The 2008 Major League Soccer Cup Champion Columbus Crew announced on Tuesday that they have exercised the option year on the contract of reigning league and MLS Cup MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The move makes him the club's first designated player.

Major League Soccer announced the schedule for the first few weeks of the 2009 season, which kicks off on Thursday, March 19 in Seattle. The expansion Seattle Sounders FC, the league's 15th team, host MLS Cup 2008 finalists the New York Red Bulls in a nationally televised game to kick off the season.