Portland Timbers Training in Arizona in February? Not On My Watch

An overhead view of the complex.

Alright, we're about to get a bit political in here. Third post in but I don't really care.

According to Soccer by Ives (great blog, you should read it) along with Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps and the New York Red Bulls, it seems that the Timbers are going to be training at the Casa Grande soccer complex in Arizona. You know, that state with the whole racial profiling law?

Now, I can't speak for any of the other teams (not even Seattle or Vancouver) but in Portland that crap doesn't fly by me. I absolutely do not want my season ticket money to go towards fueling an economy where, by law, a police officer has to stop you and ask for your legally documented papers if he even suspects you are not legally allowed in the United States. And how do they "suspect?" By race of course.

Being a soccer team, are our Hispanic players and staff going to be required to bring with them any documented birth certificates, green cards, and the like just for fear of reprisal by the Arizona government?

As such, I'm calling for anybody who reads this brand new blog to contact the Portland Timbers front office and make your complaint be heard. Yes, the winter weather in Arizona is good, but, having lived in Southern California for a number of years, I can tell you that the LA and San Diego areas are equally as nice during that time.

Here's the contact information if you wish to make it known that you want no part in your team contributing to a system that encourages racial profiling.

Media Relations - mkostic@pgepark.com

Community Outreach - ssmith@pgepark.com

For general information - info@pgepark.com

Soccer Operations - nmansueto@pgepark.com

Soccer Player Inquiries/Trial Requests - gwilkinson@pgepark.com

Address
PGE Park
1844 SW Morrison
Portland, OR 97205

Business Office Phone - (503) 553-5400

Feel free to email any and all of these people, or call the number to voice your complaints.