MLS schedule: Canadian kickoffs still TBD, fewer summer midday games a wise choice

The MLS schedule has been released, sort of.

Because TSN and RDS, the national rights holders for MLS in Canada, have yet to finalize their television schedules, the majority of home dates for the three Canadian teams don’t have kickoff times. MLS expects that at least 30 matches will be televised by TSN/RDS.

We only have kickoff times for a few Canadian home games: Toronto FC will host Montreal July 3, a 7 p.m. E? start; the Impact hosts Chicago at 4 p.m. ET on April 2; and the Whitecaps host Seattle for a July 6 match with an 8 p.m. local time kickoff. The latter two of those dates have their kickoff times decided because they’ll be aired on the NBC Sports Network.

Of course, with TSN and RDS having a compressed post-lockout NHL schedule to figure out — and the playoff schedule to come later — we can’t expect the networks to have their MLS skeds pinned down as of yet. Last year, TSN didn’t air MLS matches while it was busy with the early rounds of the NHL playoffs, which means games each and every night of the week.

As well, we will see how Rogers, which has carried some matches on its Sportsnet channels, reacts. The Rogers-owned Blue Jays have become one of the big spenders in baseball and there’s no blaming their owners for wanting to market their baseball team first and foremost.

But there is a major positive. As per a tweet from league spokesperson Dan Courtemanche: “Less than fuve day games on MLS schedule during summer (June – late September). Canadian TV schedule could add a few more in cooler climates.”

There’s been no denying that some MLS matches — especially in July, when teams add friendlies to their already-compressed schedules — have been slower than normal. Heat makes soccer more of a challenge to watch than any other condition (even snow) as the players need to conserve energy. There’s no getting around having to play in the summer — even though NASL is now taking July off — but ensuring less games are played in midday heat is a wise move.

Montreal Impact
March 2 @SEA 10 p.m. ET
March 9 @POR 10:30 p.m. ET
March 16 TFC TBD (Olympic Stadium)
March 23 NYRB TBD
March 30 @SKC 8:30 p.m. ET
April 6 @LA 10:30 p.m. ET
April 13 CREW TBD
April 27 CHI 4 p.m. ET
May 4 @SJ 4 p.m. ET
May 8 @NYRB 7:30 p.m. ET
May 11 RSL TBD
May 25 PHI TBD
June 1 @SKC 8:30 p.m. ET
June 15 @CREW 7:30 p.m. ET
June 19 HOU TBD
June 29 RAPIDS TBD
July 3 @TFC 7 p.m. ET
July 7 CHIVAS TBD
July 13 @NYRB 7 p.m. ET
July 20 FCD TBD
July 27 SKC TBD
August 3 @DCU 7 p.m. ET
August 10 @CHI 8:30 p.m. ET
August 17 DCU TBD
August 24 HOU TBD
August 31 @PHI 7:30 p.m. ET
Sept. 7 @NE 7:30 p.m. ET
Sept. 14 CREW TBD
Sept. 21 Van TBD
Sept. 28 @ CHI 8:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 4 @ HOU 8:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 12 NE TBD
Oct. 19 PHI TBD
Oct. 26 @TFC TBD

Toronto FC
March 2 @VAN TBD
March 9 SKC TBD (venue TBD)
March 16 @MTL TBD (Olympic Stadium)
March 30 LA TBD
April 6 FCD TBD
April 13 @PHI 4 p.m. ET
April 20 HOU TBD
April 27 NYRB TBD
May 4 @RAPIDS 9 p.m. ET
May 8 @SJ 10:30 p.m. ET
May 18 CREW TBD
May 25 @NE 7:30 p.m. ET
June 1 PHI TBD
June 15 @DCU 7 p.m. ET
June 22 @HOU 9 p.m. ET
June 29 RSL TBD
July 3 MTL 7 p.m. ET
July 13 @SKC 8:30 p.m. ET
July 17 @CHIVAS 10:30 p.m. ET
July 20 NYRB TBD
July 27 CREW TBD
Aug. 4 @NE 7:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 10 SEA TBD
Aug. 17 @CREW 7:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 24 @DCU 7:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 30 NE TBD
Sept. 7 @POR 11 p.m. ET
Sept. 11 CHI TBD
Sept. 14 @NYRB 7 p.m. ET
Sept. 21 SKC TBD
Sept. 28 DCU TBD
Oct. 5 @PHI 7:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 19 @CHI 8:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 26 MTL TBD

Vancouver Whitecaps
March 2 TFC TBD
March 9 CREW TBD
March 23 @HOU 5:30 p.m. PT
March 30 @CHIVAS 7:30 p.m. PT
April 6 @SJ 7:30 p.m. PT
April 13 RSL TBD
April 20 @FCD 5:30 p.m. PT
April 27 FCD TBD
May 4 @RSL 6 p.m. PT
May 11 LA TBD
May 18 POR TBD
June 1 @NYRB 4 p.m. PT
June 8 @SEA 1 p.m. PT
June 15 NE TBD
June 19 CHIVAS TBD
June 29 @DCU 4 p.m. PT
July 3 @SKC 5:30 p.m. PT
July 6 SEA 8 p.m. PT
July 14 CHI TBD
July 20 @LA 7:30 p.m. PT
July 27 PHI TBD
Aug. 3 @POR 8 p.m. PT
Aug. 10 SJ TBD
Aug. 17 @RAPIDS 6 p.m. PT
Aug. 24 LA TBD
Sept. 1 CHIVAS TBD
Sept. 7 @FCD 5:30 p.m. PT
Sept. 14 @SJ 7:30 p.m. PT
Sept. 21 @MTL TBD
Sept. 28 RSL TBD
Oct. 6 POR TBD
Oct. 9 @SEA 7 p.m. PT
Oct. 19 @RAPIDS 3 p.m. PT
Oct. 27 RAPIDS TBD