Think back to your first experiences in the Timbers Army.

Did you buy a ticket somewhere else in the stadium, look over to the North End, say to yourself "That looks like a lot more fun" and wander over to investigate?

Did a friend bring you to your first match and squeeze you in among other folks who introduced you to our songs and traditions?

Did you migrate from one section to another for your first couple of games trying to find a "home" with folks who fit your idea of what mental and barmy is all about?;

Or did you head to the 200 sections where the pace is a bit slower and elbow room is easier to find?

And once you found your "home" in the North End, how many friends did you bring along to share what is one of the most unique experiences in world soccer?

What is the one thing that all of those things have in common? General Admission.

General admission is part and parcel of who and what the Timbers Army is about: freedom, movement, sharing and spreading the love, and making new friends and connecting with old. And the 107ist board is unanimous in our assertion that general admission is essential to creating the atmosphere that has been the talk of MLS since our first moments in the league.

The Timbers Army grew out of a communal experience that has been fostered and fueled by the loose, democratic, and very-Portland vibe that comes with general admission seating. You're part of a big tribe but have your own tent that pitches up in different places for different matches. You meet new people at every game. You're Timbers Army and you have an infinity of brothers and sisters. And all of that would be at risk or outright finished if the North End were turned into just another assigned-seating area.

Many questions have recently been raised regarding why we have kept general admission vs. reserved seating in the Timbers Army section. And the leadership of 107ist has been working on ways to ease many of the frustrations that have arisen with the increased crowds in the MLS era.

There are also many questions to be asked about what would happen if the Timbers Army went to a reserved seating section. We’ve come up with a quick FAQ that we think might be of help when considering your position on general admission seating in the Timbers Army section.

Q: Where will I be able to get seats?

A: The lower bowl has 1,944 seats by our last count and the Timbers Army sections hold roughly 5,000. The Timbers front office has stated that if they do move to a reserved seating section those with priority will have first crack at the tickets. Priority is code for how long you’ve had your season tickets. To put this very plainly if you didn’t purchase your first season tickets until the MLS era you’ll likely be in the upper 200s with the ability to move down only coming when other season ticket holders in the lower 100 levels opt not to renew.

Q: Will I get to sit next to my friends?

A: Given that the section is completely sold out unless you purchased season tickets at the same time, the chances are slim.

Q: Will this eliminate lines to get into Jeld-Wen Field?

A: Yes. However there are consequences to this. Think about what the rest of the reserved seating sections in the stadium look like in the East, West, and South before the start of the match. Likely most of the North End would also show up at kick off or just after creating large holes in the crowd in the North End, directly affecting the Timbers Army’s ability to create the most intimidating home crowd in MLS.

Q: What happens if I get tickets next to someone I don’t like?

A: Given that the section is completely sold out your options will likely be very limited. This means the “choose your own adventure” aspect we have long enjoyed will be eliminated. Right now if you don’t like where you are seated you can move anywhere you want. That won’t be an option with reserved seating.

Q: Are there other general admission sections at other stadiums around the league?

A: Yes, but nothing to the scale of what we have in Portland; however most supporters groups are pushing for their sections to be changed to general admission because they feel that assigned seating hinders their ability to grow andbecause of many other reasons the 107ist board has cited such as personality differences, atmosphere and so on. In fact there are many groups in England pushing hard to have the all-seated stadiums converted back to safe standing terraces due to the effect it has had on the atmosphere of the stadium. In fact simply Googling the phrase “effect on atmosphere of all-seater stadia” is quite depressing.

Q:Why is the 107ist board concerned with this now?

A: We are receiving telling signs that the Timbers Front Office wants to move in this direction and feel it’s important that the Timbers Army as a whole understand all the implications of (cut) a vote for (cut) reserved seating. We don’t want what has happened in places like Toronto or Philadelphia to happen here and feel that not only is it dangerous to meddle with the most intimidating atmosphere in the league but see it as a poor business decision for the Timbers Front Office itself. Ask yourself this question. If your reserved seats were near the top of the 200 section how likely would you be to renew? If you had a chance to acquire tickets in the lower bowl how much of a premium price would you be willing to pay for those seats?

Q:How would assigned seating affect the actual game-day experience?

