The Columbus Crew today announced its schedule for the 2011 Major League Soccer season, which it will open on the road on Saturday, March 19, against D.C. United. Entering its 16th season, the Black & Gold will then host its first home match of the season the following Saturday, March 26, when the New York Red Bulls visit Crew Stadium.
The Crew’s home schedule features a total of 12 Saturday games, complemented by three Sunday and two Wednesday matches. It concludes the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 22, with a trip to TOYOTA Park to face the Eastern Conference-rival Chicago Fire.
Every team – including the expansion Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps – will play each of the other 17 clubs once at home and once away for a balanced, 34-game season and a total of 306 matches league-wide.
ESPN’s platforms and the Univision family of networks will broadcast the 2011 MLS AT&T All-Star Game (July 27 at Red Bull Arena) and MLS Cup 2011, with further details to be announced at a later date. The MLS Cup Playoff format and dates will be announced in the near future.
MLS remains in discussions with other potential national broadcast partners in the United States and Canada and will release details soon. The Crew and ONN will once again partner this season to televise all regular-season games not carried nationally to a regional audience.
| 2011 Columbus Crew Schedule (subject to change) | |||||
| Date | Home | Away | Location | ||
Saturday, March 19 | D.C. United | Columbus Crew | RFK Stadium | ||
| Saturday, March 26 4:00pm | Columbus Crew | New York Red Bulls | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Friday, April 1 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | FC Dallas | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, April 9 10:30pm | Chivas USA | Columbus Crew | Home Depot Center | ||
| Saturday, April 16 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | Sporting KC | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, April 23 4:00pm | Toronto FC | Columbus Crew | BMO Field | ||
| Saturday, April 30 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | Vancouver Whitecaps | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, May 7 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | Seattle Sounders | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, May 14 10:30pm | San Jose Earthquakes | Columbus Crew | Buck Shaw Stadium | ||
| Saturday, May 21 10:30pm | Portland Timbers | Columbus Crew | PGE Park | ||
| Saturday, May 28 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | Chivas USA | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, June 4 7:30pm | New York Red Bulls | Columbus Crew | Red Bull Arena | ||
| Wednesday, June 8 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | Real Salt Lake | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Sunday, June 12 4:00pm | Columbus Crew | Chicago Fire | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, June 18 8:00pm | Houston Dynamo | Columbus Crew | Robertson Stadium | ||
| Sunday, June 26 8:00pm | Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, July 2 9pm | FC Dallas | Columbus Crew | Pizza Hut Park | ||
| Wednesday, July 6 10:00pm | Vancouver Whitcecaps | Columbus Crew | BC Place | ||
| Saturday, July 16 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | San jose Earthquakes | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Wednesday, July 20 7:30pm | LA Galaxy | Columbus Crew | Home Depot Center | ||
| Saturday, July 23 8:00pm | Columbus Crew | Portland Timbers | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, July 30 9:00pm | Real Salt Lake | Columbus Crew | Rio Tinto Stadium | ||
| Friday, August 5 8:30pm | Colorado Rapids | Columbus Crew | Dick's Sporting Goods Park | ||
| Saturday, August 13 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | New England Revolution | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, August 20 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | Philadelphia Union | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, August 27 4:00pm | Seattle Sounders FC | Columbus Crew | Qwest Field | ||
| Saturday, September 10 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | Toronto FC | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Wednesday, September 14 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | Houston Dynamo | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, September 17 7:30pm | Philadelphia Union | Columbus Crew | PPL Park | ||
| Saturday, September 24 7:30pm | Columbus Crew | LA Galaxy | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Wednesday, September 28 8:30pm | Sporting KC | Columbus Crew | KC Soccer Stadium | ||
| Sunday, October 2 4:00pm | Columbus Crew | D.C. United | Columbus Crew Stadium | ||
| Saturday, October 15 7:30pm | New England Revolution | Columbus Crew | Gillette Stadium | ||
| Saturday, October 22 8:30pm | Chicago Fire | Columbus Crew | Toyota Park | ||
Highlights of 2011 MLS Regular Season Schedule:
- All 306 games will be televised live:
- Fans can watch games live via the national broadcast partners, regional telecasts, the Direct Kick television package (available via select satellite and digital cable providers) and/or on www.MLSsoccer.com via Match Day Live. Regional broadcast schedules will be announced by the clubs as they are finalized.
- Majority of games on weekends:
- About 82% of all MLS games will take place on weekends or holidays, with every day of the week having at least one scheduled match during the year.
- Record day of action – March 26:
- A record nine MLS games are scheduled for Saturday, March 26 – the most on one day in League history, and the only time in 2011 that all 18 clubs are in action on the same day.
- International fixture dates:
- MLS has not scheduled games on Aug. 10, Sept. 3-4, and Oct. 8-9, which are FIFA fixture dates.
