Today MLS and the LA Galaxy unveiled the 2012 regular season schedule, which will see the Galaxy play 34 games - 15 of which will be broadcast nationally in English. The Galaxy will be part of First Kick weekend, opening up the season at home on March 10th against Real Salt Lake. This year MLS has returned to an unbalanced schedule, which will see the Galaxy play each Western Conference opponent three times, and each Eastern Conference opponent just once.
Out of their 24 Western Conference games, there will be 12 at home and 12 on the road. They will face FC Dallas, the Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, and the Vancouver Whitecaps twice at home, once on the road; and they will face Chivas USA, the Colorado Rapids, San Jose Earthquakes, and Seattle Sounders FC once at home, twice on the road.
When it comes to the 10 Eastern Conference Games, they will face DC United, the New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, and Toronto FC at home. The Galaxy will face the Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, Montreal Impact, and Sporting Kansas City. The Galaxy will have two separate trips to the Rust Belt, but will not venture as far as the original thirteen colonies.
ESPN is set to air 8 Galaxy matches this year, airing two of the three legs of the SuperClasico against Chivas USA (May 19 and August 12), as well as games against Sporting Kansas City (April 7), New York Red Bulls (May 5), San Jose Earthquakes (June 30), Chicago Fire (July 8) and two games against the rival Seattle Sounders FC (August 5 and October 28).
The newly launched NBC Sports Network will carry 7 Galaxy matches first on March 31 when the club hosts the New England Revolution to close out their season-opening three-game homestand. The network will also broadcast two of the club’s three meetings with FC Dallas (July 28 and August 26), as well as games against the Houston Dynamo (May 26), Portland Timbers (July 14), Columbus Crew (August 15) and Colorado Rapids (September 30).
For an in-depth look at the LA Galaxy schedule, check out LAG Confidential.