A: Many tickets to the lower bowl will be available only through scalpers on the internet or outside the stadium. They will charge a greater premium for those seats than they charge now, and they will sell them to fans not used to what the Timbers Army experience is like. Do you wave flags or hold up two-sticks? Do you stand the whole match? Do you jump and clap and sing for victory? How would you like to explain all of that to someone who purchased an assigned lower bowl ticket from a scalper and feels entitled to sit quietly and watch the match without noise or obstruction? How would you like less singing, less tifo, less Tetris, less mental, less barmy? That's all in jeopardy with assigned seating.

Q: Will the prices change?

A: It's common sense to assume the 100 level would be pricier than the 200 level.

Please consider all of this if you are asked about reserved seating in the TA section. It may seem a good idea in the short term, it may mean you don't have to worry about getting in line hours before kickoff to be with your pals, but the overall atmosphere and experience of Timbers matches will be diminished. And if you wanted a lesser experience you could simply move to Seattle.

There are already 15,000-plus reserved seats at Jeld-Wen Field, and it's a hell of a job to get the people who are in them to participate and support the team loud and strong for 90 minutes. There is no doubt that the imposition of assigned seating in the Timbers Army sections of the stadium will result in pockets of the North End becoming just as stale and complacent as the east and west stands.

DON'T LET THE TIMBERS ARMY TURN INTO THE

LIBRARY OR THE FREE-DONUT BRIGADE!!!

SAY NO TO RESERVED SEATING IN THE NORTH END!!!

Team X, our opponent, has long been our friendly rival in Futsal coed D4. Many of our players have filled in on occasion with their team, so we have quite the camaraderie. Unfortunately, this did not translate to a win, for us. We started off strong, taking a 2-0 lead, but quickly lost it and went to the end of the half tied.

And then... something terrible happened. I don't know how, and I don't know why, but they scored like 5 goals in a row, of which 4 were the direct result of deflections - and kind of bad luck for our keeper.

We did our best to rally, but only managed to put in 3 more goals (including a buzzer beater), and the final score was 9-5, bad guys.

Final Score: Coat? FC 5, Team X 9

Goal distribution:

Milon Good - 1

Josh Lawrence - 2

Mike Kuh - 2

—by Nick Brock

Howdy folks!

Once again, it's time to put on your volunteer cap and give the fine folks at Sunday Parkways a hand.

If you've never volunteered at one of these events before, I highly recommend it. Not only is it a lot of fun, it's a great people-watching event. So if you want to help out, please follow these steps:

1) Click here

2) Sign up for either: Intersection Supehero - Wilson High School; 9:45-1:00 or Intersection Supehero - Wilson High School; 12:30-4:00 (Or both if that's what you want)

This will put you very close to the No Pity Van, which will be at the "Vermont/Wilson" marketplace.

3) When Registering, enter Timbers Army as your organization.

4) On July 22nd please check in at the No Pity Van before or after your shift. NOTE: This is NOT the official sign-in. You will still need to sign in at the official Sunday Parkways tent. We are doing this to help relieve the amount of stress on the official Parkways team. They have enough on their plate without having to track down who volunteered on behalf of the Army

5) OPTIONAL BUT HELPFUL - Once you register, please drop me a line on when/where you plan to volunteer. This will mostly make it easier for me to confirm the number of volunteers matches up with the sign-in sheets.

Please keep in mind, you'll be standing the sun for the majority of the day so bring sunblock and plenty of fluids. Water guns are also highly encouraged. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BRING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (Caps Intentional) This is a family-friendly, alcoholic-free event, close to school grounds, with roaming police officers. Not only will you get in a lot of trouble, but it also reflects poorly on the TA as a whole, so please don't try it.

I think that covers everything, but if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Thanks all!

This week everyone was on the same page. Especially at the beginning of the first half when we were able to put together multiple successful strings of passes resulting in goals. We were quickly up 4 - 0 within the first five or six minutes and ended the half ahead 7 - 0. In the second half pulled the intensity back a little bit but we were still getting many shots on goal and forcing the opponent's keeper to a handful of good saves. We posted our first win in this new session (8 - 4) and look forward to another successful match next week. Much thanks to Mike who came in to play goalkeeper this week and we look forward to him playing for us again...

Goals: Dave 2, Derek 2, Randy 2, Micah 1, Owen 1

Assists: Dave 1, Todd 1

—by Chris Rifer

Nobody at Jeld-Wen Field will forget Saturday night.

The indelibility started in the 3^rd minute, as Kalif Alhassan found Kris Boyd near post on a brilliant cross, which the Timbers designated player redirected home.

