PORTLAND
, Ore.
–
With a 1-0 win on Thursday in front of 15,833 fans, the Portland Timbers have set a new modern franchise record for regular-season attendance at home matches at PGE Park. The Timbers have had 95,594 people visit PGE Park for 14 league matches this season, breaking the previous record of 87,648 set in 2002.
In 2007, the Timbers have had four regular-season home crowds of over 7,000. Portland also drew an additional 27,091 fans for three international exhibition matches this season at PGE Park against Mexico’s Club Necaxa, Italy’s AC Milan Primavera and England’s Preston North End. The Timbers have averaged 6,828 fans per home match in 2007, also a new modern franchise record.
The 15,833 on hand Thursday was the largest Timbers crowd at PGE Park since 2001. Until Thursday, the largest crowd for a Timbers match was 15,182 for the international exhibition match against England’s Sunderland AFC in 2005. Thursday’s crowd also ranks among the largest crowds in Timbers history, and is the largest crowd since the North American Soccer League (NASL) franchise drew 16,003 fans for a playoff match against San Diego on Aug. 22, 1981.
The Timbers have set several new modern franchise records in 2007 both on and off the field. On the pitch, the Timbers have set new records this season for longest winning streak (seven matches), most consecutive shutouts (four), most minutes played without conceding a goal (377 minutes), shutouts (13) and are on track to set a new record for fewest goals allowed in a season.
Portland (12-4-8, 44pts) begins a series of four road matches to finish the 2007 regular season this weekend. The Timbers faces Miami FC on Saturday at 5 p.m. (Pacific) and then the Puerto Rico Islanders on Sunday at 3 p.m. (Pacific). An online audio broadcast of both matches will not be available at
www.portlandtimbers.com
, but a video webcast is available through USL Live at www.usllive.com.
