Monaco's Stade Louis II: players enter the field from the corner. Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Chile: players enter from behind the goal. Pre-renovation Stade Velodrome in Marseille: players entered from the corner.
Boca Juniors just pops out of the ground after coming up the stairs, the locker rooms are lower than field level. Home team is midfieldish (maybe a bit off center), while visitors are behind one of the endlines. Very wacky.
Since there's actual news about it, back to grass talk: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/10/grass_field_at_portlands_provi.html
What's important to me in this article is that there are quotes from the City and the fact discussions have already begun. The current agreement has the City on the hook for replacement of artificial turf. Going to natural turf will need a different arrangement.
The good thing is that there is little doubt that Merritt will pony up whatever is needed to make it happen. The city and Paulson have always seemed to come to fair arrangements without much friction. The harder part may be figuring out what to do with Portland State football since, of course, PSU playing home games at the stadium was a part of the original stadium deal (by the way--why the ******** do they even have a damned football team, anyway???). Grass will be excellent!
UNC has replaced between the numbers twice since the season has began. Today was their second home game.
Apparently Portland State is down to just one game a year at Providence Park. The grass might be able to survive that.
They've only got one game this year, but that was because of unusual issues (hosting the NWSL champtionship at Providence Park, construction schedule) that pushed them out of the park for their dates. Now, the Timbers might continue to try to push them out of the stadium in order to force them out permanently, but I don't think the city will appreciate that. Look for the city, the Timbers, and PSU to work to find some sort of alternate arrangement, and look for most people in Portland to wonder why PSU continues to throw money away on a football team.
The last shot just shows you how high over the street this stand will be. If anyone wants to see some pics from the construction at the park, here you go! #RCTID pic.twitter.com/M3GQtHgeOg— Justin Atterbury (@jatterbu12) November 17, 2018
No time wasted.🚧🛠👷♀️🏗👷♂️#RCTID #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/irrELfY5zW— Providence Park PDX (@ProvidencePark_) November 26, 2018
Check out the webcam https://www.senserasystems.com/public/TurnerConstructionPortlandJob3/M78835366254 I like the zoom feature!
Word on the street is that Portland may open with a league record 12 game road trip next year due to the deep playoff run this season delaying the start of construction.
In 2018 Portland played the first 12 matches on road due to construction. The first home match was April 14. Nothing new. https://www.timbers.com/schedule?mo...&form_id=mp7_schedule_hub_search_filters_form There was already a plan to play the first part of the season on the road, just as there was this year. What is a concern is that some of the new stands or concessions may not be ready when they do open, per an email from my sales rep. Rebates may be in order for season tickets.
Not the only stadium work in Portland, apparently https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/11/9f131f89806005/portland-diamond-project-has-d.html So many questions, including financing and transportation/light rail. There is currently no Max line or trolley there.
First six games were preseason games, they started the first 5 games of the 2018 regular season on the road.
OH God. Oh Please. Please please please. This would thrill me so much. I wish for grass for the Timbers and the Sounders, so badly. So bummed MLS Cup will be played on turf. That there's been no mention of that amid all the ATL hype is really bothersome. If Atlanta believe their club is a beacon to the world and are intent on sending that message about MLS this weekend, I hope that Blank sees and hears that grass is what's missing, turf is what's wrong with his (amazing) picture. Pleased and not at all surprised to hear Paulson has those game sensibilities. Love that he has the ambition to make Providence grass soon.