Construction Started on Providence Park Expansion

Good news for anyone who has trouble getting tickets to Timbers matches! As of this week, construction crews have started work on the east side of Providence Park. Back in April, the Timbers and Thorns announced a proposed project to add 4000-plus seats above the current east side sections, beginning either this off-season or next, and taking two years to complete. With quick approval by the city, it’s already gotten started this year.

Much of the work this year will be on 228 micropiles, foundational structures to anchor and support the coming three-story structure and its roof. In addition, a large mobile crane will reside on the pitch for much of December and January in order to build a larger tower crane on the east side. Because of this construction, the turf will be replaced ahead of both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

While not mentioned in the press release, there is probably a good chance that the Timbers will start 2018 with a road swing in order to accommodate the construction. Lastly, there is a new Providence Park twitter account, @ProvidencePark_, dedicated to project updates. Check it out or just go by the park to see how the expansion is progressing!

The Timbers release:

PORTLAND, Ore. – Though the 2017 seasons have finished for the Portland Timbers and Thorns FC, action is afoot at Providence Park.

Work has begun on the organization’s $55 million-plus stadium expansion which will add approximately 4,000 new seats and a striking new street-level colonnade along the eastern side of the stadium. With workers already prepping and swarming the stadium, here’s a brief overview of some of the work that will take place over the next few months.

Starting soon, 228 micropiles will be installed to support the three-story superstructure and expansive roof. Each micropile will have an average length of 75 feet. The northeast corner of the field will get a new storm water detention vault and the adidas Timbers Team Store and Thorns FC Team Stores have both been closed. A temporary space for both opened on November 21 along the first level of suites near Gate 2 for the offseason.

• READ: A soccer cathedral grows: Providence Park to expand

Perhaps most noticeably will be the installation of a massive crane that will stay in place for the entire 2018 season. In December/January, a large mobile crane will be positioned on the pitch that will, in turn, build a larger 134-foot-tall tower crane on the eastern side of the stadium. Once that large crane is in place, work will commence to extend the new superstructure from the field level up to the concourse.

Finally, with all the construction work happening, a new FieldTurf field will be installed prior to the 2018 season and again ahead of the 2019 season once the full project is finished.

Follow Timbers.com and our new stadium Twitter handle @ProvidencePark_ for updates throughout the offseason on how the expansion is progressing and more.