Every team looks forward to their home opener each season, but the Portland Timbers have built far more anticipation for theirs than most.
Following a multi-stage renovation project and a 12-game road trip to kick off the 2019 MLS regular season, the Timbers will open Providence Park on Saturday, when they host league leaders LAFC (10:30 pm ET | ESPN2 — Full TV & streaming info).
Several months after the rest of the MLS field have played a home opener, the excitement for the new-look stadium, featuring a three-tier addition that adds 4,000 seats, was palpable among the Timbers.
"About damn time, I'll tell you that much," quipped defender Zarek Valentin to reporters, as shared by The Oregonian's Jamie Goldberg. "We missed it. It's incredible to get out here, it's even better than I expected. I live nearby and I saw all of the construction from the end of last season til now and it's incredible to see it come together. I just can't wait until Saturday."
Portland began the season in difficult fashion, with one point through their first six games, including a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of LAFC on March 10. But the second half of the road swing was much better, with a 4-1-1 record that included a three-game winning streak.
"It's been a long stretch of games being away from home," Timbers head coach Gio Savarese said. "It's not an easy thing. Being away from home, traveling so much, being away from family, from our fans hasn't been easy. But credit to the guys, they worked very hard and now we're here, excited. The stadium looks incredible. The fans, we can't wait to play for them, to see them here, to see the energy now, 4,000 extra fans, is going to be unbelievable."
The project, which included upgrades to the locker room, led defender Bill Tuiloma to conclude it was "like going to space, a spaceship."
And Savarese noted the new turf laid will be new to both teams on Saturday, so there won't be an advantage on that front to the home side.
But Valentin was eager to see the turbo-charged home-field advantage with the Timbers supporters in the stands.
"It's going to be rocking, I think everyone knows that. It's going to feel like a playoff game, probably. LAFC is obviously a great opponent and we've had some pretty intense games with them throughout the past two years and I think everyone's just excited," he said.
And for it to be a good day on the field for Portland, they'll have to stop MLS MVP frontrunner Carlos Vela, who has 15 goals in 15 games this season.
"[Vela is] on a scoring spree right now," Tuiloma said. "We need to lock him down in the game, we can't let him turn, we can't let him loose, we just have to be tight and be ready for him. His left foot is a wand, actually."
But the Timbers are energized for the occasion and the match.
"We're excited," Savarese said. "We know it's going to be a tough match against a very good team and we expect a difficult match and we prepare. But we're excited about being back home."
