The worry over Major League Soccer not having a TV deal with Fox Soccer is over, at least for
one more year. The two sides agreed on a 31-game contract, plus three exclusive MLS Cup Playoff
matches including a Conference Final for the 2011 season.
The announcement also saw some schedule changes for several clubs.
March 19... March 19...
Just over a month until Philadelphia's soccer-crazed fans slide onto bar stools across the city
and try to convince the local establishment that LiveWell is indeed a real television channel.
There is a different mindset for Year Two of the Philadelphia Union. When last season began,
Danny Mwanga emerged as a midfielder (still mind-boggling) and the starting lineup featured Toni
Stahl and David Myrie.
We waited. And waited. Then waited some more for the 2011 MLS regular season schedule to be
revealed. With part of its TV deal still in doubt and factors such as the Gold Cup and stadium
construction complicating matters, MLS tested supporters' patience, so much so that Twitter was
flooded this morning by cheeky #MLSScheduleIsLateBecause hashtag posts, as fans tried to pass the
time before the big unveiling at 2pm ET.
The wait is finally over. Seriously. Major League Soccer took a ton of heat for not releasing
their 2011 schedule until today. Not the complaining can be able other things.
Each of the League's 18 clubs will play 34 matches, facing each of the other clubs once at home
and once on the road.
