Timbers unveil schedule for 2009 season

PORTLAND, Ore. –
The Portland Timbers open the home portion of their 2009 schedule on Thursday, April 30, against the Carolina RailHawks at PGE Park, it was announced today as the club unveiled its complete regular-season schedule for the upcoming United Soccer Leagues First Division campaign.




For just the third time in nine USL First Division seasons, the Timbers open the regular season on the road in 2009, facing the defending-champion Vancouver Whitecaps on April 25 at Swangard Stadium.




The Timbers’ 30-game balanced schedule begins with three of their first five matches at PGE Park and features matchups against the expansion Austin Aztex and league-newcomer Cleveland City Stars, who were promoted from the USL Second Division.




Convenient and affordable season-ticket packages, including the new Thursday Night ticket plan, filled with exclusive benefits are currently available by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555. For more information on season tickets, mini-plans, group packages or party suites, visit
www.portlandtimbers.com
.




The Timbers face each USL First Division opponent three times during the 2009 regular season. In addition to facing each team once at home and once on the road, Portland will play host to Carolina, Cleveland, Rochester, Vancouver and Montreal a second time. In return, the Timbers visit the Minnesota Thunder, Puerto Rico Islanders, Charleston Battery, Miami FC Blues and Austin twice during the season.




Portland’s 15-game home schedule includes two matches broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel; the Timbers battle Rochester on May 14 and Minnesota on June 19 at PGE Park before a national audience. The Timbers conclude the regular season with a pair of home matches against Cleveland on Sept. 13 and Sept. 17.




The 2009 home schedule includes a combination of Thursday (7), Friday (2), Saturday (4) and Sunday (2) matches. Standard kickoff times for home matches (Thursday through Saturday) is 7 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday.




A complete list of promotions for the upcoming season and the Timbers’ five-game FSN television schedule will be released at a later date.




New in 2009, the USL First Division playoffs will feature a two-game, aggregate-score series final to crown the league’s champion. The top seven teams advance to the postseason with the Commissioners Cup winner (regular-season champion) receiving a first-round bye.




Click here to view the Timbers entire 2009 schedule.




2009 TIMBERS SCHEDULE NOTES
HOME DATES BY DAYS OF THE WEEK:

Thursday (7), Friday (2), Saturday (4), Sunday (2)




ROAD DATES BY DAYS OF THE WEEK:

Monday (1), Wednesday (1), Thursday (1), Friday (3), Saturday (7), Sunday (2)




HOME DATES BY MONTH:

April (1), May (3), June (3), July (1), August (3), September (4)




ROAD DATES BY MONTH:

April (1), May (3), June (2), July (4), August (4), September (1)




LONGEST HOME STRETCH:

Three (3) matches (Sept. 11-17)




LONGEST ROAD STRETCH:

Four (4) matches (July 4-19)