MLS announced its 2011 regular season schedule today, which is mostly just a question of order. All 18 clubs play 34 matches, one home and one away. That results in a total of 306 matches, all of which will be broadcast live.
ESPN continues its first-class live coverage of MLS with a total of 21 regular season games – 17 on ESPN2, four on ESPN, and all 21 on ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com, and ESPN Deportes Radio. Nine of the games on ESPN platforms feature duels between regional rivals, including the last four broadcasts of the season, when the drama reaches its peak. Also among the ESPN and ESPN2 broadcasts are the expansion Portland Timbers’ first home game in renovated PGE Park (Apr. 14), the opening match in Sporting Kansas City’s magnificent new stadium (June 9), and a doubleheader on Independence Day (July 4th), when Real Salt Lake host the New England Revolution and the LA Galaxy host Seattle Sounders FC. The ESPN/ESPN2 MLS broadcast package will include eight additional broadcast windows to allow for the coverage of international matches involving MLS clubs during the summer.
Worth noting are that MLS planned breaks for FIFA days of international contest, and that 82% of games take place on weekends. The international dates are Aug. 10, Sept. 3-4, and Oct. 8-9. The SuperClassico between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA is set for Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, Oct. 16 (ESPN2 and ESPN). The rest of the LA Galaxy schedule is as follows:
DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME (PT) TV
Tuesday March 15 at
Sunday March 20 vs.
Saturday March 26 at
Saturday April 2 vs.
Saturday April 9 at D.C. United 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday April 13 at
Sunday April 17 at
Saturday April 23 vs.
Sunday May 1 at FC Dallas 4 p.m. Galavision
Saturday May 7 vs.
Wednesday May 11 at
Saturday May 14 vs. Sporting
Saturday May 21 at Chivas
Wednesday May 25 vs.
Saturday May 28 at
Saturday June 4 vs. D.C. United 7:30 p.m.
Saturday June 11 vs.
Saturday June 18 at
Saturday June 25 at
Monday July 4 vs.
Saturday July 9 vs.
Wednesday July 20 vs.
Saturday July 30 at
Wednesday August 3 at
Saturday August 6 vs. FC Dallas 7:30 p.m.
Saturday August 13 at Sporting
Saturday August 20 vs.
Sunday August 28 at
Friday September 9 vs.
Saturday September 17 vs.
Saturday September 24 at
Saturday October 1 vs.
Sunday October 16 vs. Chivas
Sunday October 23 at
The longest homestand consists of three matches in July, with the longest road trip at three matches in April. The season kicks off March 15 in Seattle, one of two Galaxy matches broadcast on ESPN.