PORTLAND, Ore.
- United Soccer Leagues and the Portland Timbers announced today that the team will be featured twice this season as part of Fox Sports World’s 2004 A-League television broadcast package.
The Timbers kick off this year’s schedule, as their June 4 road match at Charleston begins Fox Sports World’s 20-game broadcast slate. Additionally, Fox Sports World returns to PGE Park after a one-year absence to broadcast Portland’s home game against the Minnesota Thunder on Aug. 27.
To accommodate the broadcast, the Aug. 27 match will begin at 8 p.m. Pacific.
The lineup features 13 Friday night A-League regular-season matchups and two A-League playoff matches as well as the A-League, Pro Soccer League, Premier Development League and W-League championship matches and a Super Y-League Finals highlight show.
USL and Fox Sports World are in the third year of a five-year broadcast deal. Play-by-play announcers for 2004 will include Dave Johnson, Paul Dolan and Sean Wheelock, while Dick Howard, Kenn Tomasch, Peter Schaad and Steve Bell will provide color commentary.
Fox Sports World is available locally on Comcast Digital Cable channel 401. Fox Sports World also can be seen via satellite on DirecTV.
The Timbers are 0-2 and have yet to score in two previous appearances on Fox Sports World. In 2002, Fox Sports World broadcast live from PGE Park on May 4, a game in which the Timbers fell to Seattle, 2-0. Last season, the Timbers lost 2-0 at Seattle in their lone television appearance on May 2.
The Timbers open their fourth season at home, Saturday, May 1, against Seattle in the first of 14 home and 28 regular-season matches. Great full- and partial-season ticket plans are available now by calling (503) 553-5555. Individual-game tickets for all 14 regular-season home matches go on sale Saturday, March 27, at PGE Park and at Portland-area Ticketmaster outlets.
2004 USL on Fox Sports World Broadcast Schedule
June 4: Portland at Charleston - 8 p.m.
June 11: Atlanta at Syracuse - 8 p.m.
June 18: Milwaukee at Virginia Beach - 8 p.m.
June 25: Edmonton at Calgary - 11 p.m.*
July 2: Seattle at Milwaukee - 8 p.m.
July 9: Montreal at Rochester - 8 p.m.
July 16: Atlanta at Puerto Rico - 8 p.m.
July 23: Rochester at Richmond - 8 p.m.
July 30: Calgary at Vancouver - 11 p.m.
Aug. 6: Vancouver at Montreal - 8 p.m.
Aug. 7: PDL Championship (Site TBD) - 6 p.m.
Aug. 8: W-League Championship at Ottawa - TBD
Aug. 13: Syracuse at Toronto - 8 p.m.
Aug. 20: Charleston at Virginia Beach - 8 p.m.
Aug. 27: Minnesota at Portland - 11 p.m.
Sept. 4: PSL Championship (Site TBD) - 8 p.m.
Sept. 3/5: A-League Playoffs (Site TBD) - 8 p.m. or 11 p.m.
Sept. 10/12: A-League Playoffs (Site TBD) - 8 p.m. or 11 p.m.
Sept. 18/19: A-League Championship (Site TBD) - TBD
TBD: Super Y-League Championship Show - TBD
Game to be showed on two-hour tape delay (actual kickoff 9 p.m. ET)
*All times Eastern / Schedule subject to change
