Major League Soccer today announced that defending Eastern Conference Champion Columbus Crew SC will host the Philadelphia Union in the club's 2016 home Opening Match on Saturday, March 12, 2016 as MAPFRE Stadium welcomes supporters for its 18th season and the Black & Gold's 21st overall campaign in MLS. Crew SC's first home match against Philadelphia comes six days after the Black & Gold's season-opening contest on Sunday, March 6 (4:30 p.m. ET), in a nationally-televised clash in Portland between the two clubs that played in the 2015 MLS Cup. A complete 2016 MLS schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.



The start time for the Saturday, March 12 Opening Match in Columbus against the Union is to be determined. The season opener in Portland at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 6 is scheduled to be televised nationally on ESPN. 2016 local broadcast information for Crew SC will be announced at a later date.



2016 SEASON TICKET MEMBERSHIPS: http://bit.ly/2016CrewSCSTM



Crew SC's Holiday Package includes four tickets to the March 12 Opening Match against the Union at MAPFRE Stadium along with four limited edition Crew SC Ugly Scarves, all starting at $96. Information on the Holiday Package can be found at http://bit.ly/CrewSCHoliday.



Additional information for purchasing single-match tickets for all Crew SC regular-season home matches will be released at a later date. As of today, supporters can secure their tickets to Opening Match on March 12 by purchasing 2016 Season Ticket Memberships, a 10-Match Plan or a Holiday Package. Ticket information on all three avenues to seats for Opening Match is available by calling 614-447-2739 and online via ColumbusCrewSC.com.



Crew SC is unbeaten (6-0-5) in Opening Matches at MAPFRE Stadium over the last 11 years, dating back to 2005.

In 2015, Crew SC captured the MLS Eastern Conference Championship in its second season under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, qualifying for the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The club recorded five regular-season sellouts for the second consecutive season and added two postseason sellouts to set an all-time club record for most sellouts in one year, regular-season and playoffs combined. The Black & Gold also registered three straight home sellouts for the first time in MAPFRE Stadium history, from August 22 versus Sporting Kansas City through September 26 versus Portland. The attendance of 22,719 at that September match against the Timbers was the largest at MAPFRE Stadium since the stage at the north end of the venue was constructed prior to the 2008 season. The club then set club playoff records for MAPFRE Stadium attendance in back-to-back sellouts in the First Leg of the Eastern Conference Championship and the 2015 MLS Cup.