Real Salt Lake debut season will open in the Big Apple

The lyrics to Frank Sinatra's timeless song "New York, New York" will hit close to home for Real Salt Lake this year.

"I'm gonna make a brand new start of it — in old New York."

That's precisely what RSL will be doing on April 2, when its inaugural 2005 season kicks off against the MetroStars in New York.

"I can't think of a better locale for Real Salt Lake to introduce itself to the League and the soccer world than in the New York area," said Real Salt Lake general manager Steve Pastorino.

With the virtual inevitability that U.S. National Team bad boy Clint Mathis will be sporting a Real jersey this year, the atmosphere at Giants Stadium will be particularly intense as Mathis faces his ex-teammates. Mathis played for the MetroStars prior to heading to Germany last January.

The complete 2005 MLS schedule will be released in January, and Salt Lake anticipates its first home game will be April 16.

Fellow expansion team Chivas USA (Los Angeles) opens its season on the same day against defending MLS Cup champion D.C. United in the Home Depot Center.

The MLS's other opening-day games are: Los Angeles at Columbus, Colorado at Kansas City, Dallas at Chicago, and New England at San Jose.