The Timbers, however, couldn’t establish any sort of control in the midfield, and the Galaxy made them pay in the 19^th minute, as David Beckham—given acres of space by Eric Alexander—bent a magnificent ball from 35 yards out into goal.

Portland would make way for some Beckham magnificence again five minutes later, as a poorly constructed wall[1] allowed Beckham to unleash his signature curling free kick and tuck it inside the near post.

The Timbers dug themselves a deeper hole two minutes later when Kosuke Kimura lost Michael Stephens on a throw. Stephens, however, took a poor touch that was bouncing hopelessly away from him, but Kimura bailed him out—and enticed Baldomero Toledo into making a half-brained call[2]—by colliding with Stephens in the box.

And if that weren’t enough, just two minutes later, David Horst would lose Landon Donovan on the right wing,[3] where he would send an easy cross to Robbie Keane to do what he has made a career out of.

Just like that, ten surreal minutes after Portland had a 1-0 lead, they were down 4-1.

The Timbers would make noises of a comeback in the 34^th minute, after Josh Saunders bobbled Boyd’s direct free kick and Kimura erased his earlier mistake by putting the rebound home.

In the 36^th minute, Horst nearly pulled the Timbers within one with a well-placed header off of a Steven Smith corner, but Saunders atoned for his previous sin by making a solid diving save.

The Timbers should have pulled within one after halftime, as Troy Perkins’ fantastic distribution[4] freed Nagbe on the break, but Darlington dribbled too much,[5] and Saunders closed him out.

The Galaxy would deliver the fatal blow in the 64^th minute, however, as Beckham caught the Timbers defense upfield in finding Sean Franklin on the right wing. Franklin easily found Keane in the box, who casually slotted home.

The Timbers, however, couldn’t let this one out of their teeth just yet. Five minutes later, in the least surprising free kick strategy since Beckham’s in the 24^th minute, Kris Boyd took a set piece off of Jack Jewsbury’s tap and drove it into the bottom corner.

What the Timbers had in pluck, however, they lacked in gas, as the comeback effort sputtered and stalled in the late stages. It was a strange night to cap off a strange week that deals a significant blow to the Timbers’ increasingly longshot playoff chances.

Match Observations

• I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a unit as desperately disorganized as the Timbers’ central midfield was in the first half and, to a lesser extent, the second half. If Jack Jewsbury and Lovel Palmer ever patrol the center together again, it should result in an automatic sacking for the manager. Two disasters in a row. Their inability to slow down the Galaxy attack to any extent hung the back four out to dry. If Keane and Donovan are coming at you with a full head of steam, your defense is in serious trouble. Not that they acquitted themselves particularly well, either.
• Looking at the stats is absolutely maddening. The Timbers had 61% possession, 83% passing accuracy, and 571 completed passes. 15 shots, 10 of which were on frame, and 18 open play crosses. Unreal. As wretched as the defense was, the Timbers offense was as good as we have seen it all year. Although this was at least in part because the Galaxy were up big and determined to score in the double digits, the numbers are glaring enough that they can’t be ignored. In addition to the three goals scored, the Timbers had four other pretty legitimate chances to put the ball in the net.[6]
• The difference in the game, then, was the ability to maintain composure after conceding a goal. The Galaxy did, the Timbers oh-so-very didn’t. While it’s refreshing to hear a coach take responsibility for a loss,[7] and while I think Gavin out-thought himself tactically a little bit in this one,[8] 4 goals conceded in 9 minutes isn’t tactics. It’s mentality, and that’s in large part on the players. They did it under Spencer and they’ve now done it under Wilkinson. And if they don’t learn how to handle being scored on, these last 16 games are going to be torture.
• Diego Chara is incredibly important to this team. Oh my goodness. For those questioning whether Chara is designated player quality, I present Saturday as Exhibit A of my argument against in support of Diego.
• The grades will be all over the map. Just a warning.

Timbers Grades

Troy Perkins, 3 Culpable on the second concession for setting up a sloppy wall that cut off a free kick directly hit at the far post (which Beckham was never going to hit) and opening up a sizable gap for a curler (which Beckham was always going to hit). Also didn’t have his best effort on the fourth concession, where he may have been able to cut off Donovan’s cross with a better effort. At least on that one he was exposed by his defense.

Steven Smith, 3 Conceding goals when Smith is caught upfield is becoming a bit of a pattern. Both the fourth and fifth concessions came from Smith’s left side with the Scot nowhere to be found in defense.

