Well we've all been wondering what the Portland Timbers pre-season plans were and today they've been given a serious spotlight. Per the title of this article, the Timbers will host Chivas USA, San Jose Earthquakes and AIK (from Sweden's first division Allsvenskan) from February 27th-March 4th, about 1 week prior to First Kick 2012).
The best part of this news is that for season ticket holders all of these games will count for your Exhibition A friendly. Essentially meaning that STHs get an extra 6 games added onto their tally.
Here's the exact schedule:
Tournament Schedule
Monday, Feb. 27
Chivas USA vs. AIK – 5 p.m.
San Jose vs. Portland – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 1
AIK vs. San Jose – 5 p.m.
Chivas USA vs. Portland – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 4
San Jose vs. Chivas USA – 2:30 p.m.
AIK vs. Portland – 5 p.m.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm planning on making a day-long event out of each of these double headers.
Full press release after the jump
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers announced today that they will play host to a four-team, preseason tournament that will be held Feb. 27-March 4 at JELD-WEN Field. The host Timbers will be joined in the tournament by AIK from Sweden’s first-division Allsvenskan as well as MLS Western Conference rivals Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes.
The tournament will consist of three doubleheader sessions at JELD-WEN Field, with Chivas USA and AIK kicking off the round-robin format Monday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. Portland’s match against AIK on Sunday, March 4, closes out the tournament and will serve as the Timbers’ final preseason tune-up before they open the 2012 season against the Philadelphia Union at JELD-WEN Field on Monday, March 12.
Individual tickets for the tournament, which start at $10 per doubleheader session, go on sale Monday, Feb. 6, at 10 a.m. at the JELD-WEN Field box office and area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Current Timbers season ticket holders will receive tickets for all three days (6 games total) of the tournament as part of their ticket package. The six games will count as Exhibition A in 2012 ticket packages.
Tournament Schedule
Monday, Feb. 27
Chivas USA vs. AIK – 5 p.m.
San Jose vs. Portland – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 1
AIK vs. San Jose – 5 p.m.
Chivas USA vs. Portland – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 4
San Jose vs. Chivas USA – 2:30 p.m.
AIK vs. Portland – 5 p.m.
About AIK (Allmänna Idrottsklubben)
With over a century of history, Allmänna Idrottsklubben, also known as AIK, is considered one of the most successful football clubs in Sweden. The winner of 11 league championships, AIK has been a consistent member of Sweden’s first division, called the Allsvenskan, since its inception in 1924. AIK recently won the Allsvenskan title and the Svenska Cupen (Swedish Cup) in 2009. The club won its first Supercupen, a one-match competition contested annually among the country’s top clubs, in 2010. AIK has competed in Europe’s top club tournaments, the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, on several occasions, most recently playing in the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League. In 2011, AIK finished as the runner-up in the Allsvenskan and qualified for the 2012-13 Europa League.