Philadelphia Union to kick off 2013 Major League Soccer season with home game against Sporting Kansas City

The Philadelphia Union's home opener will come in the first weekend of a Major League Soccer season for the first time in team history.

PPL Park will christen the 2013 campaign on Saturday, March 2, as the Union welcome Sporting Kansas City.

In each of the Union's three previous seasons, their first game has been on the road. In 2010 they were at Seattle, in 2011 they were at Houston and last year they were at Portland.

It will be a matchup of two teams that have made big moves in the offseason. The Union have added forwards Sébastien Le Toux and Conor Casey, and defender Jeff Parke. Sporting has added former U.S. national team midfielder Benny Feilhaber and young defender Ike Opara, as well as a new Designated Player in Argentine forward Claudio Bieler.

Along with the home opener, Union fans can begin planning for the team's first road game next year. On March 9, Philadelphia will travel to Commerce City, Colo. - near Denver - for the Colorado Rapids' home opener.

Here is the full schedule of 2013 MLS First Kick games, including the home openers for all 19 teams. Kickoff times and TV broadcast information will be released at a later date.

Saturday, March 2

Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City (PPL Park)
FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids (FC Dallas Stadium)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC (BC Place)

Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Montréal Impact (CenturyLink Field)
Chivas USA vs. Columbus Crew (The Home Depot Center)

Sunday, March 3

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire (The Home Depot Center)
Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls (JELD-WEN Field)
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (Buck Shaw Stadium)

Saturday, March 9

Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (venue TBD, either the Rogers Centre or BMO Field)
D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake (RFK Stadium)
Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union (Dick's Sporting Goods Park)
Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Park)

Saturday, March 16

New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United (Red Bull Arena)
Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire (Livestrong Sporting Park)
Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Montréal Impact vs. Toronto FC (Olympic Stadium)
Columbus Crew vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Crew Stadium)

Saturday, March 23

New England Revolution vs. FC Dallas (Gillette Stadium)