PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers today announced the club will play host to historic, top-flight Mexican side Club Deportivo Atlas in an international exhibition match at PGE Park on Sunday, July 11, at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the exhibition match start at $15 in advance and will go on sale to the public Saturday, June 5, at 10 a.m. through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at
www.ticketmaster.com
or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Timbers season ticket holders will have an exclusive pre-sale window from June 2-4 to purchase tickets at a discounted rate through
www.ticketmaster.com
. Following the pre-sale, tickets for season ticket holders will not be available at the discounted rate; season ticket holders will be emailed ordering instructions.
A portion of the proceeds from the match between the Timbers and Atlas will benefit the Jardin Portland Foundation and its construction of a sustainable and educational-based project in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico – one of Portland’s sister cities. One of the most unique international projects of its kind, Jardin Portland in its completion will feature a Verde (green) Learning Center, demonstrate the characteristics of Portland as well as provide a global model for landscape design, environmental sustainability, and cultural, educational and economic exchange in the urban park Bosque Colomos.
Founded in 1916, Atlas is one of the oldest clubs in Mexico. Its storied history includes three second-division titles, four Copa Mexico titles and the Primera División championship in 1950-51. Atlas, based in Guadalajara, has recently placed itself among Mexico’s top clubs, competing in the prestigious Copa Libertadores tournament twice in the past 10 years (2000, 2008). Atlas was also selected to participate in the 2009 Superliga, a tournament pitting top Mexican clubs against top teams from Major League Soccer.
Also known as the “Rojinegro” or “The Red and Black,” Atlas’ roster includes several rising players for the Mexican National Team, including defender
Néstor Vidrio
, who was the 2008 Clausura Rookie of the Year and a member of the Mexico U-20 National Team in 2009, and recent Mexican National Team call-ups in defender
Hugo
Ayala
and midfielder
Edgar Pacheco
. The club also features long-time former Mexican National Team striker
Daniel Osorno
.
Since 2001, the Timbers have played four other clubs from Mexico, including Necaxa (2007), Monarcas Morelia (2008), U.A.N.L. Tigres (2008) and Club America Reserves (2009) at PGE Park. The Timbers are 3-2-0 all-time against Mexico-based clubs.
Atlas joins the Timbers’ lineup of premium exhibition opponents in 2010, including Argentina’s Boca Juniors, England’s Manchester City and Costa Rica side Puntarenas FC.
ABOUT JARDIN PORTLAND FOUNDATION
Jardin Portland Foundation is an educational and experiential resource dedicated to promote understanding of the Portland region's culture, livability and environmental best practices. As a unique international organization, Jardin Portland Foundation brings together people of Portland, Ore., and international partners to create gathering spaces that provide global models for environmental sustainability, design, and cultural, educational and economic exchange. With core values of cultural and international exchange, green building, livability, and education, Jardin Portland Foundation exists to promote sustainable solutions that have no borders. Additional information about the foundation and the project is available at www.jardinportland.com.
