Kickin’ it in Soccer City USA

For 40 years, Portland has been a one-trick pony for major-league sports with the Trail Blazers. However, the Timbers will join Major League Soccer in 2011 and give the City of Roses two teams that compete on the highest national level of their respective sport.
 
The Timbers currently play in the United States Soccer Federation’s Division 2 Professional League, a temporary league for the 2010 season that comprises 12 squads from across the country. The D-2 Pro League is a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League that serves as the second tier of American soccer, just below MLS.

The moniker “Soccer City USA” has applied to Portland since the 1970s, though it is a lesser-known nickname compared to “Rip City” in allusion to the Blazers. Despite this, plans are underway for a $31 million renovation of PGE Park that will increase the number of seats to about 20,000, according to www.portlandmls2011.com, a website chronicling the renovation.

Skepticism arose about whether or not there is enough interest to justify the costs of bringing MLS to Portland following the announcement of the league’s expansion. However, the Timbers’ attendance suggests that there is: They drew a PGE Park record of 15,833 fans for a match in 2007 and have averaged between 7,000–9,000 fans per match since that season, according to a Timbers press release.

There is also the Timbers Army, a fan collective that sits in section 107—positioned behind the visitor’s goal in PGE Park—and sings traditional soccer chants for most of a match. There is no formal organization of this fan club, with the Army’s website (www.timbersarmy.com) declaring that it “embraces all comers and requires no membership, dues or loyalty oaths. Simply show up, stand up and sing your heart out.”

The current Timbers roster includes 27 players, among them nine international contenders from Haiti, Japan, Sweden and several other countries. They made it to the USL semifinals last year before losing to Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the squad they defeated in the first round of the 2007 postseason.

Expect that rivalry to continue, as Vancouver is also headed for MLS in 2011 when they, along with Portland, bring the league’s number of teams to 18. Pairs of teams compete in annual rivalry cups, so expect the two newest teams to be matched up for a new cup in 2011.

So far during the 2010 season, the Timbers hold the D-2 Pro League’s best record at 3-0-1 and lead the league with 10 points. Midfielder Ryan Pore was named the Player of the Month for April, after scoring six goals and an assist over the opening four matches.

They fell 3-1 during an international exhibition match to Costa Rica’s Puntarenas FC last Saturday, though that match doesn’t count toward their league record for 2010. It was just the second international loss for the Timbers on their home pitch since 2005.

League play resumes on Thursday, May 13, at PGE Park against Crystal Palace Baltimore. Tickets for home matches can be purchased through Ticketmaster starting at $12. If you can’t make it to PGE Park, select games can be viewed on Fox Sports Net (Comcast Portland Channel 34), and all of their 2010 matches will be broadcast on 95.5 FM and streamed on www.portlandtimbers.com.

Upcoming Timbers matches
Thu, May 13*    7 p.m.    Crystal Palace Baltimore  
Sat, May 15*    7 p.m.    AC St. Louis 
Wed, May 19    7 p.m.    Montreal Impact 
Sat, May 22    4 p.m.    at Crystal Palace Baltimore 
Sun, June 6*    6 p.m.    Carolina RailHawks
* Denotes game to be aired on FSN, Channel 34