
Rapids Set to Host First-Ever Thanksgiving Day Playoff Match
November 8, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - After finishing the regular season atop the Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids will begin their Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs run on Thanksgiving Day in a nationally televised match on FOX and FOX Deportes kicking off at 2:30 p.m. MT. The Rapids will host the winner of the Round One encounter between the Portland Timbers and Minnesota United FC at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park in the Western Conference Semifinal in what will be the first-ever Major League Soccer match played on the national holiday.
"Coming off what has already been an historic season for us, we couldn't be more thrilled to have the honor of hosting the first Thanksgiving Day match in MLS history," said Pádraig Smith, Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. "To share this national holiday with our passionate supporters is an incredible opportunity we're very much looking forward to."
The top seven teams in each conference qualified for the league's postseason, with each conference winner, Colorado and New England, earning a first-round bye. Seeds 2, 3 and 4 will host seeds 7, 6 and 5, respectively, in the single-elimination tournament. The MLS Cup Final will take place on Dec. 11.
2021 was the most successful regular season in Rapids history and marks the second consecutive playoffs appearance in two full seasons under head coach Robin Fraser. The Rapids finished the year top of the Western Conference for the first time in club history and their 61 points and 13 clean sheets were also the most-ever for the club, while their 17 wins were a team-high in the post-shootout era.
Visit ColoradoRapids.com/Playoffs for more information and to purchase tickets.
Major League Soccer Stories from November 8, 2021
- MLS Announces Match Schedule and Broadcast Details for the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs - MLS
- Whitecaps FC to Open Audi MLS Cup Playoffs at Sporting Kansas City - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Orlando City to Open 2021 Postseason Play on Tuesday, November 23 at Nashville SC - Orlando City SC
- Sporting KC Playoff Match Set for November 20 - Sporting Kansas City
- Nashville Soccer Club Audi MLS Cup Playoff Match Tickets on Sale to the General Public Tomorrow - Nashville SC
- Minnesota United Open 2021 MLS Playoffs in Portland on Sunday November 21 - Minnesota United FC
- Philadelphia Union Home Playoff Match Set for November 20, 2:30 p.m. Et - Philadelphia Union
- Real Salt Lake to Begin Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs at Seattle Sounders on November 23 - Real Salt Lake
- Timbers Host Minnesota United FC on Sunday, November 21 in Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs - Portland Timbers
- Rapids Set to Host First-Ever Thanksgiving Day Playoff Match - Colorado Rapids
- Sounders FC to Face Real Salt Lake on Tuesday, November 23 in Round One of Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs - Seattle Sounders FC
- Red Bulls Draw Nashville SC, 1-1, on MLS Decision Day - New York Red Bulls
- Earthquakes Weekly Update: November 8, 2021 - San Jose Earthquakes
- Two Additional Sounders FC Players Called into International Duty - Seattle Sounders FC
- Earthquakes Announce Chris Leitch as General Manager - San Jose Earthquakes
- Dynamo and Dash Help Kick off Operation Stocking Stuffer with Houston Fire Department - Houston Dynamo FC
- A Historic Season in Review: the Rapids' 2021 Journey to a First-Seed Finish - Colorado Rapids
- Real Salt Lake Midfielder Damir Kreilach Voted MLS Player of the Week for Week 35 - MLS
- Damir Kreilach Named Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 35 - Real Salt Lake
- Leandro González Pirez Named to MLS Team of the Week - Inter Miami CF
- Lewis, Acosta, Fraser Earn Team of the Week Nod After Rapids Finish Atop Western Conference - Colorado Rapids
- Timbers Midfielder Sebastián Blanco Named to MLS Team of the Week for Week 35 - Portland Timbers
- Seven Philadelphia Union Players Receive International Call Ups - Philadelphia Union
- Kamal Miller, James Pantemis, Samuel Piette and Romell Quioto Called Up - Club de Foot Montreal
- Five Points: Golden Boy - New York City FC
- Competitive Drive and Work Ethic Has Propelled Khaled Ali to FIFA Success - Charlotte FC
- Chicago Fire FC Announce 2021 Roster Decisions - Chicago Fire FC
- Charlotte FC Sign Khaled Ali as Club's First-Ever eMLS Player - Charlotte FC
- Rapids Finish Atop the Western Conference, Earn Spot in 2022 Concacaf Champions League - Colorado Rapids
- LA Galaxy Battle Minnesota United FC to 3-3 Draw at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday Night - LA Galaxy
- Sporting Falls 1-0 to Real Salt Lake - Sporting Kansas City
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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