MLS announced its 2003 regular-season schedule Tuesday. It places an all-time high 89 percent of regular-season matches on weekends or holidays (July 4). The 30-week regular season, the longest in league history, also allows for mid-week U.S. Open Cup match dates as well as various international exhibitions featuring MLS teams.
Each team will play four games (two home, two away) against each conference opponent as well as a home-and-home match-up against clubs outside its conference, comprising 26 of the 30 regular-season contests. The remaining four games (two home, two away), are determined based on competitive seeding, according to 2002 regular-season performances.
The 2002 trophy-winners — the MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy and the U.S. Open Cup champion Columbus Crew — meet in the opener April 5 live on ABC Sports at 4:00 pm ET from Crew Stadium. It's the only game on the opening weekend of the season.
The Galaxy open The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., June 7 against Colorado.
The regular season extends until Oct. 25, the latest MLS has ever gone into the fall.
No other TV dates have no been announced. ESPN2 carried MLS games on most Saturdays until the start of the college football season. Games have been scheduled for most Sundays through the fall, allowing for possible Sunday games on ESPN2 late in the season.
The release of the NFL schedule in April will force some changes in the schedule because of conflicts.