David Horst, 2 Absolutely dominated by Donovan. His selection over Futty looks bad in hindsight, as Horst’s mistakes are piling up and his poor closeout of Donovan on the fourth concession gave the Timbers a mountain they couldn’t climb.

Hanyer Mosquera, 3.5 Got crossed up on Keane’s run to the fourth goal, and botched his mark on the fifth. A couple crippling mistakes overshadow the fact that he was otherwise the most competent defender on the night.[9]

Kosuke Kimura, 4.5 A relatively neutral game again for Kimura. Obviously made the massive error in letting Stephens get behind him on the throw, but made up for it moments later by putting back Boyd’s free kick. Otherwise, was close to competent if unspectacular.

Jack Jewsbury, 3.5 He and Palmer were undressed defensively, as LA moved at will through the Timbers midfield. Jewsbury at least made some contributions to the attack.

Lovel Palmer, 1 Wretched. The kind of performance that gets a player cut. Stalled the attack and was nowhere significant to be found defensively. Paging James Marcelin.[10]

Darlington Nagbe, 4 Had some nice moments breaking down the Galaxy midfield, but, and I’m getting so tired of writing this, is dribbling way too much. He seemingly tried to dribble the ball into goal on his breakaway.

Eric Alexander, 4 Bears some culpability on the first goal, as he failed to close down Beckham. There is an argument to be made that it was Palmer’s position he was being asked to defend, but still, when Palmer isn’t there he has to defend it.

Kalif Alhassan, 6.5 A very good night returning from injury. Assisted on the Timbers’ best goal of the evening and was a threat on the right side until being pulled for fitness reasons.

Kris Boyd, 8 Heard some griping about Boyd in the stands on Saturday.  Here’s what I say to that: two goals. His seven on the season all of a sudden don’t look too bad. Any fault that goes to Boyd for the Timbers’ struggles is misplaced. He was brought in to score goals and 18 matches into the season he has seven.

Brent Richards, 3 Down 4-2 at half, I don’t mind giving the kid a chance to see what he can do, but Brent was a little bit wide-eyed out there. Stalled the attack a few times and looked out of sorts defending on the left wing.

Danny Mwanga, 4 Came on for Kalif and didn’t have much in the way of an impact. Kalif’s absence was conspicuous.

Sal Zizzo, INC. Very late sub didn’t have much of a chance to make an impact.

Preseason Prediction:[11] Galaxy 2, Timbers 1. Jewsbury, Boyens (ha!), and Keane.

Actual Result: Galaxy 5, Timbers 3. Boyd, Beckham, Beckham, Donovan, Keane, Kimura, Keane, and Boyd.

Onward, Rose City!

—by Andrew Brawley

Imagine having celebrities hanging out in the North End during Timbers matches. As if the Timbers Army needed any more publicity, right?

Now imagine those celebrities consisting of the cast of Jersey Shore, The Real World, and current fans of Tosh.0 (yeah…current as in after Daniel Tosh’s recent ‘rape joke’ fiasco).

This actually happened at last night’s game. And guess whose fault it is.

It’s the fault of ticket scalpers!

Last night saw a collection of alpha male types that I’ll refer to as “dude-bro’s” (you might be more familiar with their common name, “douchebags”) assembling in the far upper corner of section 208. What started as four DB’s turned to eight, which turned to 12, and before we knew it, we had approximately 20 of these chuckle-heads sitting together, double-fisting beers well before kickoff was even scheduled.

So how did this group get my attention? Before we get into that, let me state that I don’t claim to be any kind of expert in DB’s  (I find Juggalos to be far more fascinating) or security, but I do happen to have a couple small items of note on my resume. At one time in my wild career path, I was the lead bouncer at a nightclub in Los Angeles. Also, I happen to have an OLCC permit, and monitoring behavior induced by alcohol happens to be a major component of that training program.

So when I see a large group of these types getting together, they tend to draw my attention. When all 20-ish of them insist on wearing matching bright yellow or bright orange trucker hats, they identify themselves as a group aching to be noticed. When they aren’t participating in pre-match Timbers chants, they demand my attention. When they subtly-but-noticeably boo our Timbers as they enter the field for pre-match practice, my gut tells me something is up.

However, there was nothing visible at this point that ultimately said “these people are Galaxy fans, get them out of here before something bad goes down.”

That is until one of them removes their shirt to reveal a Sharpie-drawn LA Galaxy logo on his chest, and a mock jersey-style “Beckham” and “23” on his back. NOW WE’RE IN BUSINESS!

