Any word on when this comes out? I ask, because the World Cup Qualifying schedule was recently released: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=120311 At the very least, I hope MLS takes the week off in September and the week off in October. Some coordination will keep the players healthier for both club and country, and allows MLS teams to field a regular starting lineup during the run up to the playoffs. This is probably listed elsewhere, but here's the full schedule of WCQs: Round -- Date Matchday 1 February 9 Matchday 2 March 26/27 Matchday 3 March 30 Matchday 4 June 4/5 Matchday 5 June 8 Matchday 6 August 17 Matchday 7 September 3/4 Matchday 8 September 7 Matchday 9 October 8/9 Matchday 10 October 12
Re: 2005 MLS Schedule Sorry, just realized that's a mighty deceptive title -- could somebody please change that to, "Release of 2005 MLS Schedule?" Thanks.
Schedule will most likely be released sometime in January. MLS has said it is not hell-bent on taking WCQ match days off, so I am expecting a few conflicts.
MY suggestion: Open March 12 in LA, LA, SJ, Dal, DC, and KC. week 2 March 19 in LA, Dal, DC, Clb, and Col International week - March 26 Week 3-7 April Week 7-11 May International week - June 4 Week 12-14 June Week 15-19 July Week 20=23 August International week - Sep 3 Week 24-26 Sep Week 27 Oct 1 International week - Oct 8 Week 28-30 Oct Playoffs and MLS Cup in November
Dallas likely will be on the road for the beginning of 2005, because of the amount of rain affecting the building rate of the new stadium.
I'm sure Columbus will be away for the beginning half of August. Keep in mind, there will be conflicts with international callup dates. We still have several teams in NFL stadiums, Dallas probably playing on the road, the Columbus conflict I listed above, etc. So the schedule-maker's hands are basically tied.
You also forgot DCU sharing a stadium with MLB. I know they're supposed to be guaranteed to home dates a month but who knows when and if that will really happen.
MLS general forum has news that this DC baseball thing is a huge mess and there's a chance that it may not happen. But that's still another variable to be thrown into the schedule making.
You don't think MLB wouldn't have a problem parking the Expos at RFK while they find another place to put them? If Northern Virginia gets them they'll still be at RFK while a stadium is built.