MLS will make eight changes to the 1997 schedule, commissioner Doug Logan announced May 21. Two changes require the movement of a game date: D.C. United’s game at Tampa Bay on August 23 will now be played on Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) to allow the defending MLS champion to compete in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. In addition, the New England-Dallas game scheduled for Sept. 28 at the Cotton Bowl has been moved to Sept. 25 at 8;30 p.m. (ET) to coordinate availability of the Cotton Bowl with the Texas State Fair. Six additional changes affect only the start times of games to be telecast on ESPN2.
Date Changes
| |
| Match | New Date/Time (ET) | Old Date/Time (ET) |
| D.C. United at Tampa Bay | Sept. 13/7:30 p.m. | Aug. 23/7:30 p.m. |
| New England at Dallas | Sept. 25/8:30 p.m. | Sept. 28/8:00 p.m. |
Time Changes
| |
| Date | Match | New Time (ET) | Old Time (ET) |
| July 12 | Kansas City at New England | 8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| July 19 | D.C. United at Kansas City | 8:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. |
| Aug. 2 | Kansas City at Dallas | 8:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 9 | New England at Colorado | 10:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 4 | MetroStars at Los Angeles | 11:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 18 | Colorado at Tampa Bay | 8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
An updated schedule for the remainder of the 1997 MLS season can be found in the NEWS BRIEFS section of SA Online.
