For the Montreal Impact, the release of the MLS schedule answered some questions on the number of games played at the Olympic Stadium and also the opponents from the Western Conference who will come to La Belle Province in 2012. Here's a quick look at the Impact's schedule for 2012.
The biggest questions from the released schedule were the number of games at the Olympic Stadium and also who was the opposition? First off, the Impact will have five games at the Big O. Playing in a big stadium needs either a big event or a talented opposition and in most cases, the Impact have 4 games that should sell fine.
In the first 5 matches, they start off with Chicago in the home opener. The opposition is not that much a factor because the first match in MLS will sell enough. After that, they'll play Canadian rivals Toronto on April 7 and Reds fans will likely bring the most away support during the season and it's also played on the same day as a hockey game between the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre.
The only match at the Olympic Stadium that could have trouble selling will be the match against Portland Timbers. After all, the last two matches in the MLS regular season the Impact will play at the Olympic Stadium are against star driven clubs in the Galaxy and the Red Bulls on the 12th and 19th of May.
Saputo Stadium will then open up on June 16 against the Seattle Sounders, followed seven days later by hosting local kid André Hainault and the Houston Dynamo. The Impact final regular home match will be on October 27 as they'll host the New England Revolution.
It's always interesting to see what teams of the Western Conference will come to Montreal and they'll have two rival clubs from the USL days in Portland and Seattle. Also, there could be the possible comeback of former Impact player Joey Gjertsen as the Impact will host the San Jose Earthquakes. Aside from Vancouver, away games against the other conference will be against Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake.
The rivalry between the Impact and Toronto FC in league play will have 3 chapters this year. After the first match on April 7, they will host TFC on June 27. The last installment will come at BMO Field on October 20 in what should bring the biggest Impact contingent at an away game.
We already knew that the Impact would play each team of the Eastern Conference at least once at home and once away. The only two clubs that the Impact will face twice this year are the Chicago Fire and the Philadelphia Union. Aside from TFC, the Impact will host Red Bulls, Sporting KC, New England twice. They will also have to play two away games at Columbus Crew, DC United and Houston Dynamo.
|