VANCOUVER, BC -
Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in conjunction with Major League Soccer, announced today details for the 2012 regular season. Whitecaps FC's second season in MLS will see the 38-year-old club play a conference-based 34-match regular season schedule.
Whitecaps FC kick off their second season in MLS on Bell Pitch at BC Place when they host Canadian rivals and 2012 expansion side Montreal Impact on Saturday, March 10, at 3 p.m. PT. The season opener will be broadcast live in English on TSN and in French on RDS. Head coach Martin Rennie's side will play 17 home and 17 away matches over the course of 34 weeks. This includes six afternoon and three evening home matches on a Saturday, five evening home games on a Wednesday, and three afternoon home games on a Sunday.
Vancouver’s final regular season home match will take place on Saturday, October 20, versus Cascadia Cup rivals Portland Timbers at 1 p.m. PT. The ‘Caps conclude their regular season campaign when they visit Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, on Saturday, October 27, at 6 p.m. PT. All matches will be available live on TEAM 1410 sports radio, as well as Bell mobile devices. The 2012 television broadcast schedule, as well as the schedule of matches for the 2012 Nutrilite Canadian Championship, will be announced in the coming weeks.
"We are pleased with the balance of home and away matches in every month, as well as the mix of afternoon and evening kick off times," said Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi. "We look forward to kicking off year two against Montreal Impact, as they play their first match in their inaugural MLS season in Vancouver on March 10."
As a member of the MLS Western Conference, Whitecaps FC will play each Western Conference opponent three times (24 matches) and all 10 Eastern Conference opponents once each (10 matches). As part of the new schedule format for 2012, the ‘Caps will play four Western Conference clubs twice at home. They include Cascadia Cup rivals Seattle Sounders FC, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, and San Jose Earthquakes. Following the March 10 season opener with Montreal, the ‘Caps will host four other Eastern Conference clubs in D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, and Sporting Kansas City at BC Place. 

The 2012 schedule includes a total of six Cascadia Cup matches versus Portland and Seattle, as well as Vancouver’s lone league clash with Canadian rivals Toronto FC at BMO Field on Wednesday, July 11, at 4 p.m. PT. Whitecaps FC will host defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy at BC Place on Wednesday, July 18, at 7 p.m. PT. Visit whitecapsfc.com/schedule for the complete schedule.
10 clubs will qualify for the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs. This will consist of the top five clubs in points from each conference at the end of the regular season.

Whitecaps FC 2012 MLS season tickets start at $329, plus applicable tax and a $10 processing fee per order. To secure a seat and for additional information about Whitecaps FC MLS season tickets, including loge seats and suites, call 604.669.9283 or visit whitecapsfc.com.
