Dates set for 2017 MLS Cup, playoffs

MLS announced on Wednesday that the 2017 MLS Cup Final will be played on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4 PM ET. They also set the dates for the entirety of the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The playoffs will open with Knockout Round games on Oct. 25-26, there will be once again be a two-week break for the FIFA window between the conference semifinals and finals and there will be 10 days of preparation between the conference finals and MLS Cup.

How does this all relate to the Seattle Sounders?

If the Sounders somehow fall in the standings and have to play in the Knockout Round, there shouldn’t be an issue with the Seattle Seahawks schedule. The Seahawks are on the road the weekend before and, although they have a home game that following Sunday, there shouldn’t be an NFL markings on the field.

It also appears as if the schedule already accounts for the possibility of the Sounders hosting the first leg. The schedule lists either Sunday, Oct. 29 or Tuesday, Oct. 31 as potential dates. The Seahawks have a home game on Oct. 29. So this game will more than likely be played on Tuesday to allow time for the markings to be removed.

For the Western Conference Finals, the Seahawks have a Monday night game at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 20. If the Sounders host the first leg, there will be markings unless the league pushes the game back a day. If they host the second leg, there will be no issue as their will be plenty of time to remove NFL lines.

In regards to the MLS Cup Final, there would be no issues with the Seahawks as they will be on the road and, if the Sounders host, the field crew will have plenty of time to prepare the field for the Final.

Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule

*Subject to change. Canadian and international broadcast information to be announced at a later date.

Knockout Round

(Conference third seed vs. sixth, and fourth seed vs. fifth seed in a single-game elimination match)

Eastern and Western Conference Knockout Round (4 games)

• October 25 Two Games Times TBD (UniMás)
• October 26 Two Games Times TBD (UniMás, one game each on FS1 & ESPN2)

Conference Semifinals

(Two-game series, aggregate-goal format between conference top seed vs. lowest advancing seed from Knockout Round and conference second seed vs. highest seed from Knockout Round)

Eastern Conference Semifinal Series

Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 1 (2 games)

• Monday, Oct. 30 Time TBD (FS1)
• Tuesday, Oct. 31 Time TBD (ESPN)

Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 2 (2 games)

• Sunday, Nov. 5 Times TBD (ESPN, FS1)

*both games will be played on the same day.

Western Conference Semifinal Series

Western Conference Semifinal Leg 1 (2 games)

• Sunday, Oct. 29 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Tuesday, Oct. 31 Time TBD (FS1)

Western Conference Semifinal Leg 2 (2 games)

*both games will be played on the same day

• Sunday, Nov. 5 Times TBD (ESPN, FS1)

Conference Championships

(Two-game series, aggregate-goal format)

Eastern Conference Championship

Eastern Conference Championship Leg 1 (1 game)

• Tuesday, Nov. 21 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 2 (1 game)

• Nov. 28 or 29 Time TBD (FS1)

Western Conference Championship

Western Conference Championship Leg 1 (1 game)

• Tuesday, Nov. 21 Time TBD (FS1)

Western Conference Championship Leg 2 (1 game)

• Thursday, Nov. 30 Time TBD (ESPN)

2017 MLS Cup

(Hosted at the home venue of the finalist with the best regular season record)

Saturday, Dec. 9 4 p.m. ET (ESPN, UniMás, TSN, TVA Sports)