The Houston Dynamo will continue the 2020 regular season on Saturday, Sept. 19 when they host Minnesota United FC, the Club and Major League Soccer announced today.
The match against Minnesota United will be the first of three announced by MLS as the league continues its phased approach to resuming play in clubs’ local markets. It will be the second meeting between the two sides this season, both in the month of September and both at BBVA Stadium. The Dynamo defeated the Loons 3-0 on Sept. 2.
The Minnesota contest will also mark the Club’s first event at BBVA Stadium with fans in the building since the season opener on Feb. 29. The Club announced on Wednesday that BBVA Stadium will allow a limited number of fans, with a maximum capacity of 3,000 in a socially distanced setting. For more information on the plans for reopening to the public, click here.
Houston will make their first trips to a pair of NFL venues when they take on Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on Wednesday, Sept. 23 followed by a trip to play Nashville SC at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Dynamo’s matches against Minnesota United and at Chicago will air locally on QuestTEXAS Ch. 55; and the match at Chicago will air in Spanish on TelExitos Ch. 47.2. The match at Nashville will air nationally on Univision. All three matches will be broadcast in Spanish on Univision Radio 1010 AM.
In an expansion of the postseason for 2020, 18 clubs will compete in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs -- up from 14 teams last year. The postseason will begin Nov. 20 and feature single-elimination matches, following a straight bracket format, played in the home markets of the higher-seeded teams. As the Eastern Conference has more teams (14) than the Western Conference (12), there will be a four-team play-in round for the Eastern Conference teams -- Seed 7 vs. Seed 10 and Seed 8 vs. Seed 9 -- to advance to the Round-of-16. MLS Cup will be played on Dec. 12.
As with the MLS is Back Tournament and Phase 1 of the league’s return to club markets, COVID-19 testing protocols will again play an important role in MLS’ competition framework. MLS continues to work closely with the league’s infectious disease advisors as well as advisors for the MLSPA on the plan for testing. All clubs are forming testing partnerships with a local certified lab, and all players, technical staff, and essential club staff will be tested every other day, including the day before each match. Also, guidelines will be provided to players, coaches and essential staff to avoid the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 during their time away from club facilities.
In addition to adhering to health, safety and medical protocols, another focus of the new schedule is efficient travel. Teams will take chartered flights, and for the majority of road trips will arrive in the host market on matchday and depart after the match later that evening.
The updated Dynamo schedule for Phase 2 of the league’s continuation of play can be found below.
HOUSTON DYNAMO MLS PHASE 2 RESTART SCHEDULE
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>TIME (CT)</strong> |
<strong>TELEVISION</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Sept. 19</strong> |
<strong>vs. Minnesota United FC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>QuestTEXAS Ch. 55</strong> |
<p>Wednesday, Sept. 23</p> |
<p>at Chicago Fire FC</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>QuestTEXAS Ch. 55 / TelExitos 47.2</p> |
<p>Saturday, Sept. 26</p> |
<p>at Nashville SC</p> |
<p>2:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>Univision Ch. 45</p> |
Details regarding future games beyond these three will be released in the near future.
