Hey guys/gals, me and a couple friends are making the trip from Kansas City to Portland for the match, we've heard and seen the great atmosphere you guys offer and we're very excited to see it. Couple questions for those who regularly attend matches; Can we expect a hostile enviornment? Are smoke bombs or things of that nature allowed in the stadium? Are there areas in the stadium or the parking lot/nearby bars that we should stay away from? I appreciate any serious responses and look forward to visiting your city, you've been an awesome addition to the MLS.
In no manner is the environment hostile. Unless you're looking to make it one. If you show up at the Bitter End before and after the match TA members will gladly drink with you! Smoke bombs. Don't. The TA have a FO approved method using sand in buckets. So, unless you get FO approval [doubtful] please dont. If sitting in the away section you're closer to the family mix and smoke is definitely out. West Portland is completely safe. Old Town is about all I can say may be sketchy at later hours. Goose Hollow, where Jeld-Wen is, is perfectly safe on game days. But check out The Definitive Timbers Army Visitor's Guide. Links are on the right side.
At least people mock us for our European(but truthful name, we are a Sporting Club now) instead of the Wiz. I'll be making the trip as well. Getting in late Wednesday night, staying the night at airport hotel then making my way down to the hostel by Jeld Wen. Read up on the TA site about stuff to do so I've gotten a strong idea of all I want to do. I'll gladly meet up at Bitter End before hand, what time you guys usually roll in?
We still do Wizards chants, much to the chagrin of the owners. While Wizards is a terrible sports name, it's still easier to fit into chants than Sporting is.
If you guys will start chanting "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!" during PK's you will become my new second favorite team.
I was trying to remember - is there any other MLS team that has had two name changes in its history? Awesome.
Meh, that first one isn't really a change. But then I guess there's an argument that the change from Wiz to Wizards isn't much of a change, either. But to be honest, I didn't know the the Metros dropped the NY/NJ thing from their name. Of the original 10 teams in MLS, only 2 in the Western conference (Galaxy & Rapids) and 3 in the Eastern conference (United, Revolution & Crew) still have their original names.
And out of all of them, only the Revs have their original 6 year old drawn crest. We understand why too of course(Taxshelter!).
The match is at 8, but being a saturday there will be people there starting early mid afternoon by 4 or 5 it should be fairly active. However it gets plenty of traffic and you can find a welcoming soul about anytime of the day
Good deal, was just wondering what time I should plan to roll into there, can plan out a nice Saturday in your fair city now.
Wanted to warn you that parking near the stadium is very limited, so we are all encouraged to use Tri-Met and the Max system to get to and from the games. I'd look up the route to the stadium on http://trimet.org/
San Jose Clash --> San Jose Earthquakes --> Houston 1836 --> Houston Dynamo Okay, so I'm stretching a bit... It's too bad the Burn and Wiz never merged. They could have been the WizBurn. Which is fitting, because for a long time watching either team play a home game was about as much fun as getting a WizBurn.
I don't know about the rest but I'm within walking distance of the stadium, right off 18th Ave. In fact, just this morning, I was technically in the stadium(gift shop), then had two beers in the Bitter End, so the invasion has already begun.
They originally wanted it to be Wizards from the get go, but couldn't get the rights in the first season. Not like Wiz --> Wizards is such a dramatic change like what happened before this season. The intent of the name is the same exact thing, just shorter (and easier to make fun of). If you think about it, all they did was add "ards" to the name.
I'm watching the match here in KC, and I didn't come here to talk shit, except to say that you guys are doing it wrong if you don't sing "Hold me closer, Futty Dansoooooo" P.S. Urologist Cup haha...
