Although the Portland Timbers have only existed for three years in MLS, they have (pardon the pun) already become rooted in the community. They are an indelible part of Portland. Rapidly, the team and fans have developed a reputation of one of the most active and rambunctious venues in Major League Soccer. But, as with sports at any level, there is more than what happens on the pitch and the players. Fans form the backbone of any sports team, from the parents in the stands at their children’s games to the passionate fans of any professional team. The Timbers have a fan base as notable and public as any.
Timbers Army is the body of fans that is the true heart and soul of the Timbers. It is these fans, as much as the players on the field, who define the experience of new fans to a sport or to a team and put the face on the team for the city. There is a line between delightful and jubilant rowdiness and abusive rhetoric. Trust me, the NFL is dealing with that now. Many parents are concerned about the atmosphere at NFL games, wanting to shield their children from the vulgar, homophobic and vitriolic rants believed to be found in the NFL stadium. As the most visible part of the Timbers fan base, Timbers Army will naturally set the example for the rest of the city. Where do they stand on this line?
While I can’t speak for the in-stadium experience personally (despite my best efforts), I know many who attend Timbers games regularly. And there is one consensus. Jeld-Wen is one hell of a great place to watch a game. And that is largely due to the fans. They are rowdy, they are competitive, they are colorful and loud and everything you expect from a passionate group of fans. There may be the occasional fan that crosses the line but those are few and far between and often policed by the other people attending the game themselves. The core of Timbers Army is absolutely positive.
Simply glance around the stadium to see the messaging that the Timbers Army portrays to the world. You’ll see banners, extolling the slogan “Show Racism the Red Card,” a stance that makes perfect sense given the global nature of the sport. Beyond this, the public display of the rainbow colors of the gay pride movement across several aisles, paired with the message of “Pride, Not Prejudice” showcases a strong stance from the core of the Timbers Army that extends beyond the purview of “just soccer.”
For those who think that these gestures are symbolic, Timbers Army knows that actions speak louder than words. The community outreach program of Timbers Army (notably separate from those of the Timbers organization itself) is vast. From the recently formed Gisele Currier Memorial Fund, supporting the athletic pursuits of young soccer fans around the area, to participation in volunteer events like the Stand Together Week that are citywide events. Members of Timbers Army (and the Timbers FC) volunteered supporting school supplies, environmental work and much more around the city.
The Timbers Army is a group that backs up the pledges they make around the stadium. On paper, a fan base has no obligation to do anything other than support the team. However, as the Timbers have become so strongly linked to the community, the Timbers Army has risen to continue supporting that community. While there may be extreme fringes of the Army, it is hard to deny the fact that the core of this particularly passionate group of fans is not only good for the team. They are great for the community at large.
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