MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact and Major League Soccer unveiled on Wednesday the schedule for its second season in MLS, the 20th of its history. The team will play a total of 34 regular season games, 17 at home and 17 on the road, in a more balanced schedule than in 2012. Again this year, all teams will play the same number of intra-conference and inter-conference games.
As part of the 2013 Kickoff, the Impact will play its very first game of the season against the Sounders FC in Seattle on Saturday, March 2, marking the first time the Impact plays at CenturyLink Field in MLS. In 2012, the Sounders had the best average attendance in the league with 43,144 spectators per game. Then, the Impact heads to Portland to take on the Timbers the following weekend, March 9, which is also the first meeting at JELD-WEN Field for the Impact in MLS.
Home opener against TFC
The team’s home opener is set for Saturday, March 16 against Toronto FC. This will be the first of two consecutive games to be held at Olympic Stadium, the second coming the following week on March 23 against Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls. The Impact will play its first game at Stade Saputo on April 13 for its 7th game of the season to face the Columbus Crew.
The Impact plays 15 of its 17 regular season home games on a Saturday, along with a Sunday afternoon matchup versus Chivas USA on July 7 and a Wednesday evening tilt, on June 19, versus the Houston Dynamo.
“Working in collaboration with the league, we are pleased to have developed a more balanced calendar in 2013,” said Impact executive vice-president Richard Legendre. “The season is spread out over the length of the schedule to avoid playing games over short stretches or to have too many gaps in between games.”
Notable games
The Eastern Conference champion Sporting Kansas City visits Stade Saputo on July 27 while Canadian rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, come to town for the first time in MLS on September 21.
The Impact will also play the MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center for the first time on April 6.
In addition, the Impact is scheduled to play Toronto FC on two more occasions as part of the Amway Canadian Championship, at BMO Field on April 24 and then at Stade Saputo on May 1.
The regular season ends on October 26 in Toronto versus TFC.
Training camp
The Impact will kick off its next training camp in Montreal on Monday, January 21. For a second consecutive year, the Impact will take part in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic tournament in Orlando, Florida, in preparation for the 2013 season, from February 9 to 23. Packages to travel to Florida are available here.
Season Tickets
2013 season tickets are now available in seven categories, at a cost of $295, $385, $475, $580, $770 and $1070. Show your support to the club by paying with your BMO Montreal Impact MasterCard. Assure your spot for the 2013 season by contacting the Impact’s sales and services team at 514-328-3668.
