As CSN first reported several weeks ago, MLS will be kicking off March 10. The early kick-off is to allow the league to break for World Cup qualifying. The consequence of the early start is some northern teams will be playing home dates a little earlier than they might like. In Toronto’s case, it means for the second straight year the home opener will be in the last week of March.
Vancouver goes really early, playing at BC Place on March 10 and Montreal will play its first game March 17 – St Patrick’s Day in one of the biggest party cities in the world. Interesting.
It’s been strongly rumoured that Toronto’s first visit to Montreal to play a MLS game will be on Easter Weekend, April 8. That info, combined with the fact that Toronto will be in LA for the second leg of its CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal on March 14, strongly suggests that Toronto will not be the Impact’s first opponent.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
The March 24 home opener means that it’s possible that TFC could play three home dates in March. If the Reds get by L.A. they could play the first leg of the semi-finals on March 27.
Does that possibility now make BMO Field the likely location for the March 7 game against the Galaxy? It might. If you have to get the stadium ready for March 24, what’s a couple weeks earlier? With TFC on record saying that they are going to bring grass up from the US south, and with couple players already on record saying they want to play the game at BMO Field, the evidence might be suggesting that Rogers Centre is not worth the hassle or expense.