RSL unveils 2009 schedule

With exactly two months remaining until its first game of the 2009 Major League Soccer season, fifth-year club Real Salt Lake unveiled its regular season schedule on Tuesday.

RSL opens the season at the expansion Seattle Sounders on Saturday, March 28, followed by its home opener at Rio Tinto Stadium against defending MLS Cup champion Columbus on Thursday, April 2, a match broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

The 30-game regular season concludes on Saturday, Oct. 24 with a home match against Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado.

RSL will play every team in the league twice, home and away, with two additional games being played at Houston and at home against Colorado to round out the schedule. Real Salt Lake also hosts the MLS All-Star Game this year on Wednesday, July 29.

Eleven of RSL's 15 home games fall on Saturday's or holidays, with three additional games on Wednesday and the Thursday, April 2 home opener. The club also hosts games on July 4 and 24, with each match followed by a fireworks show.

Some of the regular season highlights include a visit by the L.A. Galaxy on May 6, even though it remains to be seen if David Beckham will still be with the team. Expansion Seattle makes its lone appearance on Aug. 8, while Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire make their first appearance at Rio Tinto Stadium on Sept. 12.

Real Salt Lake 2009 regular season schedule

Date ... Opponent, Time, National TV

Sat., March 28 ... at Seattle, 8:30 p.m.

Thurs., April 2 ... COLUMBUS, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Sat., Aprill 11 ... D.C. UNITED, 4 p.m.

Sat., April 18 ... at New York, 5:30 p.m.

Sat., April 25 ... NEW ENGLAND, 7 p.m.

Sat., May 2 ... at Colorado, 7:30 p.m.

Wed., May 6 ... L.A. GALAXY, 7 p.m.

Sat., May 9 ... at Chivas USA, 8:30 p.m.

Sat., May 16 ... KANSAS CITY, 7 p.m.

Sat., May 23 ... at D.C. United, 5:30 p.m.

Sat., May 30 ... at San Jose, 8:30 p.m.

Sat., June 6 ... COLORADO, 8 p.m. (FSC)

Sat., June 13 ... at L.A. Galaxy, 8:30 p.m.

Sat., June 20 ... at Houston, 6:30 p.m.

Sat., June 27 ... TORONTO FC, 7:30 p.m.

Sat., July 4 ... SAN JOSE, 7 p.m.

Sat., July 18 ... at Columbus, 6 p.m.

Fri, July 24 ... FC DALLAS, 8 p.m.

Wed., July 29 ... MLS ALL-STAR GAME, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Sat., Aug. 1 ... at Chicago, 6:30 p.m.

Sat., Aug. 8 ... SEATTLE, 7 p.m.

Sat., Aug. 15 ... HOUSTON, 7 p.m. (FSC)

Sun., Aug. 23 ... at New England, TBD

Wed., Aug. 26 ... CHIVAS USA, 7 p.m.

Sat., Aug. 29 ... at Kansas City, 6:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 12 ... CHICAGO, 7 p.m. (FSC)

Sat., Sept. 19 ... at Houston, 6:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 26 ... at FC Dallas, 6:30 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 14 ... NEW YORK, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

Sat., Oct. 17 ... at Toronto FC, 1:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 24 ... COLORADO, 7 p.m. (FSC)