USL releases 2003 A-League schedule
January 23, 2003 - A-League (A-League) News Release
TAMPA, FL â United Soccer Leagues released today the 2003 A-League schedule. The season will open with the Virginia Beach Mariners playing host to the Cincinnati Riverhawks Friday April 18. The following night, the Riverhawks take on the Eagles in Charlotte and the Richmond Kickers host the Charleston Battery.
The expansion Syracuse franchise will open its season on the road against the Charlotte Eagles May 2 with their home opener on May 17 against the Toronto Lynx.
The new Milwaukee Wave United will get a taste of a rivalry it will inherit when it takes on the Minnesota Thunder at home May 18 at Uihlein Park in its season opener.
The league matches that double as part of the two-leg qualification series games for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup when the rival Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders go head-to-head on back-to-back nights May 1 in Portland and May 2 in Seattle.
The schedule breakdown of weekday versus weekend/holiday matches weighed heavily on the latter with 222 games (83.5 percent) being played Friday-Sunday and on holidays. Division schedules, with the exception of the Central Division are balanced with each club playing their division rivals four times.
"We are very pleased with the schedule composition this year, especially the percentage of weekend matches," said Tim Holt, Director of A-League Operations. "Although the schedule primarily emphasizes regional match-ups and local rivalries, the majority of our teams will continue to face non-conference opponents during the regular season."
The 266-game schedule comes to a close Sunday, August 31 with five matches, including the traditional season finale between rival Seattle and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The playoffs open the following week with the conference semifinals and wrap up with the A-League Championship Saturday, September 20.
USL's 2003 broadcast schedule is expected to be announced next week.
Go to www.USLsoccer.com for the schedule.
Direct link: www.uslsoccer.com/schedules/aleague.htm
A-League Stories from January 23, 2003
- USL releases 2003 A-League schedule - A-League
- Blast Announces 2003 Schedule and Ticket Information - Indiana Blast
- Riverhawks announce 2003 schedule - Cincinnati Riverhawks
- Wave Acquires A-League Team - Milwaukee Wave United
- Wave United Join A-League - A-League
- Riverhawks set to play Crew in exhibition game - Cincinnati Riverhawks
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