The final step to pave Portland's way into Major League Soccer in 2011 was taken Wednesday as the Portland City Council gave final approval to a plan to renovate PGE Park.
Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson praised the council's vote, which will set in motion a $31 million renovation to bring the stadium up to MLS standards.
"This is a great day for Portland and a great day for soccer," Paulson said. "I thank our fans for their support and the city council for its leadership. Now, we look forward to showing the rest of the country why we are Soccer City USA."
The renovation will increase PGE Park's capacity to 20,000 fans, with the ability to open up as many as 4,000 additional seats on the stadium's north end. Approximately 1,144 of the new seats will be premium club seats, with the highest level of fan amenities.
In an effort to bring fans closer to the field, the playing surface will shift to the west and the north in space created by the removal of the existing baseball dugouts, enhancing the intimacy of the stadium and creating more optimal sight-lines. New Field Turf will also be installed prior to the 2011 season.
In addition to creating a state-of-the-art soccer environment, the renovation will also preserve PGE Park's ability to be a year round community center and host to more than 250 events annually, including Portland State Football and an array of youth sports and community based events.
On the heels of the city council's approval, the Timbers have announced that they will begin accepting season ticket deposits for their inaugural 2011 MLS season as part of Phase III of the club's ticket procurement plan.
