January 4, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship will open the 2023 season with a slate of 11 games on the opening weekend of the campaign as the league opens its 13th season on Saturday, March 11, including marquee matchups that feature postseason rematches and first-time interconference meetings on the opening day of the season.
Defending Championship title holders San Antonio FC will open its new season at home at Toyota Field as it plays host to Oakland Roots SC, one of the sides it defeated in the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs on the way to its first league title. The opening night of the season also sees another notable playoff rematch as Birmingham Legion FC hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Protective Stadium after the clubs’ epic Eastern Conference Quarterfinal this past October that saw the Hounds advance 8-7 in a penalty shootout after a back-and-forth 2-2 draw at the same venue.
Two other teams that reached the postseason this past fall will meet for the first time in one of the notable interconference matchups to open the campaign with San Diego Loyal SC playing host to Detroit City FC at Torero Stadium. Elsewhere, the 2022 Championship Coach of the Year Ben Pirmann and his new club the Charleston Battery will open the season at home to Phoenix Rising FC as both teams aim to plot a course back to the postseason in 2023.
Other opening weekend highlights include a clash between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Indy Eleven at Al Lang Stadium which will see an immediate return to Tampa Bay for ex-Rowdies captain and new Boys in Blue forward Sebastian Guenzatti. Two former league title winners will also square off as Orange County SC plays host to defending Eastern Conference title winner Louisville City FC at Championship Soccer Stadium.
Following the opening weekend, the opening month of the season features additional intriguing home openers, including Detroit City FC’s return to Keyworth Stadium on Saturday, March 25 to play host to Indy Eleven, and Louisville City FC’s clash with El Paso Locomotive FC led by new Head Coach Brian Clarhaut.
San Diego Loyal SC, meanwhile, will serve as the visitor for two notable home openers in April as it visits Phoenix Rising FC’s new home in the city limits on the opening day of the month, and then two weeks later heads to face New Mexico United at Isotopes Park on April 15.
The full 2023 USL Championship schedule will be announced next Monday, Jan. 9,…