COLUMBUS — Major League Soccer today unveiled its 2018 regular-season schedule, a campaign that sees each of its now 23 clubs play a 34-match slate. Columbus Crew SC begins its 23rd MLS season on the road, facing 2017 MLS Cup Champion Toronto FC in Opening Match at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 3 at BMO Field, with the contest also being MLS’ 2018 regular-season opener.
The Black & Gold then return to Columbus to host the Montreal Impact at MAPFRE Stadium for their home opening match on Saturday, March 10 at 1 p.m. ET.
Individual-match tickets for all 2018 home matches are set to go on-sale on Tuesday, January 16.
Tickets to all matches on the Crew SC home schedule are available now through 2018 Season Ticket Memberships, 10-Match Plans and groups of 20 or more. Information about Season Ticket Members pre-sale will be sent out next week. A promotional schedule for home matches will be released at a later date.
In 2017, the Black & Gold reached the MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Championship for the second time in four years, having previously won the Eastern Conference Championship in 2015 en route to reaching MLS Cup. Under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, Crew SC has reached the playoffs in three out of the last four years (2014-15, 2017).
The Black & Gold are set to open their campaign against Toronto FC for the third time in club history, having previously played Opening Match against the Reds in 2008 and 2010, with Crew SC winning on both occasions. The road contest against Toronto on March 3 marks the first time Crew SC has opened the MLS season at BMO Field, as well as the eighth time in 10 years that Columbus has opened its campaign on the road.
Following the match against Toronto, Crew SC plays its first regular-season home match of the year against the Montreal Impact on Saturday, March 10. The Black & Gold have an all-time regular-season winning home record of 6-1-2 against the Impact dating back to 2012, outscoring the Canadian side 19-9 over that same span. In 2017, Columbus went undefeated against Montreal, beating the Impact at home and on the road and outscoring them 7-4. The 2018 campaign is Crew SC's 20th season at MAPFRE Stadium, the first topflight soccer-specific stadium built in the United States.
The Black & Gold face two Eastern Conference opponents three times in 2018: the Chicago Fire and the Philadelphia Union. Of those clubs, the Philadelphia Union is set to make two trips to MAPFRE Stadium, while Crew SC visits the Chicago Fire twice in 2018. Crew SC faces the remaining Eastern Conference clubs - Atlanta United FC, D.C. United, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, and Philadelphia Union - with one match at home and one match away against each.
Twelve other contests featuring Western Conference opponents complete the Black & Gold's 2018 regular-season schedule. Crew SC hosts the Colorado Rapids, the Houston Dynamo, Minnesota United FC, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at MAPFRE Stadium this year, while the club is set to visit FC Dallas, Los Angeles FC, the LA Galaxy, the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders FC and Sporting Kansas City.
Notable schedule highlights include: two Trillium Cup matches against 2017 MLS Cup winners Toronto FC including Opening Match at BMO Field (March 3) and a home contest (June 2); the first home match of the year against the Montreal Impact (March 10); three matches against the Philadelphia Union including a road match (March 17) and two contests at MAPFRE Stadium (May 9 and September 29); a home contest against MLS original D.C. United (March 24); a home match against Western Conference opponent Vancouver Whitecaps FC (March 31); three clashes against longtime rival the Chicago Fire including a home match (May 12) and two road contests (April 7 and August 25); an Eastern Conference match at home against the New England Revolution (April 21); and Crew SC closes April by hosting West Conference opponents the San Jose Earthquakes at MAPFRE Stadium (April 28).
2018 also sees the Black & Gold host the New York Red Bulls (June 9); a visit from 2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year Miguel Almiron, Josef Martinez and Hector Villalba (June 13); Columbus’ inaugural regular-season match on the road against new expansion side Los Angeles FC (June 24); a home contest against Real Salt Lake (June 30); a trip to the West Coast to face the LA Galaxy and the Dos Santos brothers (July 7); a home contest against Orlando City SC (July 21); a home match against Western Conference opponents the Houston Dynamo (August 11); a visit from David Villa and New York City FC (September 1); a home contest against the Colorado Rapids (September 22); and Columbus closes the regular season with a home contest against Minnesota United FC on Decision Day (October 28).
Crew SC is scheduled to play on national television at least two times in 2018. The Black & Gold are set to appear on FS1 (Sunday, May 27 at Children’s Mercy Park against Sporting Kansas City) as well as on ESPN (Saturday, June 9 at home against the New York Red Bulls). 2018 local broadcast information for Crew SC will be announced at a later date.
The first two rounds of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas are held on Friday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m. ET at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event is held annually by MLS. Crew SC enters the SuperDraft with the 21st pick in the First Round, as well as the ninth (32nd overall) and the 21st (44th overall) picks in the Second Round.
