Sounders FC to open 2017 season on the road for first time in club history

SEATTLE -- The MLS Cup Champion Seattle Sounders FC will open the 2017 season on the road for the first time in club history, the MLS announced Wednesday.

The Sounders play the Houston Dynamo at 5:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 4th.

Seattle is 5-3-0 all-time in MLS regular season openers. The team says the season opener is away this season is because of scheduled infrastructure improvements at CenturyLink Field.

The Rave Green home opener is set for 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 19th against the New York Red Bulls.

The complete regular season schedule will be announced in January prior to the 2017 SuperDraft, league officials said.

The MLS season officially gets underway on Friday, March 3rd when the expansion Minnesota United head to Portland to take on the Timbers.