- It was nice to see Merritt Paulson getting love form the Timbers Army on opening night: they chanted 'Merritt Paulson' as he walked off the field. For a guy to put so much of his own money on the line to revamp and create a real purpose for a city-owned asset, it is amazing to me how much flack he takes - mainly from the city's relatively small investment in its own building.
- I was surprised to see how much of the upper seats the Timbers had blocked off - a huge loss in revenue - but very glad: the concourse of the old stadium and the concessions and bathrooms can barely manage the crowd as it stands. More would simply be too much.
- The entire operation has been very smooth, very professional and it has been great for all fans.
- The tradition of standing for the match seems to have been adopted by some other sections in addition to the TA sections, including mine. I am of two minds: it is great to see the support, but I also see quite a few kids and some old folks who can't see anything for the entire match.
- You gotta love John Spencer's enthusiasm (and the players clearly love the guy judging by how many go and hug him after a goal). When the Timbers conceded the second goal on Sunday, Spencer walked back to the bench enclosure and kicked in fury so loud the bang reverberated throughout the west stand.
- Cooper is working really hard out there and is a beast to handle for a defender, but his touch around the goal is a bit off. If he can get that going, watch out. Ditto for his understanding with Perlaza.
- There is a great mix of kids, young adults, middle agers, and oldsters at the stadium, it is really a community event and great to see.
- The Timbers Army has been fantastic: endless energy and enthusiasm but all in good taste.
- The field is SMALL - there is a lot of congestion that the Timbers have dealt with better than other teams. Can the Timbers make this a home advantage ala Arsenal at Highbury? (and that is the last I'll mention of Arsenal for a long, long time).
- Civic Stadium has had a wonderful new rebirth and is incredibly cool - especially its downtown location. And the number of people cruising the streets downtown in Timbers gear on match day is phenomenal.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Thoughts on the First Two Timbers Games
In no particular order.
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