Chicago Fire Schedule for 2012 MLS Regular Season: It's here
by Tweed Thornton on Jan 5, 2012 1:00 PM CST
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Major League Soccer and the Chicago Fire released their full schedule today. Here are some highlights. Full schedule after the break.
Chicago is slated to appear in a total of 13 nationally televised broadcasts. The Sunday, July 8 game vs. LA Galaxy will be on ESPN. The October 6 game vs. New York at 2:30 PM CST will be on NBC. The other games are on ESPNDeportes, Galavision or the new Versus, NBC Sports Network. The club will release their 2012 regional television schedule at a later date. It's great to see the team and the league getting more national TV time. The new deal with NBC is coming through big time.
Opening Day at Toyota Park will be against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, March 24 at 7:30 PM CST. The club will also commemorate its founding and mark the 141st anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire when they host the Peter Nowak-led Union in a 15th Anniversary Match at Toyota Park on Wednesday, October 3 at 7:30 PM CST. October 8 is on a Monday this year so they couldn't have had the game on the exact date. Saturday, October 6 could have been close enough but that's the day of the NYRB game on NBC. I'll take Peter Nowak being there when the club honors it's 15 year anniversary.
D.C. United and the Montreal Impact will be the two Eastern Conference teams the Fire only play twice. Chicago will host Houston, Philadelphia, and Columbus twice. In turn, they will visit New England, New York, Kansas City, and Toronto twice.
Chicago lucks out with hosting all four of the top 2011 clubs at home: Los Angeles, Seattle, Real Salt Lake and Dallas and not having to do away trips there. The Wednesday, May 23 game at Toyota Park will be the only match-up in the 2012 Brimstone Cup.
The Fire have 19 Saturday match days, 10 at Toyota Park and nine on the road. Six Sunday afternoon/evening fixtures, four at home and two away.
The longest road trip Chicago has this year is a nightmarish New York to Toronto to San Jose trip between Wednesday, July 18 to Saturday, July 28.
|
# |
DATE |
OPPONENT |
VENUE |
HOME/AWAY |
TIME (CT) |
|
1 |
Saturday, Mar 17 |
Montreal |
Montreal |
Away |
1:00PM |
|
2 |
Saturday, Mar 24 |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
3 |
Sunday, Apr 1 (Galavision) |
Colorado |
Colorado |
Away |
6:00PM |
|
4 |
Sunday, Apr 15 (Galavision) |
Houston |
Chicago |
Home |
6:00PM |
|
5 |
Saturday, Apr 21 (NBCSN) |
Toronto FC |
Toronto FC |
Away |
2:30PM |
|
6 |
Saturday, Apr 28 |
Seattle |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
7 |
Friday, May 4 (ESPN Deportes) |
Chivas USA |
Chivas USA |
Away |
10:00PM |
|
8 |
Wednesday, May 9 |
Real Salt Lake |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
9 |
Saturday, May 12 |
Kansas City |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
10 |
Sunday, May 20 (Galavision) |
Portland |
Portland |
Away |
6:00PM |
|
11 |
Wednesday, May 23 |
FC Dallas |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
12 |
Saturday, May 26 (Galavision) |
Columbus |
Columbus |
Away |
6:00PM |
|
13 |
Saturday, Jun 2 |
New England |
New England |
Away |
6:30PM |
|
14 |
Sunday, Jun 17 (NBCSN) |
New York |
Chicago |
Home |
4:00PM |
|
15 |
Saturday, Jun 23 |
Columbus |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
16 |
Friday, Jun 29 (NBCSN) |
Kansas City |
Kansas City |
Away |
7:00PM |
|
17 |
Tuesday, Jul 3 |
Houston |
Houston |
Away |
7:30PM |
|
18 |
Sunday, Jul 8 (ESPN) |
LA Galaxy |
Chicago |
Home |
2:00PM |
|
19 |
Saturday, Jul 14 |
Vancouver |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
20 |
Wednesday, Jul 18 |
New York |
New York |
Away |
12:00PM |
|
21 |
Saturday, Jul 21 |
Toronto FC |
Toronto FC |
Away |
3:00PM |
|
22 |
Saturday, Jul 28 |
San Jose |
San Jose |
Away |
9:30PM |
|
23 |
Saturday, Aug 4 |
Toronto FC |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
24 |
Sunday, Aug 12 (Galavision) |
Philadelphia |
Philadelphia |
Away |
6:00PM |
|
25 |
Saturday, Aug 18 |
New England |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
26 |
Wednesday, Aug 22 |
DC United |
DC United |
Away |
6:30PM |
|
27 |
Sunday, Sep 2 (Galavision) |
Houston |
Chicago |
Home |
6:00PM |
|
28 |
Saturday, Sep 15 |
Montreal |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
29 |
Saturday, Sep 22 |
Columbus |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
30 |
Friday, Sep 28 (NBCSN) |
Kansas City |
Kansas City |
Away |
7:30PM |
|
31 |
Wednesday, Oct 3 |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Home |
7:30PM |
|
32 |
Saturday, Oct 6 (NBC) |
New York |
New York |
Away |
2:30PM |
|
33 |
Saturday, Oct 20 |
New England |
New England |
Away |
6:30PM |
|
34 |
Saturday, Oct 27 (NBCSN) |
DC United |
Chicago |
Home |
6:30PM |
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we're on National Broadcast TV!
I mean seriously. This is huge! NBC only gets four regular season games per season, and we got a slot, This is a big deal!
http://twitter.com/rtisch312 Inaine thoughts and ramblings about sports and life.
by Ruben Tisch on Jan 5, 2012 1:14 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
NBC network will broadcast two regular-season M.L.S. games
… My mistake… This is bigger then I thought
http://twitter.com/rtisch312 Inaine thoughts and ramblings about sports and life.
I'm really excited for this...
despite the past couple of years, the Fire still have the tradition and name that people want to see.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Tradition. Honor. Passion.
Ruben, in mid-season form I see. Keep up the good work.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jan 5, 2012 8:30 PM CST up reply actions
Can't Wait!
July 14th will be my second Fire home game, and my first at Toyota Park! I’m so stoked right now.
And they’re coming to the Bay Area two weeks later, so i’ll get two games again this year!
Did I mention that I’m really stoked right now? Is it July yet?
by Mark O'Rourke on Jan 5, 2012 4:22 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Sounder at Heart has a very interesting look at strength of schedule and distance traveled.
Chicago will always be close to the top in least distance traveled but No. 3 is pretty good. Having the 5th easiest schedule is somewhat diluted by the fact that the Fire play in the Eastern Conference and the East teams were not as good as the West teams last year but good piece nevertheless.
Things seem to be aligning well for Chicago.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
week day games ...
Yikes … 6 weekday games … BEFORE the schedule changes caused by internationals and tournaments and whatever else …
Well, last year’s schedule had 7 weekday games. This is progress?
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jan 5, 2012 8:33 PM CST up reply actions
On opening stadiums...
This quote from a Klopas interview on chicago-fire.com might indicate that it is an MLS thing, not a Fire FO strategy:
Are you surprised the team isn’t opening BBVA Compass Stadium later in the year in Houston?
(Laughs) Actually yes, I’m quite surprised given the track record we’re not opening that stadium too… I think the important thing to understand is that it’s a different game for both teams. Mentally we have to be prepared for that game, with all the buzz that will be around it and I know we will. We finished 2011 off on a positive note and we have to be ready to build from that.
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