Union to open 2012 season in Portland

NEW YORK (December 6, 2011) – The Philadelphia Union will open the 2012 Major League Soccer season with a nationally televised game on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN3 against the Portland Timbers on Monday, March 12.  Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. EST at the Timbers’ Jeld-Wen Field.

The match, known as First Kick, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, will be just the 11th Monday game in MLS history.  The Union are 0-1-1 against the Timbers, having dropped a 1-0 decision in Portland last May and playing the Timbers to a 0-0 draw at PPL Park in September.

The Union return to PPL Park to open the home portion of their season on Sunday, March 18.  The opponent and time are to be announced at a later date. The full MLS schedule including dates, times and national broadcast information will be announced upon its completion in the coming weeks.

Home Opener Holiday Packs are currently on sale, each containing four Home Opener tickets in one of four sideline sections (102, 112, 122, 132) as well as one Union scarf. Fans who purchase Home Opener Holiday Packs before December 16 will receive a voucher to redeem for tickets as well as the scarf in time for the holidays. To redeem the voucher, recipients can call 877-21-UNION (877-218-6466) after February 1 and reference the account number listed on the voucher. To secure a Home Opener Holiday Pack, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com.

Each club will play 34 games in the 2012 MLS Regular Season.  Visit www.mlssoccer.com for details on the format.

All four nationally televised match-ups, times and broadcast information are below.  Home teams listed first, all times Eastern.

Sat., March 10 – Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Montreal Impact
6 p.m. ET on TSN and in French on RDS or RDS2 from BC Place
                     
Sun., March 11 – FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls
3 p.m. on NBC Sports Network, from Pizza Hut Park

Sun., March 11 – Chivas USA vs. Houston Dynamo
7 p.m. ET on Galavision, from The Home Depot Center

Mon., March 12 – Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union
9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes & ESPN3 from Jeld-Wen Field