Going to Timbers-Sounders on March 11th? Read this...

ARRIVAL: The TA bus delegation will have parking in the Northeast section of the parking lot. (We have been told that bus parking fees will be $40 each.) The TA will enter the stadium through the NE gates of Qwest Field; Portland fans will be the only fans allowed entry via that gate. Fans carpooling to the game should make their way to the NE gates for entry into the stadium with the bus contingent of traveling TA.
Qwest Field gates open at 5 p.m. The club asks that Portland fans arrive at the stadium gates between 5 and 5:30. Kickoff is at 6:03. Once the buses arrive at the stadium, the TA as a group will be escorted to its section.
Up until 5:30, TA arriving after the big group has already been escorted will also escorted to the TA section. All TA and Timbers fans arriving after 5:30 p.m. will need to enter the stadium through other gates.
Supporters groups for Seattle will enter the stadium through different gates and be led on different routes to their seating sections.

CHECKING IN: Qwest Field security will be checking all bags, banners and flags. Those with flags and banners deemed inadmissible are to be given time to return them to the bus or car. We asked for some specifics on what might not be permitted. Their expectation is for “positive signs that support Portland.”

Smoke bombs, flares and fireworks are prohibited at Qwest.

SEATING: Portland fans will be seated in the North End of the stadium, at field level beneath the triangular “Hawks Nest” grandstands. The Sounders intend this to be segregated seating for all Portland supporters. Seating will be general admission; there will be 1,100 seats available.
The north end zone section is reserved for the TA. At this point, the Sounders expect that two-thirds of the concession stands within the stadium will be open for the event; a concession stand near the TA’s section will be open. There will be rail space available for banners.
The Sounders’ music group – the Sound Wave – which normally sits in the north end has been moved to a sideline section for this match. As of Friday morning, the Seattle FO reported that 12,000 tickets had been distributed for the match.

EXITING: Security personnel will hold the Portland sections in place for 15 minutes following the match, and then lead the TA back through the NE gates and into the parking lot.

SECURITY PRESENCE: Security people will be stationed around the booster section to try and keep opposing fans out. They will also be scanning for signs of problems.
At this point, we asked that the security people give us time to police ourselves. Marc Kostic from the front office told the Seattle group that we have had a lot of success in handling issues internally.
After some discussion, we agreed that our group would designate two or three contact people, and that Seattle security would try to work through TA leadership.