Louisville City FC’s 2017 season will kick off with a rivalry game at Louisville Slugger Field, as the United Soccer League on Friday announced a Saturday, March 25 showdown with Saint Louis FC.

The start time will be announced later. LouCity opened its home slates in 2015 and 2016 with afternoon games to best avoid conflicts with the NCAA basketball tournament.

A full regular-season schedule, with 16 home and road games apiece, will be revealed in the coming days by the USL. Friday’s announcement of each club’s home openers also included a March 30 LouCity road game against Orlando City B.

“I think for us, it’s great to be able to announce the first game of the season, and it’s fantastic that it’s against one of our rivals,” said LouCity Coach James O’Connor. “We’re looking forward to getting our players in for the preseason, and now that we have a date, it all seems more real. We can aim for it and make sure we’re ready for a huge game against Saint Louis FC.”

Season tickets are on sale starting at $180 by calling (502) 384-8799 or emailing tickets@louisvillecityfc.com. LouCity is also offering a 5-voucher Flex Pack priced as low as $70.

The home opener with Saint Louis FC coincides with the visiting club’s return to the Eastern Conference after a year in the West. LouCity and Saint Louis FC play annually for the Kings’ Cup trophy, with it going to the boys in purple in both 2015 and 2016.

Louisville also played its inaugural opener against Saint Louis FC, prevailing by a 2-0 score on March 28, 2015, at Slugger Field. Since then, LouCity has gone on to assemble a 3-1-2 record against its Kings’ Cup rival.

O’Connor has 17 players under contract for the 2017 season, with 13 of them returners from a team that posted the USL’s second-best overall record last year and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final. All players will report to Louisville before a two-week preseason trip to train from Feb. 12-25 at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Before kicking off against Saint Louis FC, LouCity will play four preseason games: a closed March 4 matchup with Division II Young Harris College before meetings with Division I Lipscomb (7 p.m. March 8 at the Elizabethtown Sports Complex), the University of Kentucky (7 p.m. March 15 at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex) and the professional side, Indy Eleven (5 p.m. local time March 18 at the University of Evansville).

Saturday, March 25

Charleston Battery vs. FC Cincinnati

LA Galaxy II vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

Louisville City FC vs. Saint Louis FC

Phoenix Rising FC vs. Toronto FC II

Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. New York Red Bulls II

Portland Timbers 2 vs. Real Monarchs SLC

Reno 1868 FC vs. Orange County SC

Richmond Kickers vs. Harrisburg City Islanders

Swope Park Rangers vs. OKC Energy FC

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Orlando City B

Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Sunday, March 26

Rio Grande Valley FC vs. San Antonio FC

Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Sacramento Republic FC

Thursday, March 30

Orlando City B vs. Louisville City FC

Saturday, April 1

Bethlehem Steel FC vs. Rochester Rhinos

Charlotte Independence vs. Charleston Battery

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. OKC Energy FC

New York Red Bulls II vs. Richmond Kickers

Real Monarchs SLC vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Orange County SC

Saint Louis FC vs. Ottawa Fury FC\

San Antonio FC vs. LA Galaxy II

Friday, April 7

Toronto FC II vs. Rochester Rhinos

Saturday, April 8

OKC Energy FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2

Saturday, April 15

FC Cincinnati vs. Saint Louis FC

Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Bethlehem Steel FC

Sunday, April 16

Orange County SC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC

Saturday, April 22

Ottawa Fury FC vs. Toronto FC II

Rochester Rhinos vs. New York Red Bulls II