PORTLAND, Ore. – Major League Soccer (MLS) today unveiled the full 34-game schedule for the Portland Timbers as the team kicks off its inaugural season in MLS. After their season-opening, three-game road trip, the Timbers, who play one home and one away match against each of the other 17 teams in the league, return to Portland to open up a renovated PGE Park on ESPN2 against the Chicago Fire on Thursday, April 14, at 8 p.m. (Pacific).
The Timbers play the first game in the history of the MLS franchise on Saturday, March 19, on the road against the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids at 6 p.m. (Pacific). The match is also a homecoming for head coach John Spencer, who was inducted into the Rapids’ Gallery of Honor in 2009 after four years as a player (2001-04).
The home opener against the Fire is one of three nationally televised matches currently scheduled for the Timbers in 2011. The Timbers will play host to Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m. (Pacific), live on ESPN. The two rivals will also be featured on ESPN2 on Saturday, May 14, at 8 p.m. (Pacific) when they square off in Seattle.
The LA Galaxy come to Portland in early August for a midweek visit on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 8 p.m. (Pacific). Featuring international icons like Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Juan Pablo Ángel, the Galaxy look to defend their 2010 MLS Supporters’ Shield, given to the team with the best regular-season record.
The New York Red Bulls visit the Rose City for a midseason showdown with the Timbers on Sunday, June 19, at 4 p.m. (Pacific). The afternoon match is Timbers fans’ only chance to catch Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez, and rising U.S. star Juan Agudelo in Portland during the regular season.
The May schedule kicks off with a homecoming of sorts, as former Oregon State University and Jefferson High School standout Danny Mwanga and the Philadelphia Union make their lone regular-season appearance in Portland on Saturday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Mwanga, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Union in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, was one of three finalists for MLS Rookie of the Year last season.
Three days after the Timbers re-open PGE Park against the Fire, 2010 MLS Cup finalist FC Dallas and reigning MLS MVP David Ferreira visit Portland for a 3 p.m. (Pacific) match on Sunday, April 17. Timbers forward Kenny Cooper spent four seasons with FC Dallas from 2006-09, scoring 40 goals in his time with the club.
The Timbers continue their rivalry with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who also make their MLS debut in 2011, on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. (Pacific) at PGE Park. On Sunday, Oct. 2, the Timbers head north to visit the Whitecaps in Vancouver, B.C. for a rematch.
The 2011 season will also see the Timbers rekindle a decades-old rivalry when they visit the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and host the Earthquakes on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). The Timbers’ rivalry with San Jose dates back to 1975.
In 2011, Spencer will lead his squad against plenty of familiar foes, but perhaps none will be more familiar than when the Timbers head to Texas on Sunday, Aug. 14, for a 6 p.m. (Pacific) match against the Houston Dynamo. Spencer spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach for the Dynamo. Two months later, Houston closes the Timbers’ 2011 regular-season home slate on Friday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
The Timbers will play home matches on five different days of the week this season, including 13 weekend contests. In addition to seven Saturday home games and four Sunday matches, the Timbers play also host to a pair of Friday night contests over the last month of the season.
Following the season-opening, three-game road trip, the Timbers play 10 of the following 14 matches at PGE Park, a timeframe that stretches from mid-April to mid-July. During that run, the Timbers have five sets of back-to-back home games, including April 14 and 17 (Chicago and FC Dallas), April 30 and May 7 (Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia), May 21 and 29 (Columbus and D.C. United), June 11 and 19 (Colorado and New York), and July 2 and 10 (Sporting Kansas City and Seattle).
After welcoming the New England Revolution and San Jose to Portland on Sept. 16 and 21, respectively, the Timbers close the 2011 regular season with three-of-four on the road, including the home finale on Friday, Oct. 14, against Houston, and the regular-season finale at Real Salt Lake on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Additional television and radio broadcast information will be released at a later date.
