Maybe it is just because I am from Portland and there is a natural strong NW Rivalry but can other BS's out there explain to me that whenever expansion is announced there is talk of Seattle but not Portland? Portland IS Soccer City USA. Let's look at the facts: 1) The A-League Portland Timbers have been around for only 2 seasons and in those two seasons they have averaged SECOND in the entire league in attendance (we have drawn on several occassions up to 12,000 fans this year). This is depsite the fact that : A) Our Timbers have been a midlevel team at best and B)The basball wankers who own them have done ZERO marketing, and I mean ZIP. 2) Soccer fans in Portland in only two years have built the loudest , most agrressive and passionate supporters club in the A-League and in many cases MLS. We have had several MLS fans who belong to various supporter clubs (Metros, Fire, Columbus) check us out when they have visited and they all came away VERY impressed. Here are some fan-based websites: http://home.attbi.com/~kurtds2/ http://www.soccercityusa.com/timbers http://www.users.qwest.net/~dallen3/timbers.html 3) When special soccer events have happened in Portland, the Portland soccer community has responded. This years WUSA all-star game 13,000 people. Pre-season friendly between Cruz Azul and Chivas 12,000 folks. And who can forget USA vs Costa Rica in 1997? 4) The youth and collegiate soccer community in Portland is so much stronger than Seattle. The success of the University of Portland teams (both men and women) over the years are a testimant to this. They get good attedance and have always competed with the big boys despite being a school of only 4,000 folks. 5) PGE Park is probably the nicest facility in the A-League (an argument can be made for BlackBaud in Charleston but it holds only 5,000) and if MLS were to come to town in could easily be converted into one of the premier Soccer Specific Facilities in the country. In 1999 it underwent a multi-million dollar overhaul that truly has made it a gorgeous "retro-style" facility. It has a complete roof that amplifies the noise and if we were to get rid of the sorry ass baseball team then it would truly have a Euro-ground feel to it. Right now it has that NexTurf stuff in it but if it were soccer specific I assume we would go to real grass. Okay enough for now but I would love to hear others opinions on this.
You're right! It's wrong to assume that expansion automatically means Seattle. Everyone knows it's going to be Philadelphia!!!
As a former Seattle native/long time Puget Sound native I think it would be great to have a team in Portland, but not at the expense of (IMO) the better market in Seattle. Ideally both would have teams like the NBA does. The Sounders have done 0 marketing most of the time as well, and when they do marketing (U.S. Open Cup, Seahawks Stadium game, etc.) the numbers go way up. Admittedly Portland does have the edge over Seattle in current attendance, but I know many people (just her on BS alone) who would go to MLS in Seattle in a heartbeat, but for wahtever reason do not go to Sounder game s(Smurf Turf, jock rock, constantly changing home stadium, etc) The comments I've heard from The Pod have been less impressive about the Timbers fans... How about the crowd for USA - Honduras in MArch in Seattle? Conisdering it was only the 2nd non-Sounders professional soccer event in Seattle in 8 years it's hard to say that Seattle wouldn't match Portland at special events. Let's see how Man U. does in June. Seattle Pacific University does well at Interbay, considering their stadium only seats 1000. Doesn't a baseball team play in there, or the city wants to get a baseball team in there? Makes it hard for MLS to share the stadium. Meanwhile Seattle has a brand new stadium built to include soccer. Before you jump on the smaller stadium bandwagon, I don't see anyone complaining about the Rapids in Invesco where they lead the league in attendance and will probably post a proft this year. There's always the promise from the Office of the MLS Commissioner back when we voted on Seahawks Stadium. Not many Seattle soccer fans have forgotten about it, and not many of us are letting MLS forget about it either.
I'de have season tickets to whichever place got a team...I'm closer to seattle and they have a way better stadium so thats better for me...I would be alot happier if either could get a SSS though...both i think would support the team great...I've been to a few sounders games and its bush league, no offense to any A-League, Sounders supporters...I've been to a few LA Galaxy games and obviously the play is better...I believe if Seattle had a PRO soccer team they would draw alot...
also, since the name Isotopes is already taken by a baseball team, there's no further need for more teams in Albuquerque. I think the league should expand to DC and put an MLS team in RFK for a change.
I think Seattle and Portland would botth do very well in the MLS. They both have good histories of supporting soccer.
Portland 2006! I'm sure Seattle will get a team before Portland, but it sure would be great for the league to add an instant rivalry. I would hope the higher-ups would have the forsight to consider this. On the other hand a Dallas-OKC rivalry and a Philly-NY rivalry would be sweet too. I as a native Portlander, think Portland is the better choice, but at the same time I do not doubt that Seattle would draw quite well for MLS, as opposed to their percieved "minor league" A-league team. Go Timbers!
Baracuda's pretty much on, except for the bit about Portland being a better choice Seriously, MLS should find a way to make sure both Seattle and Portland enter in the same year. It would suck to have one city in MLS and the other still stuck in the A-League, and not play each other (well, maybe the Open Cup, but that's subject to luck of the draw -- and one match a year isn't enough anyway).
Both cities would be great but.......... Seattle has the advantage as they can play in the New Seahawks stadium where as Portland has to share PGE Park with baseball a Big MLS NONO. I am all for the MLS coming to Portland. I do not see that happening without some new stadium being built here in Portland. Either for baseball or soccer. Lets face it. With the other major problems our state and city faces with school funding it will not happen. Sorry to be a downer on this issue as I was here back in 1975 when a good thing was going and now soccer is back at a lower level 20 years later! 20years no new stadium was built in this city so why do you think it could ever happen now? Time to face truth. Get use to the A-League. Kurt
Merlo Field Would this not work as an interum field. As it now sits there are 5000 seats, add another 12,000 and you're in business. As someone posted re: St Louis Catholic Universities are more liberal with regard to alcohol, etc. Just a thought!
Re: Both cities would be great but.......... It seems to me that the best chance for MLS in Portland is if Paul Allen (or somebody) builds a stadium for the Expos to move there. In that case, the Beavers would probably go away, and PGE Park would be freed up for MLS (and grass). But having an MLB team might decrease the chances of MLS coming in. And I don't guess anyone builds stadiums without public funding anymore.
Re: Merlo Field Location, location, location!! Merlo isn't the easiest place to get to for 5,000 people. Can't imagine another 12K. UP isn't exactly the parking mecca of Portland- bad enough when Merlo is 2/3rds full for the Pilots. The neighborhood (any Portland neighborhood has substantial clout, really) is destined to sue. Merlo is a no-go as far as I'm concerned. Sounds like Montreal Expos will play a couple series in Portland next year (according to latest rumors, tune in tomorrow for something completely different)- MLB will gauge Portland at that point. If Portland impresses, maybe Portland gets a team, they HAVE to build a new park (hello state taxes!), then PGE Park is freed up for MLS. There have been published rumors that the city would want PGE torn down as part of the package, but again, rumors.