2009 Schedule Released

MLS just announced the 2009 schedule. The Rapids play each team home and away, and then add in an extra home game against FC Dallas and finish the season with an extra road game against FaKe SaLt LaKe for a total of 30 games. The schedule isn't kind to fans with a amazingly small number of early home games and 4 weeks off (up from 1 week last season). Here are some of the highlights.

• The Rapids first home game is March 28th, then don't play at home gain until April 25th
• The team has only 4 home games before June 20th
  
• 2 tough stretches of 3 games in 8 days. June 20th-28th we play DC and Dallas at home, then fly to Seattle. Septemeber 18th-26th we play San Jose on the road and at home, then go to KC.
• All but 3 games on are Saturday or Sunday. We have two home Wednesday games (one in each of the above 3 games in 8 day stretches) and 1 Friday game (in San Jose to start the second 3 game in 8 day stretch.
• Only one home afternoon game, Aug 30th vs. Houston, everything else is a night game
• The Friday game is our only ESPN appearance. We have 4 Fox Soccer Channel games, including the season opener and finales, and 2 Telefutura games.
• Outside of the 3 games in 8 days we have a tough stretch after our home opener. We're on the road for 3 straight games at LA, Columbus, and Houston. Gary Smith will quickly be tested.
• We also finish with two tough road games at Dallas and FSL. We're going to want to have a playoff position secured before then.
• September might be a place to pick up points. We start with a bizarre home-and-home against Toronto, then finish with that 3 games in 8 days stretch against San Jose and KC. Given TFC and SJ last season we might be able to pick up points against them.
• 3 home games and 1 road game in both July and August.