MLS announces Crew SC’s 2019 schedule

There will be soccer in Columbus in 2019. After the news was made official that Columbus Crew SC had been saved and will remain in its original city in late December, we now know when and where the Black & Gold will play this season. Major League Soccer previously announced the home openers for all of the league’s teams but released the full 2019 schedule on Monday afternoon.

New this year in MLS, each of the 24 clubs plays a 34-match schedule, facing each conference opponent twice, home and away, and facing teams from the opposite conference just once.

As was previously announced, Columbus will open the 2019 season at home against the New York Red Bulls on March 2. The club will close out the season on Oct. 6 on the road against Toronto FC. The Crew will welcome Wayne Rooney (April 24) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (May 8) in Wednesday night affairs. The Black & Gold host 2018 MLS Cup winners Atlanta United on March 30 and the runners up Portland Timbers on April 20.

The first ever MLS meeting between the budding in-state rivals of the Crew and FC Cincinnati will occur on Aug. 10 at MAPFRE Stadium. The two sides will meet again 15 days later in Cincinnati.

Columbus will make its first trip to the new home of Minnesota United, Allianz Field, on May 18. The Crew will play its first regular season game at Audi Field on May 4 after the Black & Gold eliminated D.C. United from the 2018 MLS Cup playoffs at the stadium last year.

West Coast road trips include traveling to the Colorado Rapids, the Houston Dynamo, Minnesota, Real Salt Lake, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Columbus is set to begin its 24th season in MLS play. The Crew will do so under new ownership after the investor-operator rights were purchased, currently on an interim basis, by Pete Edwards and Dee and Jimmy Haslam. The Black & Gold will also take to the field with a new head coach this year as Caleb Porter takes over for Gregg Berhalter after he left to take the same position with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

The Crew’s 2019 preseason begins on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019 in Columbus. The team will then travel to Chula Vista, California for its preseason camp. The Black & Gold will be in California until Feb. 6 when the club returns to Columbus. The team will remain in Central Ohio from Feb. 7 to the 12 before traveling to Charleston, South Carolina for the 2019 Carolina Challenge Cup.

2019 Crew schedule

Saturday, March 2 — New York Red Bulls (MAPFRE Stadium.) — 4:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 9 — at New England Revolution (Gillette Stadium) — 2 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 16 — FC Dallas (MAPFRE Stadium) — 2 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 23 — at Philadelphia Union (Talen Energy Stadium) — TBD

Saturday, March 30 — Atlanta United (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, April 7 — New England Revolution (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, April 13 — at Montreal Impact (Stade Saputo) — 1 p.m. ET

Saturday, April 20 — Portland Timbers (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Wednesday, April 24 — D.C. United (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, April 27 — Houston Dynamo (BBVA Compass Stadium) TBD

Saturday, May 4 — at D.C. United (Audi Field) — 8 p.m. ET

Wednesday, May 8 — LA Galaxy (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 11 — Los Angeles Football Club (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 18 — at Minnesota United (Allianz Field) — 8 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 25 — at Colorado Rapids (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park) — 9 p.m. ET

Saturday, June 1 — New York City FC (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, June 23 — Sporting Kansas City (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, June 29 — Orlando City SC (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, July 3 — at Real Salt Lake (Rio Tinto Stadium) TBD

Saturday, July 6 — Seattle Sounders (MAPFRE Stadium) — TBD

Saturday, July 13 — at Orlando City SC (Orlando City Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Wednesday, July 17 — at Chicago Fire (Toyota Park) — 9 p.m. ET

Saturday, July 20 — Montreal Impact (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, July 27 — at New York Red Bulls (Red Bull Arena) 8 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 3 — at San Jose Earthquakes (Avaya Stadium) — 10:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 10 — FC Cincinnati (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 17 — Toronto FC (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Wednesday, August 21 — at New York City FC (Yankee Stadium) — 7 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 25 — at FC Cincinnati (Nippert Stadium) — 8 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 31 — Chicago Fire (MAPFRE Stadium) — 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, September 14 — at Atlanta United (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) TBD

Saturday, September 21 — at Vancouver Whitecaps (BC Place) — 5 p.m. ET

Sunday, September 29 — Philadelphia Union (MAPFRE Stadium) — 5 p.m. ET

Sunday, October 6 — at Toronto FC (BMO Field) 4 p.m. ET