PORTLAND
, Ore. –
The Portland Timbers today announced that the club will play host to Mexico’s Club Deportivo U.A.N.L, better known as “Tigres,” of the Primera División in an exhibition match at PGE Park on July 15 at 7 p.m.
“Tigres has become a recognizable name in North and South America with their successes in Mexico and in international competitions,” said
Gavin Wilkinson
, Timbers head coach and general manager. “It’s a great opportunity for the players to face their first team with international caliber players and for fans to see a talented and successful club from another country.”
Tickets start at $15 and go on sale to the public June 21 at 10 a.m. through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (503) 224-4400.
Timbers season-ticket holders can purchase their seats by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 during an exclusive pre-sale period starting June 18 at 10 a.m. Discount tickets are available for groups of 15 or more by contacting the Timbers ticket office.
Formed in 1960, Tigres is affiliated with a local university in the state of Nuevo León. Finding success at multiple levels, Tigres has captured two Primavera División titles (1977-78; 1981-82) and won back-to-back InterLiga championships in 2005 and 2006 to earn berths into the prestigious South American championship tournament called Copa Libertadores.
Tigres’ roster features several former international players, including midfielder
Fabián Cuero
, who was a member of the Argentina’s National Team during the 1997 U-20 World Cup, and defenders
Hugo Sánchez Guerro
and
Diego Martínez
, who were a part of Mexico’s Olympic squad in 2004. Striker
Francisco Fonseca
was a member of Mexico’s National Team during the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2007 Gold Cup.
Last month, Tigres completed the Primera División’s 17-match Clausura schedule where it competed against such competition as Chivas de Guadalajara, Cruz Azul and Morelia, who the Timbers will face in an exhibition match at PGE Park on July 3. The team’s 2008 Apertura schedule begins in late July and runs through November.
ABOUT U.A.N.L “TIGRES”
Originally born as Jabatos in 1906, the club affiliated with the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (U.A.N.L.) changed its name to “Tigres” in 1960 and celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2006 with an exhibition match against Spanish power FC Barcelona. Tigres captured its first Primera Divisi
ón title in 1977-78, just one season after first being promoted to Mexico’s top tier. Since winning their second league championship in 1981-82, Tigres has reached the finals in 2001 and 2003, facing Pachuca both times. In 2006, Tigres became the first and only Mexican club to win two InterLiga titles and made back-to-back appearances in the Copa Libertadores.
With a spirited fan base, Tigres has maintained the largest average attendance in the Primera División over the past 10 seasons at 42,777 per match. Based in the Northeastern state of Nuevo Le
ón, Tigres is owned by Cemex, one of the largest building-materials suppliers in the world, and plays their home matches at Estadio Universitario San Nicholas.
