CARSON, CA - The Los Angeles Galaxy will officially kick-off their 2007 MLS regular season against the defending MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo on Sunday, April 8 at 4 pm (PT) at Robertson Stadium, as announced today by Major League Soccer (MLS). The match will also be televised nationally on Telefutura. The L.A. Galaxy will play their 2007 home opener against FC Dallas on Thursday, April 12 at 7pm (PT) live on ESPN2 at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University at Dominguez Hills.
Among the highlights of the schedule is the first game of the 2007 Honda Super Clásico series against Chivas USA on April 28 - which will be a Galaxy home game - and the Galaxy's twelfth consecutive "Football and Fireworks" celebration on July 4 against the Chicago Fire.
"Our schedule reflects what we feel is going to be a historic season for the Galaxy and MLS," said Los Angeles Galaxy President and General Manager Alexi Lalas. "We have some challenging road trips but it's all part of the adventure."
Overall, the Galaxy's home schedule features eleven weekend dates (three Saturdays and eight Sundays). The four remaining home games will be played on one Wednesday and three Thursday nights. The club's longest extended stay at The Home Depot Center will be a four-game stint from June 17 to July 7.
Los Angeles will participate in a total of 16 regular season games against Western Conference opponents, facing the Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake three times each and inter-city rival Chivas USA four times (twice at home, twice away). As for the clubs in the Eastern Conference, the Galaxy will play each club in a two-game home-and-away series, for a total of 30 regular season matches across both conferences.
After opening the season on the road against Houston, the Galaxy will host the 2006 MLS Western Conference champions, FC Dallas on April 12 and Chivas USA on April 28.
The Galaxy open May by hosting the New England Revolution (5/12) and then L.A. is the away team for the second game of the Honda Super Clásico against Chivas USA (5/20). Finally, the club wraps up the month on the road against the Colorado Rapids (5/26) at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver, CO.
Kicking off the month of June, the Galaxy host Eastern Conference foe D.C. United (6/2) and afterwards travel to Texas to face FC Dallas (6/9). Four consecutive home games stretching into July follow against Real Salt Lake (6/17), Columbus Crew (6/23), Chicago Fire (7/4) and Kansas City Wizards (7/7).
In August, L.A. begins with a four-game Eastern Conference tour visiting Toronto FC (8/5), D.C. United (8/9), New England Revolution (8/12) and New York Red Bulls (8/18). The Galaxy return home for a match against Chivas USA (8/23) before heading out for their final visit to the Colorado Rapids (8/26).
September will bring a healthier balance with four road and four home games. The Galaxy will open the first two weekends versus Real Salt Lake (9/1) and the Colorado Rapids (9/8). The club will remain at The Home Depot Center for a road match against Chivas USA (9/13). The brief homestand continues against Houston Dynamo (9/16), with a visit to Real Salt Lake, followed by a home game versus FC Dallas (9/23). The month closes out at the Kansas City Wizards (9/27) and Columbus Crew (9/30).
The Galaxy begin October at Houston for the last match of the season series with the Dynamo (10/7). Next, the Galaxy play back-to-back home games against Eastern Conference rivals Toronto FC (10/13) and New York Red Bulls (10/18) and then wrap up the regular season with a Sunday night game against Chicago (10/21) at Toyota Park.
AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE L.A. GALAXY'S 2007 MLS SCHEDULE
Home Dates by Day of the Week: Wed. - 1, Thur. - 3, Sat. - 8, Sun. - 3
Road Dates by Day of the Week: Wed. - 1, Thur. - 3, Sat. - 3, Sun. - 8
Home Dates by Month: Apr. - 2, May - 1, June - 3, July - 2, Aug. - 1, Sept. - 4, Oct. - 2
Road Dates by Month: Apr. - 1, May - 2, June - 1, July - 0, Aug. - 5, Sept. - 4, Oct. - 2
Number of Games by Conference:
Vs. Western CONFERENCE (16 games)
At Los Angeles At Opponent
Chivas USA April 28, August 23 May 20, September 13
Colorado Rapids September 8 May 26, August 26
FC Dallas April 12, September 23 June 9
Houston Dynamo September 16 April 8, October 7
Real Salt Lake June 17, September 1 September 19
Vs. Eastern Conference (14 games)
At Los Angeles At Opponent
Chicago Fire July 4 October 21
Columbus Crew June 23 September 30
D.C. United June 2 August 9
Kansas City Wizards July 7 September 27
New England Revolution May 12 August 12
New York Red Bulls October 18 August 18
Toronto FC October 13 August 5
Longest Homestand:
Four Games: The Galaxy will host Real Salt Lake (6/17), Columbus Crew (6/23), Chicago Fire (7/4) and Kansas City Wizards (7/7)
Longest Road Trip: Four Games: The Galaxy will visit Toronto FC (8/5), D.C. United (8/9), New England Revolution (8/12), and New York Red Bulls (8/18)
26 of the Galaxy's 30 regular season games will be available on national TV
