Pitches, then and now Major League Soccer franchises generally start in available facilities, usually gigantic football palaces that seat at least 50,000 people. Then, franchises build more intimate “soccer-specific” venues that seat around 20,000. This timeline shows how the league moved around. City, team, venue, year built Seats Years of use Chicago Fire Soldier Field, 1924 61,500 1998-2002, 2004-2005 Cardinal Stadium, 1999 15,000 2002-2003 Toyota Park, 2006 20,000 2006-present Columbus Crew Ohio Stadium, 1922 101,568 1996-1998 Crew Stadium, 1999 22,555 1999-present D.C. United RFK Stadium, 1961 45,000 1996-present Stadium in Prince George’s County, Md., still in planning stages Kansas City Wizards Arrowhead Stadium, 1972 79,451 1996-2007 CommunityAmerica Ball Park, 2003 10,835 2008-present Wizards Stadium, under construction 18,500 opening 2011 New England Revolution, Boston Foxboro Stadium, 1971 60,292 1996-2001 Gillette Stadium, 2002 68,756 2002-present New York Red Bulls Giants Stadium, 1976 80,242 1996-2009 Red Bull Stadium, 2010 25,189 opening 2010 Philadelphia Union PPL Park, 2010 18,500 opening 2010 Toronto FC BMO Field, 2007 20,148 2007-present CD Chivas, Los Angeles Home Depot Center, 2003 27,000 2005-present Colorado Rapids, Denver Mile High Stadium, 1948 76,273 1996-2001 Invesco Field, 2001 76,125 2002-2006 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, 2007 19,680 2007-present FC Dallas Cotton Bowl, 1932 92,200 1996-2002, 2004 Dragon Stadium, 2001 11,000 2003 Pizza Hut Park, 2005 21,193 2005-present Houston Dynamo Robertson Stadium, 1941 32,000 2006-present New stadium to seat 20,000-22,000 planned; no construction started yet LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Rose Bowl, 1922 92,542 1996-2002 The Home Depot Center, 2003 27,000 2003-present Real Salt Lake, Salt Lake City Rice-Eccles Stadium, 1927 45,017 2005-2008 Rio Tinto Stadium, 2008 20,008 2008-present San Jose Earthquakes, San Jose Spartan Stadium, 1993 30,578 1996-2005 Buck Shaw Stadium, 1962 10,300 2008-present New stadium to seat 15,000-18,000 planned for 2012 season Seattle Sounders Qwest Field, 2002 35,700 2009-present Portland Timbers PGE Park, 1926 27,913 2011 Vancouver (B.C.) Whitecaps BC Place Stadium, 1983 60,000 2011 New stadium to seat 15,000-30,000 planned for 2016 Source: Major League Soccer; individual clubs. PAM MARTIN/THE OREGONIAN.