It's the moment every MLS fan is waiting for in January! The 2017 schedule is out! Once again, it's a 34-game schedule with 17 home and 17 away and there are two new teams in the league this year with Minnesota United and Atlanta United launching their inaugural seasons.
Hopefully, you're planning a few road trips to follow the team outside of Texas this year, and I've picked out three things from the schedule release that caught my eye:
Deja Vu...with a twist
Just like 2016, FC Dallas will end the season against Seattle and Los Angeles - two perennial Western Conference powerhouses - but they've switched it up with FCD traveling to Seattle in the penultimate round of the 2017 season while they will host Los Angeles on Decision Day.
Hosting that last game of the season at home will be huge for Dallas who meet Los Angeles on the first and last days of the season.
September is for new stadiums
September is the busiest month of the MLS season with six games on the schedule and Dallas will be heading to some unfamiliar venues.
For the first time, Dallas will visit all three of the new MLS stadiums in a five-week stretch. It starts with their first-ever match against Atlanta United, continues with their first trip to Minnesota United who will be playing at the University of Minnesota until their new abode opens in 2018. FCD wraps up the month with a trip to Orlando City's brand new stadium on September 30th. Speaking of road trips, you can't really go wrong with any of those three.
Texas Derby goes national
Despite going 2-1-1 against Houston in 2016, FCD somehow lost the El Capitan cannon and will be looking to bring it back home in 2017. All three Texas Derby matches will be shown nationally with the first match at Toyota Stadium on Sunday, May 28th on FS1.
The second Texas Derby will take place on Friday, June 23rd at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on Unimas while the rubber match will be Wednesday, August 23rd at Toyota Stadium also on Unimas.