Portland Timbers fans redefined the MLS stadium experience when their team entered the league in 2011 with waiting lists and overnight campouts for tickets, deafening chants and a top-shelf gameday atmosphere.
Now it seems the Cascadia club is changing what it means to be an out-of-town supporter.
On Wednesday OregonLive.com profiled the growing branches of the Timbers Army supporters' group, which has seen myriad outposts crop up across the United States, Canada and beyond. From the “NYC Loggers” in New York to Alaska's “Midnight Sun Elite” to the “Lone Star Brigade” in Texas, thousands of Timbers fans have set up more than 20 subgroups outside the Rose City to unite in their devotion.
“I think it's fantastic what some of these subgroups are doing,” Harper Morgan-Werner, a member of the 107ist Board of Directors back in Portland, told OregonLive.com. “From West Coast to East Coast, we pretty much have the whole United States covered with supporters.
“It's unique, but I think the whole Timbers Army is unique.”
Many of them gather in front of television sets to watch the Green-and-Gold. Others plan trips to Timbers road games in their region, and take care to roll out the red carpet for PTFC's traveling supporters. And a few even keep season tickets back at Providence Park, despite the fact that they can only attend a few matches a year.
“We're kind of like a support group for each other because most of us are from Portland and are now living far away,” said Nicole Barker, an Aspen, Colorado resident and member of the Timbers Army of the Rockies.
“The TA was a big part of my life and community before I moved to Colorado, so it has been a goal of mine to increase activity in the TA of the Rockies and bring together as many people as possible.”
Read the whole story – and learn more about the sprawling map of North American TA affiliates – here.
