The MLS Belt · season
The 1997 season
35 belt games · 15 title changesD.C. United carried the belt into the 1997 season. It changed hands 15 times among 10 franchises, and NY/NJ MetroStars finished the season with it. Most defenses: D.C. United, 6.
Who held it, in order
D.C. UnitedSan JoseColumbusColoradoNew EnglandD.C. UnitedSporting KCDallasGalaxyColumbusSan JoseSporting KCD.C. UnitedTampa BayD.C. UnitedRed Bulls
Every belt game
| Belt game | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Mar 29, 1997 | D.C. United beat LA Galaxy 1–0 | Defense |
| 43 | Apr 5, 1997 | D.C. United beat NY/NJ MetroStars 2–1 | Defense |
| 44 | Apr 12, 1997 | D.C. United beat Colorado Rapids 5–2 | Defense |
| 45 | Apr 19, 1997 | D.C. United beat NY/NJ MetroStars 2–1 | Defense |
| 46 | Apr 26, 1997 | San Jose Clash beat D.C. United 3–2 | Title change |
| 47 | May 3, 1997 | Columbus Crew beat San Jose Clash 3–1 | Title change |
| 48 | May 9, 1997 | Columbus Crew beat New England Revolution 2–0 | Defense |
| 49 | May 11, 1997 | Columbus Crew beat NY/NJ MetroStars 3–0 | Defense |
| 50 | May 17, 1997 | Colorado Rapids beat Columbus Crew 2–1 | Title change |
| 51 | May 24, 1997 | New England Revolution beat Colorado Rapids 2–1 | Title change |
| 52 | May 30, 1997 | New England Revolution beat NY/NJ MetroStars 3–1 | Defense |
| 53 | Jun 1, 1997 | New England Revolution beat Dallas Burn 3–1 | Defense |
| 54 | Jun 8, 1997 | New England Revolution beat LA Galaxy 1–0 | Defense |
| 55 | Jun 14, 1997 | D.C. United beat New England Revolution 1–0 | Title change |
| 56 | Jun 21, 1997 | Kansas City Wizards beat D.C. United 6–1 | Title change |
| 57 | Jun 25, 1997 | Kansas City Wizards beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 3–2 | Defense |
| 58 | Jun 28, 1997 | Kansas City Wizards beat Colorado Rapids 4–3 | Defense |
| 59 | Jul 4, 1997 | Kansas City Wizards beat Columbus Crew 2–1 | Defense |
| 60 | Jul 6, 1997 | Dallas Burn beat Kansas City Wizards 3–1 | Title change |
| 61 | Jul 13, 1997 | Dallas Burn beat Columbus Crew 2–1 | Defense |
| 62 | Jul 18, 1997 | Dallas Burn beat San Jose Clash 3–1 | Defense |
| 63 | Jul 20, 1997 | Dallas Burn beat Colorado Rapids 4–2 | Defense |
| 64 | Jul 25, 1997 | LA Galaxy beat Dallas Burn 3–0 | Title change |
| 65 | Jul 27, 1997 | LA Galaxy beat Colorado Rapids 2–1 | Defense |
| 66 | Aug 2, 1997 | Columbus Crew beat LA Galaxy 2–1 | Title change |
| 67 | Aug 9, 1997 | San Jose Clash beat Columbus Crew 2–1 | Title change |
| 68 | Aug 17, 1997 | San Jose Clash beat LA Galaxy 3–2 | Defense |
| 69 | Aug 24, 1997 | Kansas City Wizards beat San Jose Clash 3–2 | Title change |
| 70 | Aug 28, 1997 | Kansas City Wizards beat Colorado Rapids 1–0 | Defense |
| 71 | Aug 31, 1997 | D.C. United beat Kansas City Wizards 2–0 | Title change |
| 72 | Sep 13, 1997 | D.C. United beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 2–1 | Defense |
| 73 | Sep 16, 1997 | D.C. United beat New England Revolution 3–2 | Defense |
| 74 | Sep 21, 1997 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat D.C. United 2–1 | Title change |
| 75 | Sep 26, 1997 | D.C. United beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 5–1 | Title change |
| 76 | Sep 28, 1997 | NY/NJ MetroStars beat D.C. United 3–1 | Title change |