Toronto FC 2015 Schedule Released – Start Booking Those Days Off
A late season road trip to Montreal to end the season, Orlando City FC twice in August and playing Manchester New York City FC three times (only game in TO is pre Fat Frank though – sorry Chelsea City fans/not sorry), this season and kicking it off at home on Mother’s Day – yes the 2015 Toronto FC schedule has finally been released.
Well that feels better doesn’t it? It never really feels like the season is going to happen until we see the schedule. And as MLS likes to keep us waiting later and later each year we’ve been getting kind of antsy about the whole thing. This year Toronto start the season with 7 games on the road due to the construction at BMO Field. Positive of that is not freezing our asses off for the home opener this year; negative is TFC on the road for SEVEN games. That will likely end in tears but more on that when it happens. As usual we’ve little to no idea what time Toronto’s home games start because our television overlords haven’t told us when the team is allowed to play as of yet.
However as happened last year TFC have their bye weeks early and get a jam-packed schedule towards the end of the season – six games in August alone, including two during the Ex….ugh. And no long weekend games for us this season either – boo. But what is more important about the lack of scheduling balance is that Toronto play ten of their last fourteen games at home and five straight to end the season until jaunting off to Montreal for the final game of the year. Depending on how our Reds are faring, a protracted home stand to end the season should be a good thing. Yes it’s fifteen games in 11 weeks but there’s limited travel in those weeks as the only game that sees them leaving the east coast is the match against Seattle on September 5th. Being able to stay close to home and get into a rhythm with training, travel and schedules is better than having to wing all over the place – I’ll take a couple extra games over having to criss cross the continent.
A couple of odds and ends with the schedule though – facing Western Conference opponents is supposed to alternate each year but we are seeing the same thing as last year – away to LA (sorry Steve G fans/not sorry), away to Seattle, RSL, etc and home to Portland, Houston, San Jose and so forth. Although just the one meeting (the home opener) against Houston this year as they moved conferences for the upcoming season. Presumably this has to do with the addition of the new teams and balancing the schedule but seems odd that they couldn’t flip which directions the teams travelled for those games. We only face Sporting KC the one time, go up against DC United twice in June and only see the Fire twice as well. The schedule will be truly balanced some day, right? However in a positive change the final weekend of the season will actually be the final day of the season with all of the teams playing at the same time – 5pm ET for the Eastern Conference and 7pm ET for the Western Conference. How logical!
One last note – for Toronto based Voyageurs that are planning the month of June around the Women’s World Cup, well you’ve got some decisions to make. Although the weekend for the final is free and clear, plus their are chances to fit in games somewhat nearby without missing too many home games it will require some fancy footwork. I have faith in all of you to fill the stands for both. And now it’s time to start booking days off, telling your friends and family when you won’t be available for non-footy related events and again, luxuriate in knowing it won’t snow at the home opener this year. Silver linings are important folks. See you in May!
January 7, 2015
definitely good news about the co-ordinated kick offs for the final game, about time they did that.
biggest thing that jumps out for me beyond what’s mentioned above is the gold cup. gonna be a loooot of players missing throughout the league for that, are they taking a break? hell no, which is dumb.
January 7, 2015
Damn. I missed that when I was looking at the other various issues. Yeah they don’t even miss a beat do they? Hmm – but hey look at all those home games towards the end of the season!
January 8, 2015
I’m slightly annoyed by the lack of LAG at home. I’m good friends with an 80 year old Celtic supporter and I promised I’d take him to his first game when the Galaxy where in town this year!
You have no idea how hard it was to convince him to just go see a game after they started with MoJo. He once told me he’d close his blinds if the team was playing in his backyard 😛
January 8, 2015
Haha – you’ll wear him down! It’s only been five years…. 😉
Honestly I’m delighted that we’ll miss both the Gerrard and Lampard shows – those games become so much less about TFC and more about the event that is having them there. I feel for those that consider them their footballing heroes and not getting a chance to see them and such but I can do without the circus.
January 10, 2015
HATE Sunday games. Its unnatural. How am I supposed to enjoy a couple of over priced beers when I’ve got to be at work in like 12-15 hours. Stupid dumb-ass American sporting traditions.
C.
January 10, 2015
I concur! I’d rather see more Friday night games then this shift to more on Sundays. Especially as they always seem to be late in the day. Throws the entire rhythm of the weekend off.