Kelyn Rowe plays through snow. Photo/Kari Heisted
You’ll have to wait another two weeks to see the New England Revolution make their competitive 2017 debut at Gillette Stadium.
The team announced on Friday morning that it is postponing Saturday afternoon’s game against Orlando City SC, which was initially slated to be the home opener, due to projected inclement weather.
Saturday’s game was supposed to kick-off at 2 p.m. but will now be played at 7 p.m. on September 2.
Weather forecasts indicate that Saturday temperatures are expected to be only as high as 24 degrees, with a potential low of 10, and winds of 20 to 30 mph.
Revolution fans have braved inclement weather on plenty of occasions and, in many senses, attending a home game when it’s windy, snowing, raining, or frigid is a right of passage.
Arguably the most famous of these matches occurred on October 25, 2005 when the Revolution hosted the New York Metrostars for the second leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Snow and cold weather had blanketed southern New England and ground crews at Gillette Stadium needed to shovel most of the field ahead of kick-off.
@JulianCardillo i can’t remember if it was ‘05, i thought it was later, but there was ice under my feet in 110 for a playoff match.
— rob c (@rcolonna) March 10, 2017
The Metrostars entered the game with a 1-0 aggregate lead, then made it 2-0 via an early second half goal. The Revolution subsequently scored three goals via Jose Cancela, Pat Noonan, and Khano Smith to win the series 3-2 on aggregate and advance to the conference finals.
On August 15, 2015, referee Jose Carlos Rivero halted play just 12 minutes and 40 seconds into the first half of the Revolution’s eventual 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo at Gillette Stadium because of nearby lightning strikes. Play resumed one hour and 49 minutes later with most of the 21,723 crowd still in attendance.
On that evening, fans hid for cover beneath Gillette Stadium’s concourses and chanted Revolution supporter songs throughout the delay. The game finally ended around 12:15 a.m. the following day.
Also, on Aug. 16, 2003, the Revolution played the San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-1 tie, but had to deal with a 26-minute lightning storm delay before concluding the game in overtime.
@JulianCardillo San Jose 2015?
— Paul (@PPokaski) March 10, 2017
@JulianCardillo There was a game, maybe 3 years ago. It was about 38 and pouring rain that was miserable. Season opener that year was like 8
— Ken Goyette (@kgoyette) March 10, 2017
@JulianCardillo LA Galaxy in a monsoon 2 yrs ago
— Mike Selzo (@mike_selzo) March 10, 2017
The Revolution didn’t take the decision to postpone Saturday’s game against Orlando lightly and, rightfully so, are citing safety of fans and players as the main reason for the delay.
New England’s home opener will now be on March 25 against Minnesota. Kick-off is at 2 p.m.
