Skip to main contentThe Portland Timbers' match against San Jose Earthquakes tonight could only happen in futbol. The Wednesday night game is part of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout tournament open to any team from any level. Which is why the Timbers, who play in the second-tier A-League, are hosting Major League Soccer's reigning champs.
"It's not easy to explain to the public," says Ripper Hatch, who runs ticket sales for the Timbers and their PGE Park cousins, Triple-A baseball's Beavers. "It's sort of like if the Beavers played the San Francisco Giants."
The analogy highlights the Timbers' challenge. Battling World Cup pretty-boy Landon Donovan and his cohorts offers Portland's blue-collar minor-leaguers a chance to play David to the Earthquakes' Goliath and, in the process, expand the team's small but fervent following.
With an average attendance of 4,882, the Timbers are comfortably outdrawing the Beavers on a per-game basis and rank fourth in the 16-team A-League's attendance table. But Cup games--a staple of soccer elsewhere--traditionally offer small teams a chance at a PR transfusion.
"Everyone comes to stick a mic in front of Landon Donovan," says Bart Wiley of the A-League Seattle Sounders. "But while they're there, they talk to your guys, too." The Timbers' archrivals beat the 'Quakes in last year's Cup, and Wiley estimates the Sounders' two matches against MLS teams packed an extra $100,000 into the team's coffers.
So the Timbers hope this 90-year-old tournament--early champions included Bethlehem Steel, St. Louis Central Breweries and Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock--can boost their humble profile in a city capable of turning out big soccer crowds.
"Everyone hopes we can draw 10,000," Hatch says. "But I think anything between 6,000 and 7,000 will be something we can be proud of."
The Portland Timbers face the San Jose Earthquakes tonight, July 14, at PGE Park. 7 pm. $10-$17.
Check wweek.com on Thursday for post-game coverage.
WWeek 2015