staff
Publish date:
Dec 21, 2016

The opening bits of the 2017 MLS calendar have trickled out, with the league unveiling the home openers for each of the 22 teams, including the first games for expansion clubs Minnesota United and Atlanta United.

Minnesota will play in the first game of the season, opening at the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on March 3. Its first home game, which will be at temporary home TCF Bank Stadium, will be in Week 2 against Atlanta.

For its first game, Atlanta will play at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium against the New York Red Bulls on March 5. It will make that stadium its home until the new, state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium is ready later in the year.

One new stadium that is expected to be ready for opening day is in Orlando, where Orlando City SC will open its new home against New York City FC, also on March 5.

The defending champion Seattle Sounders will play on the road for their first two matches, opening at the Houston Dynamo and then heading to Montreal to face the Impact before returning to the confines of CenturyLink Field to face the Red Bulls in Week 3.

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Here is the full set of home openers for the 2017 MLS season (all times Eastern). The full schedule is slated to be released prior to the January 13 MLS SuperDraft:

WEEK 1

Friday, March 3, 2017

9:30 p.m. – Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United FC (Providence Park)

Saturday, March 4, 2017

2 p.m. – Columbus Crew SC vs. Chicago Fire (MAPFRE Stadium)

4 p.m. – LA Galaxy vs. FC Dallas (StubHub Center)

4:30 p.m. – Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC (Rio Tinto Stadium)

6 p.m. – Colorado Rapids vs. New England Revolution (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)

7 p.m. - D.C. United vs. Sporting Kansas City (RFK Stadium)

8:30 p.m. - Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders FC (BBVA Compass Stadium)

10 p.m. – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Montreal Impact (Avaya Stadium)

Sunday, March 5, 2017

5 p.m. – Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC (Orlando City SC Stadium)

7 p.m. – Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls (Bobby Dodd Stadium)

9:30 p.m. – Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Philadelphia Union (BC Place)

GALLERY: Potential, future soccer stadiums in America

Potential, future soccer stadiums in America

North Carolina FC

The Raleigh bid for an MLS expansion team unveiled a stadium plan for a downtown venue within the boundaries of Peace St., Salisbury St., Lane St. and the N.C. Railroad easement.

Miami

David Beckham's ownership group in Miami has released a rendering for a stadium in the Overtown neighborhood, the latest desired site for an MLS expansion bid that kicked off in 2014.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers are adding 4,000 seats as part of a $50 million renovation to Providence Park.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers are adding 4,000 seats as part of a $50 million renovation to Providence Park.

Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United will share Mercedes-Benz Stadium along with the Atlanta Falcons in a state-of-the-art venue.