The 2016 Major League Soccer schedule was released on Thursday, and unveiled the 34-game schedule for Real Salt Lake. RSL opens up the season on the road in Orlando taking on Orlando City SC and their home-opener is against the Seattle Sounders FC, a playoff team from last year.
There are some schedule quirks for Real Salt Lake and that includes playing six of seven games away from Rio Tinto Stadium between April 23 and June 2, and five in a row starting on May 7.
The reason for the lengthy road trip is that Rio Tinto’s field is being replaced between May 1 to June 15, and the first game on the new field is against defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers on June 18.
The flip side of that is that Real Salt Lake ends the season strong at home with six of their final nine games are at home.
The MLS is keeping with the Decision Day intact for the final game of the season which has every game kick off at the same time to end the regular season.
Day Date Matchup Time (MT) TV Note:
Sun. March 6 @ Orlando City SC 12:00 KMYU RSL’s first ever match in Florida
SAT. MARCH 12 SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 2:00 KMYU All-Time RSL mark of 5-0-6 in MLS Home Openers
Sat. March 19 @ Portland Timbers 8:30 KMYU MLS Cup 2015 Champs Host Second of Six RSL Matches on Artificial Surface
Sat. April 2 @ Sporting Kansas City 6:30 KMYU A heated rivalry continues at newly-named Children’s Mercy Stadium in KC
SAT. APRIL 9 COLORADO RAPIDS 7:30 KMYU The 12th Rocky Mountain Cup kicks off at home
SAT. APRIL 16 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 8:00 KMYU Canadian upstarts swept RSL last season at Rio Tinto Stadium
Sat. April 23 @ LA Galaxy 8:30 KMYU Lone Southern California visit by RSL in 2016
SAT. APRIL 30 HOUSTON DYNAMO 7:30 KMYU Dynamo just 1-5-4 all-time at Rio Tinto Stadium
Sat. May 7 @ Colorado Rapids 7:00 KMYU RSL kicks off club-record 5-game road trip in Denver during RioT field renovation
Sat. May 14 @ Houston Dynamo TBA KMYU Morales magic has led RSL to back-to-back wins in Houston in 2014-15
Sat. May 21 @ Sporting Kansas City 6:30 KMYU RSL returns to site of MLS Cup 2013 heartbreak
Sat. May 28 @ Columbus Crew SC 5:30 KMYU Claret-and-Cobalt 2-8-2 across all comps in Ohio all-time
Thu. June 2 @ New York City FC TBD KMYU First-ever visit to Yankee Stadium for RSL
SAT. JUNE 18 PORTLAND TIMBERS 8:00 KMYU Defending MLS Cup champs visit for the first game on the new grass field.
WED. JUNE 22 NEW YORK RED BULLS 8:00 KMYU RSL 4-0-5 in reg. season play against Red Bulls, who opened RioT in 2008
Sat June 25 @ FC Dallas 7:00 KMYU RSL 1-13-2 all-time, all comps at Dallas
FRI. JULY 1 DC UNITED 8:30 KMYU/Univision Saborio and Espindola visit Rio Tinto for the first time together
SAT. JULY 9 MONTREAL IMPACT 8:00 KMYU Who will replace Drogba as Impact seek first-ever W in Utah?
Wed. July 13 @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC TBA RSL takes 1-5-1 mark into BC Place
SAT. JULY 16 NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 8:00 KMYU Two biggest margins of victory in RSL history came at home v NE
FRI. JULY 22 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 9:00 KMYU/Univision Quakes with just two wins all-time at Rio Tinto Stadium
Sun. July 31 @ Philadelphia Union TBA RSL unbeaten in eight games all-time against Philly
Wed. August 3 @ Toronto FC TBA Second East Coast double of 2016 for RSL eases road fatigue
SAT. AUGUST 6 CHICAGO FIRE 8:00 KMYU Fire only visiting club to boast +.500 mark in Utah (3-2-3)
Sun. August 14 @ Seattle Sounders FC 5:00 FS1 First of two visits to C-Link in final months of season
SAT. AUGUST 20 FC DALLAS 8:00 KMYU Six of final nine 2016 games at home for RSL
FRI. August 26 COLORADO RAPIDS 6:00 KMYU/Univision Earliest weeknight kickoff in club history
WED. SEPTEMBER 7 LA GALAXY 7:30 KMYU Lone Galaxy visit of 2016 after two LA losses at RioT last year
Sat. September 10 @ Portland Timbers 8:30 KMYU RSL enters 2016 unbeaten in last six visits to Providence Park
SAT. SEPTEMBER 17 HOUSTON DYNAMO 7:30 KMYU Can Morales recreate dominant 2014, 2015 performances v. Dynamo?
SAT. SEPTEMBER 24 FC DALLAS 7:30 KMYU RSL 9-5-4 all-time at home against Metroplex visitors
Sat. October 1 @ San Jose Earthquakes 8:30 KMYU RSL boasts club-best.500 road mark at SJ (5-5-4 all comps)
SUN. OCTOBER 16 SPORTING KANSAS CITY 5:00 TBD RSL winners of two straight v. KC at home since disputed 2013 result
Sun. October 23 @ Seattle Sounders FC 2:00 KMYU Decision Day in MLS on the final day of the regular season
