(Start with Timbers, part 1 if you missed it)

The Timbers?

Yes, the Timbers.  The mighty, mighty Timbers.  That’s who they are. (or so I was told)

The Timbers are the Major League Soccer team in Portland.  In most parts of the country, the idea of professional soccer would prompt nothing but yawns, but in Portland, the Timbers are a big deal.

I decided I should go to a match.  It would be my first MLS game.

A short trip on the light rail later, and I was at Jeld-Wen Field.  Unfortunately, that was when I discovered that the Timbers were one of the hottest tickets in town.  The game against Toronto FC was sold out, and scalpers were asking almost double face value for the highly desirable general admission tickets.

You see, at most sporting events, general admission tickets would be the bottom of the barrel, nosebleeds waaaaaay from the action.  Not so in this case.  At Timbers home matches, the general admission section is the place to be.

I eventually bought a ticket from a fellow fan and staked out my seat in the general admission area — the “Timbers Army.”   What fun!

The Timbers Army during a chant

There were chants, songs, and flag waving from over an hour before the start to after the end.  Seats went unused, but the section was packed: everybody stood the entire time. I was so caught up in the excitement and energy that I hardly even noticed that there was a football match going on.

Kenny Cooper #33 of the Portland Timbers moves the ball upfield under pressure from two Toronto FC players during the second half of the match

The Timbers were up 2-0 for a while, but they had a late collapse, and the match ended tied, 2-2.

That was an unfortunate way to end the evening, but I had a great time anyway. I’ll be sure to try to catch another Timbers game if I’m back in Portland.