With only a few months until opening kickoff, Detroit City FC has released its full schedule for the upcoming season, featuring a 14-match National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) Midwest Region Great Lakes Conference schedule and four friendly matches.
The schedule includes exhibitions against teams from two professional-based North American clubs, a balanced NPSL divisional schedule and a highly anticipated international friendly against Belfast-based Glentoran FC.
After a tune-up exhibition match against Dayton Dynamo, now of the Midwest Region’s East Conference, Le Rouge will open its second season at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Mich., on Friday, May 12 against Milwaukee Torrent at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by a trip to face Michigan Stars FC in Pontiac, Mich., on Sunday, May 14.
In total, City will host seven Great Lakes Conference matches.
DCFC will honor Detroit soccer history when it hosts Glentoran FC in its highly anticipated Detroit Cougars 50th Anniversary Match presented by Strategic Staffing Solutions on Saturday, May 27 at 7:30 PM ET.
The regular season is rounded out by back-to-back matches against Lansing United, with Le Rouge visiting Lansing on July 9 before hosting United on July 14.
Head coach Ben Pirmann returns for his fifth season in charge of City. He has amassed a 32-10-11 record (W-L-T) in his time with DCFC.
“I’m looking forward to an exciting and challenging summer schedule,” City head coach Ben Pirmann said. “Our match against Glentoran FC will truly be a memorable event, and I can’t wait to be a part of that historic experience as well.
“We return to a tough conference, and with so many teams within Michigan, our players and fans will be able to take in quality matchday environments throughout the summer when we travel. But nothing comes close to playing at home and I am looking forward to getting back to Hamtramck to see the energy and passion of our supporters.”
2017 Detroit City FC Schedule
| Saturday, May 6 | vs DAYTON DYNAMO (friendly) | 7:30 PM ET |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 12 | vs MILWAUKEE TORRENT | 7:30 PM ET |
| Sunday, May 14 | at MICHIGAN STARS FC | 4 PM ET |
| Sunday, May 21 | at AFC ANN ARBOR | 1 PM ET |
| Saturday, May 27 | vs GLENTORAN FC (friendly) | 7:30 PM ET |
| Friday, June 2 | vs GRAND RAPIDS FC | 7:30 PM ET |
| Sunday, June 4 | at FC INDIANA | 2 PM ET |
| Wednesday, June 7 | vs COLUMBUS CREW COLLEGE PROGRAM (friendly) | 7:30 PM ET |
| Sunday, June 11 | at KALAMAZOO FC | 6:05 PM ET |
| Saturday, June 17 | at GRAND RAPIDS FC | 7:30 PM ET |
| Friday, June 23 | vs KALAMAZOO FC | 7:30 PM ET |
| Sunday, June 25 | at MILWAUKEE TORRENT | 3 PM ET |
| Tuesday, June 27 | vs FC INDIANA | 7:30 PM ET |
| Friday, June 30 | vs MICHIGAN STARS FC | 7:30 PM ET |
| Friday, July 7 | vs AFC ANN ARBOR | 7:30 PM ET |
| Sunday, July 9 | at LANSING UNITED | 2 PM ET |
| Friday, July 14 | vs LANSING UNITED | 7:30 PM ET |
| Wednesday, August 2 | vs WINDSOR TFC (friendly) | 7:30 PM ET |
For more schedule details, click here.
Midwest Region and playoff format
Detroit returns to the NPSL Midwest Region, which in 2017 will include three conferences: North, Great Lakes and East.
| NPSL MIDWEST REGION – GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE |
|---|
| AFC ANN ARBOR |
| DETROIT CITY FC |
| FC INDIANA |
| GRAND RAPIDS FC |
| LANSING UNITED |
| KALAMAZOO FC |
| MICHIGAN STARS FC |
| MILWAUKEE TORRENT |
| NPSL MIDWEST REGION – NORTH CONFERENCE |
|---|
| DULUTH FC |
| LA CROSSE ARIS FC |
| DAKOTA FUSION FC |
| MED CITY FC |
| MINNEAPOLIS CITY SC |
| MINNESOTA TWINSTARS |
| SIOUX FALLS THUNDER FC |
| VIEJOS SON LOS TRAPOS FC |
| NPSL MIDWEST REGION – EAST CONFERENCE |
|---|
| AFC CLEVELAND |
| DAYTON DYNAMO |
| ERIE COMMODORES |
| FC BUFFALO |
| FORT PITT REGIMENT |
| ROCHESTER RIVERDOGZ |
| SYRACUSE FC |
At the conclusion of the regular season, the top two teams in each conference, a total of six teams, will qualify for the Midwest Region playoffs. Of the three conference winners, the top two will be determined by calculating the average points per game and will be seeded #1 and #2, with the #1 seed having the highest points per game average.
Seeds #1 and #2 will receive byes in the first round of the playoffs. The remaining conference winner will be the #3 seed.
Seeds #4, #5 and #6 will be determined by calculating the average points per game among the second place finishers in each conference.
Two first-round qualifying matches will be hosted by seeds #3 and #4, respectively, on Saturday, July 22. The lowest-seeded winner will advance to play the #1 seed, and the highest-seeded winner will advance to play the #2 seed in the Midwest Region Final Four the weekend of Friday, July 28. The Midwest Region final, which will determine the lone representative in the national NPSL Final Four, will be held Saturday, July 29.
The host of the Midwest Region Final Four will be awarded based on a bidding process open to all teams participating in the regional semifinal.
DCFC Season Tickets
Season ticket packages for the 2017 still remain, but they are expected to sell out.
Supporters have the option of purchasing Le Rouge’s standard ticket package, the City Card, which starts at $70 and grants entry to at least 10 home matches, or the Gold Card season ticket package, which is DCFC’s first premium ticket package that grants entry to every home match and event, with priority stadium entry, midfield seating, free parking and more. The Gold Card, which also grants entry to DCFC’s match vs. Glentoran FC, is $150.
Single game tickets will go on sale in early March.
Supporters can purchase season tickets here.
