The 2004 schedule, unveiled this week by the A-League, also shows the Impact will play 10 of its first 14 games of the season on the road, including the first three, at Puerto Rico (April 25), Charleston (April 30) and Atlanta (May 1st). In the same circumstances last year, Montreal did well, completing the summer with the A-League’s best road record, at 10-3-1.
"Kicking off the season on the road is always difficult, but on the other hand, a long road trip can also bring the team closer together, especially at the beginning of the season," pointed out Impact head coach Nick DeSantis.
The Montreal squad will play 10 of its last 14 matches at home, including eight of the last 10. In all, six home games will be played on Wednesdays at 7:30, a day on which the Impact attracted an average of 7,284 people per game in 2003, including a team record of 9,414 people on August 13. Five games will be on Sundays at 4 pm and two games on Fridays.
"It’ll be important to finish strongly at home, but the most important thing is to make sure the team peaks at the right time, whether we are battling for a playoff spot or getting ready for the playoffs," said DeSantis. "Playing 28 games in four months is always difficult, but it’s a reality of the A-League and that’s why it’ll be important that every player on our roster be prepared to contribute."
Match-ups against the Impact’s two greatest rivals, the Rochester Rhinos and the Toronto Lynx, promise to keep the rivalry alive and well, as the Montreal squad will face Toronto twice in 24 hours — in Montreal May 28 and in Toronto May 29 — and Rochester twice in three days — at home July 7 and at Frontier Field July 9.
The road trip out West will be one game longer this year with the arrival of the expansion-team Edmonton Aviators: games will be played in Vancouver June 11, Calgary June 13 and Edmonton June 16.
The Impact will play three times against Puerto Rico, Rochester, Toronto, Syracuse, Richmond and Atlanta, and twice against Charleston, Virginia Beach, Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary.
There will be 16 teams in the A-League in 2004, nine in the Eastern Conference and seven in the West. The four top teams in each conference will make the playoffs.
The Impact will conclude the regular season on Sunday, August 29, at home against the Richmond Kickers.
THE 2004 IMPACT SCHEDULE
DATE/TIME/OPPONENT
Sun. April 25 - 5:00 pm @ Puerto Rico
Fri. April 30 - 7:30 pm @ Charleston
Sat. May 1st - 6:00 pm @ Atlanta
SUN. MAY 16 - 4:00 pm VIRGINIA BEACH
FRI. MAY 28 - 7:30 pm TORONTO
Sat. May 29 - 6:00 pm @ Toronto
SUN. JUNE 6 - 4:00 pm RICHMOND
Fri. June 11 - 10:00 pm @ Vancouver
Sun. June 13 - 4:00 pm @ Calgary
Wed. June 16 - 10:00 pm @ Edmonton
SUN. JUNE 20 - 4:00 pm TORONTO
Sun. June 27 - 6:00 pm @ Syracuse
Fri. July 2 - 7:30 pm @ Virginia Beach
Sat. July 3 - 7:00 pm @ Richmond
WED. JULY 7 - 7:30 pm ROCHESTER
Fri. July 9 - 8:00 pm @ Rochester
WED. JULY 14 - 7:30 pm SYRACUSE
Fri. July 16 - 7:30 pm @ Syracuse
WED. JULY 21 - 7:30 pm CALGARY
Sat. July 24 - 6:00 pm @ Atlanta
WED. JULY 28 - 7:30 pm CHARLESTON
WED. AUG. 4 - 7:30 pm PUERTO RICO
FRI. AUG. 6 - 8:00 pm VANCOUVER
SAT. AUG. 14 - 2:00 pm PUERTO RICO
SUN. AUG. 22 - 4:00 pm ATLANTA
WED. AUG. 25 - 7:30 pm EDMONTON
Fri. Aug. 27 - 7:35 pm @ Rochester
SUN. AUG. 29 - 4:00 pm RICHMOND
Home games are indicated in CAPS; certain game times are subject to change.
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SOURCE:
bcomm
INFO:
Stéphane Banfi
514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
