Opening Night for Major League Soccer kicks off with a match between the defending champion Seattle Sounders and the new boys, Philadelphia Union, at Qwest Field in Seattle. The match is being broadcast live on ESPN2, beginning at 8:30 pm so we should all be able to catch the game following High School soccer today.

Seattle coach Sigi Schmid has said that a big piece of the Sounders’ puzzle in Year Two will be increased defensive intensity. Seattle is betting that the raucous sellout crowd, combined with extensive defensive pressure, will be enough to breach the Union’s defense in the first match of the MLS season Thursday night at Qwest Field.

“We always want to do that when we’re playing at home,” said Schmid. “Towards the end of last season, a lot of teams sat back against us at home, so we have to work on breaking down a team like that in game situations.

“We’ve worked on that in training and we think we have the pieces of the puzzle to do break that down. We certainly want to carry the game to them.”

The game is being played on schedule thanks to the fact that MLS and the MLS Players Union came to an agreement on a Collective Bargaining Agreement over the weekend. If you haven’t seen the details, here they are. I’m happy that they were able to come to an agreement and it looks like a fair one, within the constraints of controlling spending but also recognizing the players needs.

I’m considering getting Direct Kick this year, it seems to be the primary way to keep up with the KC Wizards. Anyone have a suggestion on a bar/restaurant that might consider picking up the Commercial license?

Major League Soccer’s Direct Kick television package is now available for $79, providing fans the opportunity to watch up to 160 MLS regular season matches and select playoff games during the 2010 season.

Starting March 26, satellite TV providers DIRECTV and DISH Network®, along with digital cable provider iN DEMAND Networks, will once again each present regional telecasts of Major League Soccer action. Major League Soccer has collaborated with all three providers to offer a FREE PREVIEW period, Friday, March 26, during the opening week of the season known as MLS First Kick presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The residential price is just $79 on any of the three platforms. Commercial establishments can purchase the package for a flat rate of $100. The package will be available for purchase through each outlet between now and the end of the season.

MLS Direct Kick will include regional broadcasts of MLS regular-season and select MLS Cup Playoff games, including pre-game and post-game shows (when available). All 240 games of the 2010 regular season, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup 2010 will be available between the MLS Direct Kick package and national broadcast partners ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Español, and Univisión network Telefutura.

The League’s full schedule, including television broadcasts, is available at www.MLSnet.com. All MLS Direct Kick package telecasts are subject to change and local blackout restrictions.