The process took some time, but the decision to make Portland, Ore. the 18th Major League Soccer team and second expansion team to join the league in 2011 was a simple one, according to MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
"How could you have a city named Soccer City USA and not have it have a professional soccer team at the highest level?" Garber said at a raucous press conference attended by the Timber Army supporters' group Friday morning.
Two days after MLS announced plans to expand to Vancouver and less than 24 hours after Seattle Sounders FC played its first league game in front of nearly 33,000 at Qwest Field, Portland became the newest MLS team. Like Vancouver, Portland will join MLS in 2011, following the addition of Philadelphia in 2010.
The "triangle of death" Sounders FC co-owner Drew Carey joked about on Monday between the Pacific Northwest teams has become a reality.
"In 2011, thanks to all of you, Soccer City USA will enjoy soccer played at its highest level in North America and Portland and Oregon will finally have another major league team to call its own," said Portland owner Merritt Paulson, a former basketball marketing executive who also owns the city's triple-A minor league baseball team.
Portland beat out St. Louis and Ottawa in this round of expansion, although those two cities potentially could join the league in the future.
"Expansion, to be successful, has to have a great owner, a great city, a very passionate fan base," Garber said. "We looked at a wide variety of markets and the last two that are left in this process, St. Louis and Ottawa, are great cities, ones that did not make the grade here for 2011. But they're very much a part of what our future we hope will be as we look at expansion for 2012 and beyond."
Paulson also announced the team, to the surprise of no one, will be called the Timbers and the squad will play at the historic PGE Park, which will be renovated in time for the start of the 2011 season.
As was the case with Seattle and Vancouver, the Portland Timbers name has its origins in the North American Soccer League.
"The Timbers sowed the seeds for Soccer City USA in the 1970s NASL days and it's fitting that the Timbers name and legacy ascend with us to Major League Soccer," Paulson said.
The organization will make the jump from the United Soccer Leagues First Division to MLS, where they will renew their rivalry in 2011.
"We owe a great debt of gratitude to the likes of legends like Clive Charles and the many others who laid the foundation for the great success of professional soccer in Portland," Paulson said. "If we were fortunate enough to have Clive with us here today, I know he would join me in a little message for our friends in Seattle: Seattle Sounders, we're coming back after you in 2011!"
Last week, the Portland city council agreed to provide $60 million in city-backed loans to Paulson to be used to renovate PGE Park for the Timbers and build a new baseball stadium for the Beavers. Mayor Sam Adams and city commissioners Randy Leonard and Dan Saltzman voted for the plan.
"This is a smart investment in Portland's future at a time when we need it more than ever," Adams said. "This puts Portland on the international map and now we speak the language spoken by more cities and more people around the world and that is the language of soccer-futbol."
While Paulson thanked the elected officials and Garber for bringing a top-flight professional team back to Portland, Paulson saved his final kudos to the team's passionate supporters.
"Most importantly, I want to thank our fans, past, present and future," Paulson said. "Without your energy, enthusiasm and unwavering support, we would not be standing here today."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
