SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC is set to open the 2016 MLS regular season on Sunday, March 6 against Western Conference side Sporting Kansas City on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, Major League Soccer announced today. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. PT, with the season-opening contest being broadcast nationally on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes. The complete 2016 MLS regular season schedule, including the U.S. national television schedule, is being announced on January 7.
Coming off a season that featured record numbers in attendance and total television viewership, MLS’ 21st campaign kicks-off with four marquee matches broadcast live by the league’s national television partners. Both ESPN and FS1 will include expanded pre-game shows and feature 2.5-hour broadcast windows on March 6, as well as Univision Deportes Network airing an hour pre-game show reviewing the day’s first nine matches ahead of UniMas’ evening broadcast. The first six matches of the day, which kick-off at staggered times, are being supplemented with a unique and exclusive experience on MLS digital platforms, in addition to being aired locally and available by subscription on Direct Kick and MLS Live through MLSsoccer.com.
Select games are also being broadcast internationally to more than 140 nations and territories through the League’s global broadcast partners, which include Sky Sports in the UK, pan-European broadcaster Eurosport, Globosat in Brazil, Abu Dhabi Media in the Middle East and North Africa, Letv Sports in mainland China, beIN SPORTS across Southeast Asia and Australia, FOX Sports Latin America, FOX Sports Africa, and ESPN International.
Sounders FC is 5-2-0 all-time in MLS regular season openers, including a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City in 2014. This also marks the sixth time in eight seasons that Seattle has opened its campaign on national television.
Following the season-opener, Sigi Schmid’s side is scheduled to face Real Salt Lake in the Utah club’s home-opener on Saturday, March 12 at Rio Tinto Stadium. In its rivalry with RSL, Seattle is 6-7-4 all-time in regular season play, with the Rave Green posting a 2-1-1 record in MLS Cup Playoffs action.
Additional information on kickoff times and broadcast details for these games and others will be revealed on January 7 as part of the complete 2016 regular season schedule announcement.
2016 Sounders FC Season Ticket Packages, which include the first leg of the 2015-2016 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Round against Club America on February 23, are available now for as low as $24 per match here or by calling 1-877-MLS-GOAL.
Dates and matchups for Sounders FC’s first two contests of 2016 are below (home teams listed first).
All matches are subject to change.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
4:00 p.m. PT – Seattle Sounders FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (CenturyLink Field)– FS1 / FOX Deportes)
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders FC (Rio Tinto Stadium)
