There's just something about that first game of every season under the lights at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park. You can see it on the faces of the players, you can feel it in the beat of C38's drums - home openers are different. The journey for fans and players begins again in the early days of spring.
When it comes to the first game of the season in front of the home faithful, history tends to favor the Burgundy Boys. Outside of a 2013 loss to the Philadelphia Union, the Rapids haven't dropped a home opener since 2003. In fact, in the 22 previous occasions, the home side boasts a 14-3-5 record. The last four have all seen clean sheets and moments that took our breath away.
Some of the most memorable moments in recent years include Dominique Badji's towering second-half header that proved to be the difference against New England Revolution last season and who could forget Marco Pappa's 95th minute left-footed wonder goal that sealed three points against the LA Galaxy in 2016?
This year the the Rapids welcome familiar foe Sporting KC, who hasn't seen a victory in Commerce City since 2014. The passion-filled rivalry is guaranteed to provide plenty of fireworks to open 2018.
Make sure you're there to witness the beginning of the home campaign for the 23rd season as part of a capacity crowd on Saturday, March 24 at 7:00 PM.
Home Opener Results 1996-2017
<p>DATE</p> |
<p>Opponent</p> |
<p>Results</p> |
<p>Attendance</p> |
<p>Goal Scorers</p> |
<p>04/21/1996</p> |
<p>Dallas</p> |
<p>W 3-1</p> |
<p>21,711</p> |
<p>COL: Balboa (48,64), Bartlett (57); DAL: Kerr (59)</p> |
<p>04/05/1997</p> |
<p>Columbus</p> |
<p>W 2-0</p> |
<p>15,325</p> |
<p>COL: Wegerle (24), Harris (59)</p> |
<p>04/04/1998</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>L 0-1</p> |
<p>19,252</p> |
<p>LA: Mello (28)</p> |
<p>04/10/1999</p> |
<p>Miami</p> |
<p>W 4-1</p> |
<p>15,592</p> |
<p>COL: own goal (48), Harris (49,77), Dely Valdes (62); MIA: Serna (54)</p> |
<p>04/08/2000</p> |
<p>Tampa Bay</p> |
<p>W 1-0</p> |
<p>17,105</p> |
<p>COL: DiGiamarino (74)</p> |
<p>04/14/2001</p> |
<p>MetroStars</p> |
<p>T 1-1 (OT)</p> |
<p>18,495</p> |
<p>NY: Alvarez (19); COL: Balboa (83)</p> |
<p>03/30/2002</p> |
<p>San Jose</p> |
<p>W 1-0</p> |
<p>25,010</p> |
<p>COL: Chung (4)</p> |
<p>04/12/2003</p> |
<p>San Jose</p> |
<p>L 1-2</p> |
<p>20,816</p> |
<p>COL: Roberts (46); SJ: Ching (0:53), Dunivant (22)</p> |
<p>04/17/2004</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>T 1-1</p> |
<p>13,417</p> |
<p>COL: Jean Philippe (9); LA: Ruiz (20)</p> |
<p>04/09/2005</p> |
<p>Dallas</p> |
<p>T 0-0</p> |
<p>9,253</p> |
|
<p>04/08/2006</p> |
<p>Columbus</p> |
<p>W 3-1</p> |
<p>12,124</p> |
<p>COL: Kirovski (34), Beckerman (50), Noel (67); CLB: Marshall (10)</p> |
<p>04/07/2007</p> |
<p>D.C. United</p> |
<p>W 2-1</p> |
<p>18,086</p> |
<p>COL: Gomez (19), Brown (35); DC: Emilio (79)</p> |
<p>03/29/2008</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>W 4-0</p> |
<p>18,713</p> |
<p>COL: Cooke (10), C. Gomez (59), Cummings (66), Clark (80)</p> |
<p>03/28/2009</p> |
<p>Kansas City</p> |
<p>W 2-1</p> |
<p>11,885</p> |
<p>COL: Cooke (65), Cummings (74); KC: Kraus (69)</p> |
<p>04/03/2010</p> |
<p>Chicago</p> |
<p>T 2-2</p> |
<p>11,641</p> |
<p>COL: Cummings (13) Casey (41); CHI: John (26) McBride (51)</p> |
<p>03/19/2011</p> |
<p>Portland</p> |
<p>W 3-1</p> |
<p>17,139</p> |
<p>COL: Larentowicz (8), Cummings (29), Smith (30); POR: Cooper (80)</p> |
<p>03/10/2012</p> |
<p>Columbus</p> |
<p>W 2-0</p> |
<p>14,746</p> |
<p>COL: Moor (44), Amarikwa (89)</p> |
<p>03/10/2013</p> |
<p>Philadelphia</p> |
<p>L 2-1</p> |
<p>15,122</p> |
<p>COL: Smith (68); PHI: Okugo (34), McInerney (79)</p> |
<p>03/22/2014</p> |
<p>Portland</p> |
<p>W 2-0</p> |
<p>15,135</p> |
<p>COL: Sanchez (73, pen), Brown (75)</p> |
<p>03/21/2015</p> |
<p>New York City</p> |
<p>T 0-0</p> |
<p>17,692</p> |
|
<p>03/12/2016</p> |
<p>LA Galaxy</p> |
<p>W 1-0</p> |
<p>17,474</p> |
<p>COL: Pappa (90+5)</p> |
<p>03/04/2017</p> |
<p>New England</p> |
<p>W 1-0</p> |
<p>16,126</p> |
<p>COL: Badji (52)</p> |
