With a month to go before the Portland Timbers’ first home game in Major League Soccer, the Timbers Army has already reached one significant milestone.
On Monday, the Timbers reported that Timbers Army Season Tickets had sold out for the 2011 season. That means there’ll be no place to sit in eight full sections of the North End at PGE Park – not that the Army ever sits during a Timbers match anyway. The eight sections, which will spill over into upper-level sections as well, have room for roughly 3,600 fans. About 500 tickets are being set-aside for day-of-game purchase.
The Timbers partnered with the Army through the 107ist, the team’s independent supporters trust that serves as the business engine of the Timbers Army. A 107ist marketing committee used a combination of special events, social media and videos produced by Army members to promote the tickets and link fans to the club. As is customary with ticket-sales campaigns done by youth teams and non-profit organizations, the team provided a small commission to the 107ist.
“Three-thousand tickets seemed like a steep hill to climb when we took this on,” said 107ist President Dave Hoyt. “That we’ve sold out a month before the first home game just shows how ready this city and our fans are for MLS.” Figures provided by the club indicate that the team has sold 2,900 full-season Timbers Army tickets, and 200 half-season tickets.
Tickets throughout the stadium have been selling briskly, with the team having already raised the initial cutoff point of 12,000 season-ticket sales.
The Timbers open their season Saturday against defending MLS champion Colorado in Denver. Their first home game will be April 14 against the Chicago Fire.
107ist funds its activities through membership dues and merchandise sales. To learn more, go to www.timbersarmy.org.