We’ve looked at the home matches in the hot-off-the-press Real Salt Lake 2016 MLS regular season schedule. Now it’s time to look at the road matches. Here are the top away matches to circle on the 2016 calendar.
March 6 @ Orlando City SC
This won’t only be Real Salt Lake’s first visit to the Citrus Bowl in the last season that Orlando City will play in the 61,000-seat stadium, but it will also be the club’s first ever trip to Florida for a competitive match. Orlando had an up-and-down inaugural season and earned a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium on Independence Day. RSL should have a more complete roster this time around in the regular season opener.
March 19 @ Portland Timbers
Providence Park is always one of the more raucous stadiums and now that the Timbers have an MLS Cup to go with the incredible environment. RSL’s matches in the Rose City have always been fiercely competitive, too, adding to the draw of a fan road trip to Portland in March. As will the presence of Nat Borchers and, potentially, Ned Grabavoy in Timbers jerseys.
June 2 @ New York City FC
This will be RSL’s last match before going on a two-week break for Copa America. It will also be the club’s first ever match at Yankee Stadium as RSL takes on the star-studded NYCFC. With a roster that includes Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Villa, there is plenty of reason to make the trip to New York for this one. Add in a Saturday match against Columbus on the way out to New York and fans could make a week-long trip out and catch two matches in five days in the process.
July 13 @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Flush with quality young talent, Vancouver made waves in the 2015 season and could do the same in 2016. RSL was strong in two of the three matches with the Whitecaps last year only to have late goals doom chances to earn points. This will be RSL’s only road match in the month of July and is in a stretch that will see RSL take the road just twice from June 18-July 22.
October 23 @ Seattle Sounders FC
For the second straight season, RSL will close the season at CenturyLink Field against the Sounders. And for the second straight season the club will start and end the regular season on turf. It has been a rough go on the fake grass for RSL, historically, but by the time Decision Day comes around this season, the club anticipates being in a playoff battle, so this game could have some extra juice.
