2014 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule

Here's the full schedule for this year's Major League Soccer playoffs.

For the first time in the current postseason format, both legs of the conference semifinals are being contested on weekends. This is something that fans have wanted for a long time, and the league finally has built enough space into the calendar to make it happen. In past years, the conference semifinals were contested on a weekend day and a following weekday.

Another significant change is that there is now just one week between the second leg of the conference finals and the championship game, instead of two weeks. This poses a bit of a challenge to clubs' ticket offices, as they have to sell out their buildings in a short amount of time, but all of the teams in the field have a history of drawing strong crowds.

MLS' decision to shorten the gap between the last two rounds also means that games take place on Thanksgiving weekend for the first time ever. It's somewhat challenging to get attention amid the traditional glut of football, but as the games are the second legs of the conference finals, they're among the highest-profile matches the league can offer.

All times listed below are Eastern.

Eastern Conference

E4. New York Red Bulls vs. E5. Sporting Kansas City at Red Bull Arena: Thursday, October 30, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN1, RDS2)

Western Conference

W4. FC Dallas vs. W5. Vancouver Whitecaps at Toyota Stadium: Wednesday, October 29, 9:00 p.m. (Time Warner Cable SportsChannel Dallas, TSN1, MLS Direct Kick, MLSSoccer.com)

E1. D.C. United vs. E4. New York Red Bulls

First leg at Red Bull Arena: Sunday, November 2, 4:00 p.m. (Univision Deportes, MSG Network, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic)
Second leg at RFK Stadium: Saturday, November 8, 2:30 p.m. (NBC)

E2. New England Revolution vs. E3. Columbus Crew

First leg at Crew Stadium: Saturday, November 1 (Univision Deportes, Time Warner SportsChannel Ohio, Comcast SportsNet New England)
Second leg at Gillette Stadium: Sunday, November 9, 5:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2)

W1. Seattle Sounders vs. W4. FC Dallas

First leg at Toyota Stadium: Sunday, November 2, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2)
Second leg at CenturyLink Field: Monday, November 10, 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN, Univision Deportes, TSN2, RDS2)

W2. Los Angeles Galaxy vs. W3. Real Salt Lake

First leg at Rio Tinto Stadium: Saturday, November 1, 8:00 p.m. (NBCSN, TSN2 joined in progress, RDS2)
Second leg at StubHub Center: Sunday, November 9, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN1, RDS2)

E2. New England Revolution vs. E4. New York Red Bulls

First leg at Red Bull Arena: Sunday, November 23, 1:30 p.m. (NBC)
Second leg at Gillette Stadium: Saturday, November 29, 3:00 p.m. (NBCSN, Univision Deportes, TSN2, RDS2)

W1. Seattle Sounders vs. W1. Los Angeles Galaxy

First leg at StubHub Center: Sunday, November 23, 5:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)
Second leg at CenturyLink Field: Sunday, November 30, 9:20 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, RDS2)

W2. Los Angeles Galaxy vs. E2. New England Revolution at StubHub Center: Sunday, December 7, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN, UniMás, TSN1, TSN4, TSN5, RDS2)