Schedule Breakdown:
Home Dates by Day of the Week:
Wednesday (3), Thursday (1), Friday (2), Saturday (7), Sunday (4)
Road Dates by Day of the Week:
Wednesday (1), Thursday (0), Friday (0), Saturday (13), Sunday (3)
Home Dates by Month:
March (0), April (3), May (3), June (2), July (3), August (3), September (2), October (1)
Road Dates by Month:
March (2), April (2), May (1), June (2), July (2), August (4), September (2), October (2)
2011 Portland Timbers Schedule (home matches in bold, CAPS)
<strong><u>Date</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Opponent</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Time (PT)</u></strong> |
<strong><u>TV</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Notes</u></strong> |
<p>
Sat., Mar 19</p> |
<p>
at Colorado</p> |
<p>
6 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Inaugural MLS game for Timbers against reigning MLS Cup champs</p> |
<p>
Sat., Mar 26</p> |
<p>
at Toronto FC</p> |
<p>
11 a.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
First MLS match at BMO Field since 2010 MLS Cup final</p> |
<p>
Sat., Apr 2</p> |
<p>
at New England</p> |
<p>
4:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
First game against Revolution</p> |
<strong>Thu., Apr 14</strong> |
<strong>CHICAGO</strong> |
<strong>8 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN2</strong> |
<strong>Timbers make MLS home debut in renovated PGE Park on national TV</strong> |
<strong>Sun., Apr 17</strong> |
<strong>FC DALLAS</strong> |
<strong>3 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>2010 MLS MVP Ferreira brings Cooper’s former team to Portland</strong> |
<p>
Sat., Apr 23</p> |
<p>
at LA Galaxy</p> |
<p>
7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers head south for early-season meeting with Donovan, Beckham, Angel</p> |
<strong>Sat., Apr 30</strong> |
<strong>REAL SALT LAKE</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Homecoming for former Timbers U-23s and UP stars Warner, vanSchaik </strong> |
<strong>Sat., May 7</strong> |
<strong>PHILADELPHIA</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Former Oregon State, Jefferson High star Mwanga returns to Portland</strong> |
<p>
Sat., May 14</p> |
<p>
at Seattle</p> |
<p>
8 p.m.</p> |
<p>
ESPN2</p> |
<p>
Northwest rivals resume their decades-long rivalry on national television</p> |
<strong>Sat., May 21</strong> |
<strong>COLUMBUS</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Brunner, Moffat square off against former team</strong> |
<strong>Sun., May 29</strong> |
<strong>D.C. UNITED</strong> |
<strong>2 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>2010 MLS Rookie of the Year Najar's lone visit to Rose City</strong> |
<p>
Sun., Jun 5</p> |
<p>
at Chivas USA</p> |
<p>
5 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
First game against Chivas USA</p> |
<strong>Sat., Jun 11</strong> |
<strong>COLORADO</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Gala, Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Spencer faces former team, defending champions in Portland</strong> |
<strong>Sun., Jun 19</strong> |
<strong>NEW YORK</strong> |
<strong>4 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Gala, Local TV</strong> |
<strong>International stars Henry, Marquez make Portland debuts</strong> |
<p>
Sat., Jun 25</p> |
<p>
at FC Dallas</p> |
<p>
5:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers’ Cooper returns to Dallas, where he starred for four seasons</p> |
<strong>Sat., Jul 2</strong> |
<strong>SPORTING KANSAS CITY</strong> |
<strong>8 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Newly renamed club features trio of dangerous strikers</strong> |
<strong>Sun., Jul 10</strong> |
<strong>SEATTLE</strong> |
<strong>2 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN</strong> |
<strong>Northwest rivals square off in Sunday matinee on ESPN</strong> |
<p>
Sat., Jul 16</p> |
<p>
at Chicago</p> |
<p>
5:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Return trip against home-opening opponent</p> |
<p>
Sat., Jul 23</p> |
<p>
at Columbus</p> |
<p>
5 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers visit MLS’s first soccer-specific venue</p> |
<strong>Sat., Jul 30</strong> |
<strong>TORONTO FC</strong> |
<strong>8 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>TFC’s first visit to PGE Park since 2007</strong> |
<strong>Wed., Aug 3</strong> |
<strong>LA GALAXY</strong> |
<strong>8 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Donovan, Beckham, Angel bring 2010 Supporters’ Shield winners to Portland</strong> |
<p>
Sat., Aug 6</p> |
<p>
at San Jose</p> |
<p>
7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers start road trip by rekindling rivalry that dates to 1975</p> |
<p>
Sun., Aug 14</p> |
<p>
at Houston</p> |
<p>
6 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Gala, Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers face Spencer’s former team</p> |
<p>
Wed., Aug 17</p> |
<p>
at Sporting Kansas City</p> |
<p>
5:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers get their first look at Sporting Kansas City’s new stadium</p> |
<strong>Sat., Aug 20</strong> |
<strong>VANCOUVER</strong> |
<strong>7 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>2011 expansion rivals meet for first time as MLS foes</strong> |
<strong>Wed., Aug 24</strong> |
<strong>CHIVAS USA</strong> |
<strong>8 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Former USL Timber Gordon returns to PGE Park</strong> |
<p>
Sat., Aug 27</p> |
<p>
at D.C. United</p> |
<p>
4:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers face one of league's most storied clubs</p> |
<p>
Sat., Sep 10</p> |
<p>
at Philadelphia</p> |
<p>
4:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers get first look at 2010-built PPL Park</p> |
<strong>Fri., Sep 16</strong> |
<strong>NEW ENGLAND</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Portland-native Cochrane, Revs make only trip to Portland</strong> |
<strong>Wed., Sep 21</strong> |
<strong>SAN JOSE</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>2010 Golden Boot winner Wondolowski brings ’Quakes to PGE Park</strong> |
<p>
Sat., Sep 24</p> |
<p>
at New York</p> |
<p>
4:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers visit new Red Bull Arena</p> |
<p>
Sun., Oct 2</p> |
<p>
at Vancouver</p> |
<p>
1:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Northwest rivals square off in Vancouver rematch</p> |
<strong>Fri., Oct 14</strong> |
<strong>HOUSTON</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Local TV</strong> |
<strong>Timbers finish 2011 home slate against Spencer’s former team</strong> |
<p>
Sat., Oct 22</p> |
<p>
at Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>
6 p.m.</p> |
<p>
Local TV</p> |
<p>
Timbers wrap up inaugural season at 2009 MLS Cup champions</p> |
(dates and times subject to change)
Information on exhibition matches will be released at a later date.
Individual tickets for Timbers regular-season games will go on sale mid-March, with further details to come.
