Back-to-Back: The Quakes open the season with back-to-back home games against the Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers. Last season, San Jose didn’t have a home game until Week 3.
Getting Familiar: Nine of San Jose’s first 18 matches are against Portland, FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy.
New Three-Game Opponents: In 2015, the Earthquakes played the LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Houston Dynamo three times. This year, the Galaxy (one at home), FC Dallas (two at home) and Houston (two at home) are the only teams to remain as three-match opponents, and will be joined by Portland (one at home), Colorado (one at home) and Sporting Kansas City (two at home).
Midweek Matches: In 2015, the Earthquakes had a total of two games between Monday and Thursday. This season, the Quakes have six such matches, including five on Wednesday (3 home, 2 away) and one on Thursday (away) in order to avoid playing on each of the three international breaks during the season.
Friday Favorites: San Jose never plays on Friday night through the first 16 games of the season, but then proceeds to play six of the next eight games on Friday.
No More Streaking: San Jose never plays three consecutive games at home or on the road (barring a schedule change due to non-league play). In 2015, the club had a three-game road trip in May and later had two stints at home of three games or more. In fact, the team’s final 10 games of this season alternate home and away.
End on the Road: The Quakes close out the season in Kansas City on October 23. It marks the third consecutive season San Jose plays their final game away from home and the sixth time in the past eight years.