Under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, the 2018 MLS Preseason begins on Wednesday, January 24, at SuperKick in Lewis Center, Ohio after entrance physicals and testing. From there, the club departs to Casa Grande, Arizona for its preseason camp on Friday, January 26. Crew SC is slated to remain in Arizona through February 6 before traveling to Honolulu, Hawaii to participate in the inaugural Pacific Rim Cup from February 6-11. Following the conclusion of the Pacific Rim Cup, the club travels to Charleston, South Carolina to participate in the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup. More information on Season Ticket Memberships for the 2018 season at MAPFRE Stadium is available at columbuscrewsc.com.
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
<strong>TIME (ET)</strong> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p>Saturday, Mar 3</p> |
<p>Toronto FC</p> |
<p>BMO Field</p> |
<p>1 p.m.</p> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Mar 10</strong> |
<strong>Montreal Impact</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>1 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">3</p> |
<p>Saturday, Mar 17</p> |
<p>Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>Talen Energy Stadium</p> |
<p>2 p.m.</p> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Mar 24</strong> |
<strong>D.C. United</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>6 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Mar 31</strong> |
<strong>Vancouver Whitecaps FC</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>3 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">6</p> |
<p>Saturday, Apr 7</p> |
<p>Chicago Fire</p> |
<p>Toyota Park</p> |
<p>8:30 p.m.</p> |
<p align="center">7</p> |
<p>Saturday, Apr 14</p> |
<p>D.C. United</p> |
<p>TBD</p> |
<p>TBD</p> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Apr 21</strong> |
<strong>New England Revolution</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>9</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Apr 28</strong> |
<strong>San Jose Earthquakes</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">10</p> |
<p>Saturday, May 5</p> |
<p>Seattle Sounders FC</p> |
<p>CenturyLink Field</p> |
<p>4 p.m.</p> |
<strong>11</strong> |
<strong>Wednesday, May 9</strong> |
<strong>Philadelphia Union</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>12</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, May 12</strong> |
<strong>Chicago Fire</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">13</p> |
<p>Saturday, May 19</p> |
<p>New England Revolution</p> |
<p>Gillette Stadium</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p align="center">14</p> |
<p>Sunday, May 27</p> |
<p>Sporting Kansas City ^</p> |
<p>Children’s Mercy Park</p> |
<p>6 p.m.</p> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Jun 2</strong> |
<strong>Toronto FC</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>16</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Jun 9</strong> |
<strong>New York Red Bulls +</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>5 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<strong>Wednesday, Jun 13</strong> |
<strong>Atlanta United FC</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">18</p> |
<p>Saturday, Jun 23</p> |
<p>Los Angeles FC</p> |
<p>Banc of California Stadium</p> |
<p>10:30 p.m.</p> |
<strong>19</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Jun 30</strong> |
<strong>Real Salt Lake</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">20</p> |
<p>Saturday, Jul 7</p> |
<p>LA Galaxy</p> |
<p>StubHub Center</p> |
<p>10:30 p.m.</p> |
<p align="center">21</p> |
<p>Saturday, Jul 14</p> |
<p>New York City FC</p> |
<p>Yankee Stadium</p> |
<p>7 p.m.</p> |
<strong>22</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Jul 21</strong> |
<strong>Orlando City SC</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">23</p> |
<p>Saturday, Jul 28</p> |
<p>New York Red Bulls</p> |
<p>Red Bull Arena</p> |
<p>7 p.m.</p> |
<strong>24</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Aug 11</strong> |
<strong>Houston Dynamo</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">25</p> |
<p>Sunday, Aug 19</p> |
<p>Atlanta United FC</p> |
<p>Mercedes-Benz Stadium</p> |
<p>4 p.m.</p> |
<p align="center">26</p> |
<p>Saturday, Aug 25</p> |
<p>Chicago Fire</p> |
<p>Toyota Park</p> |
<p>8:30 p.m.</p> |
<strong>27</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Sep 1</strong> |
<strong>New York City FC</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>8 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">28</p> |
<p>Saturday, Sep 15</p> |
<p>FC Dallas</p> |
<p>Toyota Stadium</p> |
<p>8 p.m.</p> |
<p align="center">29</p> |
<p>Wednesday, Sep 19</p> |
<p>Portland Timbers FC</p> |
<p>Providence Park</p> |
<p>10:30 p.m.</p> |
<strong>30</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Sep 22</strong> |
<strong>Colorado Rapids</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>31</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Sep 29</strong> |
<strong>Philadelphia Union</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<p align="center">32</p> |
<p>Saturday, Oct 6</p> |
<p>Montreal Impact</p> |
<p>Stade Saputo</p> |
<p>3 p.m.</p> |
<p align="center">33</p> |
<p>Sunday, Oct 21</p> |
<p>Orlando City SC</p> |
<p>Orlando City Stadium</p> |
<p>TBD</p> |
<strong>34</strong> |
<strong>Sunday, Oct 28</strong> |
<strong>Minnesota United FC</strong> |
<strong>MAPFRE Stadium</strong> |
<strong>4:30 p.m.</strong> |
Home Matches in Bold
+ESPN
^FS1
Schedule and broadcast information subject to change
