Here is a look at the 2010-11 off-season calender for the Dynamo. Not all dates and events are set in stone, but I'll be keeping you updated all through the winter on all these events.
First up, the Expansion Draft and the release of the Dynamo's protected list. I'll be speculating on who the Dynamo might protect and who they could expose for potential selection by the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps.
This calender will also appear on the sidebar on the blog for reference throughout the off-season.
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November 24, 2010: MLS Expansion Draft
The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps will make 10 selections each from the unprotected rosters of the league's other 16 teams. Once a player is selected, his team may protect one additional player.
Dynamo Players Exempt from Draft: Tyler Deric, Francisco Navas Cobo. Danny Cruz will likely be exempt unless he is graduated from Generation Adidias.
International Players (Dynamo must protect at least three): Sammy Appiah, Andrew Hainault, Lovel Palmer, Anthony Obodai, Adrian Serioux
December ??, 2010: New Stadium Groundbreaking
At long last, the construction on the Dynamo's new stadium will begin. The stadium is scheduled to be ready for the 2012 season.
December 18, 2010: Dynamo Academy showcase, Carl Lewis Track & Field Complex, 10:30 a.m.
January 13, 2011: MLS SuperDraft, Baltimore
The Dynamo have the overall pick, the highest ever in team history. Houston hasn't selected in the first round since 2007 (13th pick) and after the first round doesn't have another pick until the fourth round due to trades with New York and Toronto.
February 1, 2011: Training Camp Opens
March 3-5, 2011: Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, Orlando FL
Not yet confirmed in the Dynamo will be playing in this event
Early March, 2011: Pre-Season Season Ticket Holder Event
March 19, 2011: MLS opener, Dynamo vs. TBA
Dynamo will open the 2011 season at home
2011 Schedule Notes
The schedule has not yet been released but here are the know facts about next season's schedule
- MLS regular season - 34 games (format TBA).
- Dynamo Charities Cup - 1 friendly against an international opponent with proceeds benefitting Dynamo Charities and a cause to be determined
- International friendly - 1 additional friendly against an international opponent to be determined, probably one from a major European soccer country
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - The Dynamo will have to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time, likely competing against nine other squads for one of two spots in the tournament. Qualification is often broken up geographically, but most of the automatic qualifiers come from the 2010 Western Conference. Houston will need at least 2-3 games to qualify for the tournament, in which the Dynamo could play 1-4 games.