Written by Elle Uecker at Oregon Sports News
Let the name-calling begin. By making it to the MLS Cup, the Timbers have earned a lot of national attention this week. And some of it isn’t so stellar. As can be expected, the Timbers have been called a “hipster” club, begging a more creative attempt at an insult by everyone in the Portland area, but they’ve also been called the most divisive club in MLS, painting them as the team everyone else can’t wait to hate.
Among the reasons the Timbers could be considered divisive – perceived arrogance, proclivity for craft beer, the food item choices provided in the stadium – the Timbers’ Army itself seems to come up as the biggest factor. A satirical article popped up last week with the headline, “Timbers Fans Can’t Wait To Become The Most Insufferable Fan Base In Major League Soccer.” While it can be read with a sense of humor and a grain of salt, it apparently echoes sentiments of some MLS fans. What I see instead is a soccer club with unparalleled fan support. Other teams have fan groups like the Timbers’ Army, but none can match the level of enthusiasm and energy brought to each game.
According to Empire of Soccer, the Portland Timbers boast the longest season-ticket waiting list and continue to sell out every game played at Providence Park despite all efforts to add more seating in the stadium. Timbers game attendance may look lower than other MLS teams on paper, but that discrepancy is due completely to space available, not for lack of trying.
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