Real Salt Lake announced its 2009 preseason schedule today, which includes participating in the Carolina Challenge for the first time in franchise history.
The eight-week preseason begins this Thursday with the players reporting for team physicals. RSL opens the season on the road on March 28 against an opponent that hasn't been announced yet.
RSL's preseason consists of trips to Ventura, Calif., Tampa, Fla. and Charleston, S.C. Between each destination the club will train in Utah for a few days.
The Carolina Challenge will be March 4-15 in Charleston. RSL faces D.C. United on March 7, Charleston of the USL on March 11, and then Toronto FC on March 14.
The MLS regular season kicks off the weekend of March 21, but RSL opens with a bye due to an odd number of teams in the league this year. It tentatively has an exhibition game scheduled for that weekend, but an opponent and site haven't been finalized yet.
2009 Real Salt Lake Preseason Schedule
Jan. 29-31
Thurs., Jan. 29 — Players report for entrance physicals / fitness testing
Fri., Jan. 30 — Media Day at Rio Tinto Stadium
Jan. 30-31 — Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)
Feb. 2-14 (At Oxnard/Ventura, Calif.)
Sun., Feb. 8 — RSL vs. Ventura County Fusion — 8 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 13 — RSL vs. Shandong Luneng Taishan (China) — 5 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 14 — RSL vs. UCSB or CSU-SLO — 11 a.m.
Feb. 15-17
Feb. 15-17 — Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)
Feb. 18-28 (At Tampa, Fla.)
Sat., Feb. 21 — RSL vs. TBD at University of South Florida — 5 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 24 — RSL vs. TBD at University of Tampa — 5 p.m.
March 1-3
March 1-3 — Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)
March 4-15 (At Charleston, S.C.)
Sat., March 7 — RSL vs. D.C. United — 3 p.m.
Wed., March 11 — RSL vs. Charleston — 5:15 p.m.
Sat., March 14 — RSL vs. Toronto FC — 3 p.m.