2012 Schedule by the Numbers

We went over the highlights here, but let's take a little more in-depth look.

You know, one I didn't put together in 5 minutes while at work.

Home against the Western Conference

• Colorado Rapids
• San Jose Earthquakes
• Chivas USA
• Seattle Sounders
• Portland Timbers

Away against the Western Conference

• FC Dallas
• Real Salt Lake
• LA Galaxy
• Vancouver Whitecaps

2 Home, 1 Away against the Eastern Conference

• Sporting KC
• Houston Dynamo
• Chicago Fire

2 Away, 1 Home against the Eastern Conference

• D.C. United
• Philadelphia Union
• Montreal Impact
• New England Revolution

1 Home, 1 Away against the Eastern Conference

• Columbus Crew
• Toronto FC

Nationally Televised Games

• NBC: 3
• NBC Sports Network: 6
• ESPN: 3
• ESPN 2: 2
• Galavision: 5

Games based on surface

• Grass: 31
• Field Turf: 3

Games based on start time (all times EDT)

• 1:00: 1
• 1:30: 2
• 2:00: 1
• 2:30: 1
• 3:00: 2
• 3:30: 2
• 4:00: 3
• 5:00: 1
• 6:00: 1
• 7:00: 11
• 7:30: 1
• 8:00: 3
• 9:00: 2
• 11:00: 1
• TBD: 1

So now that we have that, some analysis and notes:

-If you figured we'd get the Union at home twice after last year's mass migration from Philadelphia into the Cathedral of American Soccer's upper deck, you'd be wrong. We have to travel the wrong way down the Jersey Turnpike twice.

-Speaking of traveling the wrong way down the Jersey Turnpike, we have to go to the swamp twice.

-That said, it is nice to avoid Livestrong Sporting Park twice and Century Link Field and Jen Weld Field. The Red Bulls stole a point in Portland last season and played Seattle well in Seattle, despite the score, but both teams play well at home with their league-renown supporters at their collective backs.

-The team only makes two trips to the West Coast proper, to Los Angeles and Vancouver. Before the Bulls head out to LA, they have six days off. After the LA game, though, the Bulls only have four days to get back. There's three days before the Vancouver game and four days after. The other road trip is right at the beginning of the year and gives the Red Bulls a week to get ready for their home opener.

-Speaking of road trips, with two away games against Philadelphia, D.C., New England and Montreal, the furthest (driving) trip is six hours to Montreal.

-Speaking of Montreal, the Red Bulls will play one game against the Impact at Olympic Stadium and one at Stade Saputo.

-Of the nationally televised games, DC and the second installment of Chicago at home are on NBC, along with the season finale against Philly.

-The first nationally televised game will be the season opener against FC Dallas and will be the first MLS game on the NBC Sports Network.

-The venue for our game at Vancouver is listed as "Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium," a defunct stadium idea for the Whitecaps, not BC Place. One imagines that's a mistake.