The MLS is Coming to Portland

If you are planning on visiting Portland next year, get ready for one big new attraction. Soccer has always been a big part of the Portland sports scene, but in 2011, the city’s soccer mania will reach a whole new level as the Portland Timbers start their first season in Major League Soccer. The Timbers have been playing in Portland since 1975, having outlasted several different US soccer leagues, which have come and gone over the years. But this will be the first time since 1982 that Portland has had a team in the top flight of American soccer.

The Timbers play their home matches at PGE Park, which is currently undergoing renovations to add more seating for the 2011 MLS season. Unlike many stadiums around the country, PGE Park is right in the middle of the city, and has its own MAX light rail stop, so it’s an easy commute from all over Portland. It’s a relatively small stadium (22,000 capacity), but that just makes the sound of the Timbers Army, Portland’s legendary soccer fan group, that much louder.

If you’re going to be in town, come to PGE and take in a Timbers game. And stay tuned to this blog for updates and a season schedule, once they are announced.

For more regular news on the Timbers, check out Portland Timbers Offside. The Offside is a network of over 300 blogs covering soccer teams around the world, from smaller sides like the Timbers to the biggest names in the sport, like Manchester United and Chelsea.