PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers conclude their regular-season schedule Thursday with Fan Appreciation Night as they play host to the Cleveland City Stars at PGE Park live on FSN. The match will begin at 7:30 p.m. to accommodate television. Fan Appreciation Night features post-game fireworks and annual jersey auction.
The first 2,000 fans for Thursday’s regular-season finale receive a Timbers hard hat as part of the Comcast Fan-Choice Giveaway. In addition, the first 4,000 in attendance also receive a raffle ticket and will be entered to win a variety of prizes, including a laptop computer courtesy of Best Buy, gift certificates, merchandise or autographed memorabilia.
During the match, the Timbers will hold their annual Jersey-Off-Our-Back auction, presented by Toyota. Through a special silent auction, fans can take home their favorite player's game-worn jersey, with proceeds benefiting the Portland Beavers & Portland Timbers Community Fund. Those with a winning bid will be presented their jersey directly from the player on the field immediately following the match.
Fan Appreciation Night ends with a special post-game fireworks display over the pitch at PGE Park.
Tickets start at $11 and are available through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Along with the telecast on FSN, the Timbers matchup against the City Stars will be broadcast live online at
www.portlandtimbers.com
, with a live video webcast available through USL Live at www.usllive.com. A Spanish-language broadcast will air on 910AM+1390AM ESPN Deportes.
FINISHING STRONG
The Timbers play the City Stars in their regular-season home finale Thursday at PGE Park. Since joining United Soccer Leagues in 2001, the Timbers are 6-2-0 in their final home match of the regular-season. In 2009, Portland has a record of 9-3-2 in league matches at PGE Park, where it has out-scored opponents, 25-9.
THIRD TIME IS A CHARM
Portland and Cleveland square off for a third time this season on Thursday. Over the weekend, the City Stars used a free-kick goal in the first half to hand the Timbers a 1-0 loss at PGE Park. In each of the previous matches against the City Stars, the Timbers have generated 20-plus shots, but have not been able to find the back of the net. The two clubs played to a scoreless draw on May 9 in Ohio.
REGULAR-SEASON ATTENDANCE RECORD
In the match against Cleveland on Sunday, the Timbers set a new modern-franchise record for regular-season attendance. The Timbers have attracted 133,438 fans through their first 14 league home matches this season, breaking the previous mark of 128,509 set in 2008.
PLAYOFFS ON THE HORIZON
Over the weekend, the Timbers clinched the 2009 USL First Division Commissioner’s Cup as the regular-season champion and will head into the postseason as the league’s No. 1 seed. By winning its second regular-season title, Portland also receives a first-round bye into the semifinal round slated for Oct. 1-4, and will host one leg of the two-game, aggregate-goal series at PGE Park, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino.
Special playoff ticket packages are on sale, starting at $28. The two-game ticket strip, which includes a ticket to the semifinal and possible championship-round match at PGE Park, is available for purchase through the PGE Park box office or by calling the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555.
