ST. PAUL -- Minnesota United’s 2023 season opener has an added layer of intrigue.
The Loons kick off the new season at FC Dallas at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in a rematch of their MLS Cup Playoffs first-round matchup. Minnesota’s 2022 season ended after a 1-1 draw and 5-4 decision in a penalty-kick shootout in Frisco, Texas, in October.
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Here are seven other takeaways from the MLS schedule released Tuesday:
- The Loons’ home opener is 7:30 p.m. March 11 against the New York Red Bulls at Allianz Field. It comes after an abnormally early Week 2 bye on March 4.
- With a new MLS media rights deal to stream games on Apple TV and no agreement with ESPN, the Loons have only three nationally televised games this year— home versus FC Dallas at 8 p.m. April 30 on FS1; home against Seattle Sounders at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 27 on FOX; and at Los Angeles FC at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 4 on FS1. Fox Sports has a total of 34 national TV games.
- Apple’s “MLS Season Pass” has prioritized establishing consistent kickoff times and landed on 7:30 p.m. in the local time zone for both Saturday and Wednesday games. MNUFC will play seven Wednesday matches. The Seattle home game is the Loons’ only matinee.
- MNUFC will play new Western Conference expansion team St. Louis City in Missouri at 7:30 p.m. April 1. St. Louis will make its first visit to St. Paul on Sept. 23.
- After a Loons game vs. LAFC June 15, the MLS schedule pauses for the Leagues Cup between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX teams. MNUFC will play two group-stage games (one against a to-be-announced MLS side and one versus a Liga MX club). If the Loons don’t advance to the knockout rounds, they would get an extended break until playing LAFC on June 15.
- The closest games for road trips are Chicago Fire on April 8 and Sporting Kansas City on May 13 and Oct. 21. The latter date will double as Decision Day and is the only kickoff time to be determined.
- Minnesota will play Kansas City a season-high three times; MNUFC will play the other 12 Western Conference teams twice apiece; and the Loons will face seven East clubs once. From Aug. 27, Minnesota will finish the MLS schedule with 10 straight Western Conference games.
MNUFC schedule
* Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Feb. 25 — at Dallas
March 11 — New York Red Bulls
March 18 — at Colorado, 8:30 p.m.
March 25 — Vancouver
April 1 — at St. Louis
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April 8 — at Chicago
April 15 — Orlando
April 22 — at Seattle, 9:30 p.m.
April 30 — Dallas, 8 p.m.
May 6 — at Vancouver, 9:30 p.m
May 13 — at Kansas City
May 17 — Houston
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May 20 — at Portland, 9:30 p.m.
May 27 — Real Salt Lake
May 31 — at Austin
June 3 — Toronto
June 10 — at Montreal, 6:30 p.m.
June 21 — New England
June 24 — at Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m.
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July 1 — Portland
July 8 — Austin
July 12 — at Houston
July 15 — Los Angeles FC
Aug. 20 — at New York City, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 27 — Seattle, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 — Colorado
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Sept. 2 — at San Jose, 9:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 — Kansas City
Sept. 20 — at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 — St. Louis
Sept. 30 — San Jose
Oct. 4 — at LAFC, 9:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 — L.A. Galaxy
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Oct. 21 — at Kansas City, TBD
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