Feb 8, 2006
L.A. GALAXY ANNOUNCE 2006 MLS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
CARSON, CA (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)
The 2005 MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Galaxy will open their 2006 regular season against the New England Revolution on Saturday, April 1 at 8 pm (PT) at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University - Dominguez Hills, according to the schedule released today by Major League Soccer. The match will also be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Also among the highlights of the schedule are the first game of the 2006 Honda SuperClásico series against Chivas USA on April 15 - which will be a Chivas home game - and the Galaxy's eleventh consecutive \"Football and Fireworks\" celebration on July 4 against the MetroStars.
\"Overall, we are extremely satisfied with our 2006 schedule, especially with the number of weekend matches we will be playing at The Home Depot Center,\" said Los Angeles Galaxy President and General Manager Doug Hamilton. \"Having 14 of 16 home dates on a weekend makes this one of the most fan friendly schedules in Galaxy history.\"
Overall, the Galaxy's home regular schedule features fourteen weekend dates (eleven Saturdays and three Sundays). The two remaining home games will be played on Tuesday (one game - the annual Fourth of July Extravaganza) and Thursday (one game). The club's longest extended stay at The Home Depot Center will be a four-game stint to kick off the season, even though April 15 will be considered a road contest.
Los Angeles will participate in a total of 20 regular season games against Western Conference opponents, meaning that the Galaxy will face Chivas USA, the Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston 1836 and Real Salt Lake four times each (twice at home, twice away). As for the clubs in the Eastern Conference, the Galaxy will play each in two games, one at home and the other on the road, for a total of 32 regular season matches across both conferences.
After opening the season against the Revs at The Home Depot Center, the Galaxy will host 2005 MLS Eastern Conference finalists, the Chicago Fire on Saturday, April 8. As mentioned above, the Galaxy will then take on Chivas USA in a road contest a week later before hosting the Columbus Crew on April 22. Finally, they wrap up the first month of the season against Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Galaxy's first game in May requires a road trip to Foxboro to complete the season series with the Revolution on May 6. After a visit to FC Dallas, back-to-back home games against Western Conference rivals Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids will follow on the calendar. The club will enjoy a bye week on May 27 before completing a home-and-home series with the Rapids at INVESCO Field at Mile High on Wednesday, May 31.
Kicking off the month of June is the Galaxy's first-ever trip to Houston 1836 to take on their newest Western Conference rivals on the third of the month. Two consecutive home games follow: against Chivas on June 8 (on the eve of FIFA World Cup Germany 2006) and D.C. United on June 11. A road game against the MetroStars follows on June 17, while Houston makes their first visit to the home of the defending MLS Cup Champions on June 24.
July is the Galaxy's busiest month of the season, with six games to be played over the space of 26 days. The first among them is a July 1 match-up at the Kansas City Wizards, followed soon after by the July 4 \"Football and Fireworks\" celebration against the MetroStars. The brief homestand continues July 8 against RSL. July 15 will mark a visit to Chivas USA, the first stop on a four-game road trip that will run into late August - with the next stop on July 22 in Columbus.
After another bye week on August 5, the Galaxy continue their road trip, paying visits to Colorado and Houston on the 12th and 16th, respectively. The club will play host to FC Dallas on August 20 before playing at D.C. United six days later and Salt Lake August 30.
September will bring a healthier dose of home matches, with four of five matches held in the friendly confines of The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy open the doors to Kansas City, Houston and Colorado on three consecutive weekends before making their first ever visit to Bridgeview, Illinois to do battle with the Fire on September 23. A home game against Chivas USA on September 30 concludes the second annual SuperClásico series.
The Galaxy wrap up the regular season with a home-and-home series with FC Dallas on October 7 and 14, with the first leg at Pizza Hut Park and the second at The Home Depot Center.
AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE L.A. GALAXY'S 2006 SCHEDULE
Home Dates by Day of the Week: Tues. - 1 Thur. - 1 Sat. - 11 Sun. - 3
Road Dates by Day of the Week: Wed. - 4 Sat. - 12
Home Dates by Month: Apr. - 3, May - 2, June - 3, July - 2, Aug. - 1, Sept. - 4, Oct. - 1
Road Dates by Month: Apr. - 2, May - 2, June - 2, July - 3, Aug. - 4, Sept. - 1, Oct. - 1
Number of Games by Conference:
| Vs. Western Conference (20 games) | ||
| At Los Angeles | At Opponent | |
| Chivas USA | June 8, September 30 | April 15, July 15 |
| Colorado Rapids | May 20, September 16 | May 31, August 12 |
| FC Dallas | August 20, October 14 | May 10, October 7 |
| Houston 1836 | June 24, September 10 | June 3, August 16 |
| Real Salt Lake | May 13, July 8 | April 29, August 30 |
| Vs. Eastern Conference (12 games) | ||
| At Los Angeles | At Opponent | |
| Chicago Fire | April 8 | September 23 |
| Columbus Crew | April 22 | July 22 |
| D.C. United | June 11 | August 26 |
| KC Wizards | September 2 | July 1 |
| MetroStars | July 4 | June 17 |
| New England Revolution | April 1 | May 6 |
Longest Homestand: Three Games: The Galaxy will host the Kansas City Wizards (9/2), Houston 1836 (9/10) and the Colorado Rapids (9/16).
Longest Road Trip: Four Games: The Galaxy will visit Chivas USA (7/15), The Columbus Crew (7/22), The Colorado Rapids (8/12) and Houston 1836 (8/16).
LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2006 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
| Date/Time (PST) | Opponent | Broadcast |
| Sat, Apr 1, 8 pm | NEW ENGLAND | (ESPN2) |
| Sat, Apr 8, 7:30pm | CHICAGO | |
| Sat, Apr 15, 8pm | @ Chivas USA | (ESPN2) |
| Sat, Apr 22, 7:30pm | COLUMBUS | |
| Sat, Apr 29, 1pm | @ Real Salt Lake | (ESPN2) |
| Sat, May 6, 1pm | @ New England | (ESPN2) |
| Wed, May 10, 5:30pm | @ FC Dallas | |
| Sat, May 13, 7:30pm | REAL SALT LAKE | |
| Sat, May 20, 7:30pm | COLORADO | |
| Wed, May 31, 6:30pm | @ Colorado | |
| Sat, Jun 3, 5:30pm | @ Houston 1836 | |
| Thu, Jun 8, 7pm | CHIVAS USA | (ESPN2) |
| Sun, Jun 11, 5pm | D.C. UNITED | |
| Sat, Jun 17, 4:30pm | @ MetroStars | |
| Sat, Jun 24, 7:30pm | HOUSTON 1836 | |
| Sat, Jul 1, 5:30pm | @ Kansas City | |
| Tue, Jul 4, 7:30pm | METROSTARS | |
| Sat, Jul 8, 7:30pm | REAL SALT LAKE | |
| Sat, Jul 15, 7pm | @ Chivas USA | |
| Sat, Jul 22, 1pm | @ Columbus | (ESPN2) |
| Sat, Aug 12, 6pm | @ Colorado | |
| Wed, Aug 16, 5:30pm | @ Houston 1836 | |
| Sun, Aug 20, 5pm | FC DALLAS | |
| Sat, Aug 26, 4:30pm | @ D.C. United | |
| Wed, Aug 30, 6pm | @ Real Salt Lake | |
| Sat, Sep 2, 7:30pm | KANSAS CITY | |
| Sun, Sep 10, 5pm | HOUSTON 1836 | |
| Sat, Sep 16, 7:30pm | COLORADO | |
| Sat, Sep 23, 5:30pm | @ Chicago | |
| Sat, Sep 30, 7:30pm | CHIVAS USA | |
| Sat, Oct 7, 5:30pm | @ FC Dallas | |
| Sat, Oct 14, 7:30pm | FC DALLAS | |
| Sun, Nov 12 | MLS CUP 2006 @ FC Dallas | |
Contact: Galaxy Communications
Patrick Donnelly (310) 630-2214
Nick Ammazzalorso (310) 630-2215