On Wednesday, the Houston Dynamo announced the full schedule for the 2013 regular season. Although this will be the Dynamo's second season at BBVA Compass Stadium, it's the first season in which Houston can play home games starting in March. Last year's home schedule did not start until May 12, and as a result, there were a lot of Houston home games in a short period of time.
Here are some key takeaways from the 2013 Dynamo schedule:
First Kick
As previously announced, the Dynamo will open the season at home against D.C. United on Saturday, March 2. The re-match of last year's Eastern Conference Championship will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network beginning at 7 p.m. CT.
Texas Derby
Similar to last year, the Dynamo and FC Dallas will square off only once in 2013. That match will take place on Sunday, March 17 as part of Major League Soccer's Rivalry Week. Since last year's match was played at BBVA Compass Stadium, this year's match will be played at FC Dallas Stadium. The winner of the match will take home El Capitan, a Civil War-era mountain howitzer.
Budding Rivalry
The Dynamo and Sporting KC have played each other in each of the past two playoffs. In 2011, the Dynamo knocked off Sporting in the Eastern Conference Championship. In 2012, Houston defeated SKC in the Eastern Conference semifinals. In total, the two teams have played each other nine times in all competitions over the past two years. This year, the two squads will meet an additional three times, with the May 12 home match to be broadcast nationally on ESPN and the May 26 road match to be broadcast on NBC Sports Network.
National TV
Speaking of national broadcasts, the Dynamo will play on national TV 13 times in 2013. They will play three times on ESPN2, once on ESPN, three times on NBC Sports Network, once on NBC and five times in Spanish on UniMás.
Potential Road Trips?
The fun part of the schedule announcement is the chance to figure out which games Dynamo fans will be able to travel to. You can expect a large contingent will make the trek up I-45 for the Texas Derby on March 17. Chicago (Sept. 1) and Sporting KC (May 26) are also drivable for those fans wanting to see their club on the road. If you want to see the LA Galaxy this year, you will have to make the trek to California, as the two-time defending MLS Cup champions do not come to Houston in 2013 (at least not during the regular season).
Weekend Affair
In 2012, the Dynamo had five home games on weeknights and 12 on weekends. In 2013, the Dynamo will have only one weeknight game, with the remaining 16 MLS home games to be played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The lone weeknight game is Wednesday, Oct. 9 against Sporting KC.
So what do you think Dynamo fans? Do you like the schedule? Which match are you circling on your calendar?
