FC Dallas unveils 2009 regular season schedule

Hoops will open season March 21 at home against Chicago Fire

FC Dallas Media Relations

Kenny Cooper and FC Dallas will open the season with a pair of matches at Pizza Hut Park. (R. Yeatts/Getty)

Complete 2009 FC Dallas schedule

FRISCO, Texas -- Major League Soccer announced the full 2009 Regular Season schedule Wednesday. FC Dallas's 30-game regular season schedule features 20 Saturday games, starting with the season-opener on March 21 versus the Chicago Fire at Pizza Hut Park (7:30 p.m. CT).

The 15 MLS clubs will face each other twice for a base of 28 games per team. The two remaining games for each team will be against intra-conference opponents, with a priority on rivalry matchups.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2009 FC DALLAS SCHEDULE:

• Twenty-five of the 30 games will be played on either Saturday or Sunday.
     • 20 Saturday games
     • 5 Sunday games
     • 3 Wednesday night games
     • 1 Thursday night game
     • 1 Friday night game

• Thirteen of the 15 regular season home games are on weekends.
     • 10 Saturday nights
     • 3 Sundays
     • 1 Wednesday night
     • 1 Thursday night

• FC Dallas will face two different Western Conference opponents on three occasions: Houston Dynamo (two home, one away) and the Colorado Rapids (one home, two away).

• Ten of FCD's 30 regular season games will be featured on national TV.
     • 4 games on TeleFutura on Sunday afternoons.
     • 3 games on ESPN2 (most games offered in high definition).
     • 3 games on Fox Soccer Channel / Fox Sports en Español in the "MLS Saturday on FSC" slot.
     • Of the 10 national broadcasts, 5 will be aired from Pizza Hut Park and 5 on the road.

• FCD's season-opener against the Chicago Fire on March 21 will be followed by a post-game fireworks show.

• Dallas will face the New York Red Bulls on the 4th of July at Pizza Hut Park, with the game followed by the biggest fireworks show in the Metroplex. This is the fourth consecutive year in which FCD will play a game on July 4th.

• The local TV schedule will be announced at a later date.

• Season ticket holders, Hoops Nation members, and sponsors may purchase individual game tickets through a private pre-sale beginning on Feb. 9.

• Individual game tickets will be available to the public beginning at 10 a.m. on Feb. 16 through all Ticketmaster locations.

• Three different season ticket packages are currently available: Full Season Packages (20 home games) - from $300-$2,200; Half-Season Packages (10 home games) - from $170-$550; and Mini-Game Package (5 home games) - from $95-$300. For more information please call 888-FCD-GOAL (888.323.4625) or visit www.fcdallas.com.

• The full 2009 FC Dallas regular season schedule is outlined below and attached.