MLS fans did not need to wait long into 2018 to chart their team’s course for the upcoming season, with the unveiling of the league-wide schedule coming earlier today. With the pieces now in place, here’s a look at some of the dates, games, road trips and oddities that stand out for the Chicago Fire’s 2018 campaign:
Off the Top
It seems natural to start at the beginning, where Fire fans will notice a change from the season-opener details announced several weeks ago. Because of the Colorado Rapids’ participation in the CONCACAF Champions League -- which sees Colorado travel to fellow MLS foe Toronto FC on Tuesday, Feb. 27 -- the league has rescheduled the Fire’s trip to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to Wednesday, June 13.
As a result, Chicago will now have an extra week of preparation to open the campaign at home vs. Sporting KC on Saturday, March 10, with a start time of 5 p.m. CT now assigned to the game (Holiday Pack). Chicago and KC have met in their respective season-opener just once previously, a scoreless draw at Arrowhead Stadium back on April 3, 2004.
By the Numbers
With the introduction of expansion side Los Angeles FC, the MLS landscape now features an unbalanced 23 teams -- 11 in the Eastern Conference and 12 in the Western Conference, with teams vying for six available postseason spots in each conference. Consequently, Chicago will play home-and-away fixtures against fellow Eastern Conference sides (20), once each against the Western Conference clubs (12) and will face reigning MLS Cup champion Toronto FC and last year’s Eastern Conference runner-up Columbus Crew SC three times each to round out the 34-game slate.
Chicago and TFC will play back-to-back in each other’s respective parks on Saturday, July 21 (Toyota Park) and Saturday, July 28 (BMO Field).
Firsts
New clubs and new stadiums will remain a popular discussion point in MLS in 2018. The Fire make a much-anticipated first trip to Minnesota United FC on St. Patrick’s Day in the second-year club’s home-opener, and will host Fire coaching legend Bob Bradley and his expansion LAFC side on Saturday, Sept. 29 -- just one month shy of the 20-year anniversary of Bradley’s leading the expansion Chicago Fire to MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup glory in late October, 1998.
The Fire also will get their first up-close look at the new digs for Atlanta United FC (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) and D.C. United (Audi Field) in back-to-back road trips on Oct. 7 and Oct. 21.
More 2018 Notables
- After posting a stellar 12-2-3 mark at Toyota Park in 2017, the Fire open 2018 with four of their first five and six of their first nine games coming in Bridgeview.
- For the first time since 2014, the Fire's schedule does not include a three-match road trip. That's good news for the Men In Red (and any MLS club), since the Fire were winless (0-12-3) over five 3-game road stretches endured over the last three seasons.
- That's not to say the schedule is without its challenges. One tough mid-summer span that stands out will take the Fire on three different Western Conference road trips in a four-game run: at Colorado (June 13), at Seattle (June 23) and at Vancouver (July 7).
- The MLS season will again conclude with simultaneous fixtures on Decision Day, when the Fire host D.C. United at 3:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 28. That date represents the latest calendar date for a Fire regular-season match in club history.
- The 2018 MLS All-Star Game is set for early August at Atlanta United’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Which home and away matches are you most looking forward to and why? Tweet your thoughts and tag @ChicagoFireand we'll share some of the best responses.
