The Portland Timbers traveled to Tucson, Ariz. to continue their 2016 MLS preseason. It is the fourth year that Portland has set up camp in Arizona and this time around, the Timbers will take part in four matches, three of which will be streamed on Timbers.com.
But for those of you who are headed down to watch some preseason action in the sun, we reached out to The Desert Corps—a Timbers Army outpost organized by fans across Arizona.
Henrik Nielson of the Desert Corps weighs in with a fan’s guide to Tucson, where to go, what to do and how to join up with two different fan organized events.
Desert Corps Tailgates
- Feb. 3 – Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo: 5pm PT / 6pm MT
- Tailgating will begin around 3-4pm MT. Follow the Desert Corps page on Facebookand Twitter for more details.
- Feb. 6 – Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC: 6pm PT / 7pm MT
- Tailgating will begin around 3-4pm MT. Follow the Desert Corps page on Facebookand Twitter for more details.
Soccer Pubs
Nielson: “The Desert Corps watches Timbers games at Rose & Crown Pub in Phoenix, and at Pueblo Vida Brewing Company in Tucson. The other big soccer bar in Tucson is Playground Bar and Lounge. It's where we go on Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch EPL matches and where American Outlaws Tucson watches USMNT matches.”
Places to Visit
Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase (Jan. 28-Feb.8) - One of the largest shows of its kind in the world, the show has events all over the city.
Pima Air and Space Museum - With over 300 aircraft and one of the largest aircraft storage and preservation facilities in the world, the Pima Air and Space Museum is big--127 acres big.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - A bit of everything, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum houses a zoo, an aquarium, an art gallery, a natural history museum and a botanical garden.
Mission San Xavier del Bac - An historic Spanish Catholic mission 10 miles south of downtown, the San Xavier del Bac first opened in 1797.
Good Eats
Nielson: “The official food item of Tucson is the Sonoran hot dog. [A bacon wrapped hot dog with beans, mayo, jalapeños and more.] And BK Tacos is the best place to get it. I will brook no dissent on this.
Other good restaurants are Taqueria Pico de Gallo and East Coast Super Subs and there’s a bunch of breweries that have started here in the past few years. My favorites are Public Brewhouse and Dragoon Brewing Company. Also a new whiskey and donuts place just opened downtown. It's called Batch. It's what it sounds like. Just a huge variety of whiskey...And also donuts.”