(Note: this Sharpie-drawn-on-body thing is worthy of its own blog entry, but my writing priorities are clear this day. I’ll get to you next year, pal.)

Now that we’ve identified a large group of Galaxy fans sitting in the Timbers Army section, which is far, far away from the away fans’ section, we must take evasive action to neutralize this situation. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And at the rate these guys were drinking and escalating their behavior, I woulda bet my entire savings account on some shenanigans going down.

Rather than confront them myself (I may be a big guy, but come on, this is serious, and I’m no dummy), I notified JWF security, as well as a 107ist Board member and the designated TA security rep. Within 15 minutes, the majority of the group was moved to a more appropriate section of the stadium.

So why do I hold ticket scalpers to be responsible for this? These DB’s somehow got their hands on a whole bunch TA section tickets. Throw in the fact that this game against the Galaxy was one of the first to sell out after tickets for the 2012 season went on-sale, and we reveal some form of major flubbery. Either these guys all acquired tickets via an exorbitant sum of money paid to StubHub or on-site scalpers, or somebody (or bodies) in the Timbers Army sold their ticket(s) to this match and didn’t bother to care about whom they sold their tickets to.

This is just one of many reasons why a large faction of the Timbers Army decries the use of ticket scalpers. I understand the need to resell tickets to a match that you can’t attend. You want to get your money back. Nobody will sweat you for that.

However, when you blindly post your tickets for sale on Craig’s List, StubHub, or any number of reseller sites, or sell your tickets to those dirty, filthy scalpers lurking in front on JWF on match days, you are essentially handing over the keys to the Timbers Army’s vehicle, and allowing anyone to jump in for a ride, regardless of their condition and/or intent.

You may be comfortable picking up hitch-hikers on the highway, and if you’re the only one in the car, be my guest. But would you pick one up if your kids, friends, and/or friends’ kids were with you? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

If you need to resell your tickets, sell them to your trusted friends, co-workers, or any number of people who you would trust to represent you. Let them celebrate in the fun we get to have at every match. Don’t let the riff-raff in by selling your tickets to anonymous buyers.

Finally, if you feel the need to call me a narc or tattle-tale by my notifying security about that group of DB’s last night, be my guest. The way I look at it, I had to leave my own well-behaved circle of friends and clean up someone else’s mess. So if you feel that way, you don’t need to thank me, but still…you’re welcome.

8:45 pm UPDATE: judging by some Twitter conversations directed my way, it appears the group in question may have been a bachelor party from Vancouver. Can't say this is verified in any way, but having a Vancouver-based hockey writer for NBC Sports ask me if I got my "panties in a twist" has to account for something, right?

Regardless of this group's home base, and if this truly is the case, I stand even stronger by my actions as we don't need Vancouver fans sitting in the North End, whether they pose as Galaxy fans in jest, or not.

Dear Vancouver, your antics reflect poorly on your beloved country. I guess this is why all the clever things to come out of Canada (Kids In The Hall, Strange Brew, Picnicface, et. al.) originate from the eastern portion of "America's hat."

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the 107ist or the TA.

REMINDER: on July 27th the Timbers Army is hosting a blood drive in Vancouver, Washington in conjunction with the Timbers Army Northern Alliance.

We all bleed Rose City Red; now it's time to bleed for a worthy cause: The Timbers Army Blood Drive, Friday, July 27th, from 10 am - 7 pm at Clark County Indoor Soccer, 16311 NE 15th St., Vancouver, WA 98684.

No matter the season, the American Red Cross is always in need of blood donations:

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• One donation can help save the lives of up to three people.

If you are healthy, at least 17 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds, you are probably eligible to donate (if you are a minor you'll need your parent's or guardian's permission to donate). Whether you're an experienced donor or you'll be donating for the first time, you can find out more about the donation process here. You can read more specifics about eligibility requirements here.

If you are interested in donating, please check the following link to select a time that works for you:

Link to make a donation appointment

We will also need volunteers for various things, so if you're interested in volunteering in addition/instead of donating, drop a message to TABloodDrive@gmail.com with whatever times you're available and the best way to contact you.

What about tattoos? If I have ink can I still donate?

Since this was mentioned in a discussion thread, we'll mention it here as well: If you have tattoos, yes, you can donate, as long as you got inked at a licensed tattoo parlor. If you got your tattoo in Oregon you are in luck, as Oregon licenses and regulates tattoo parlors. If you got your tattoo in another state, you will have to check to see if that state regulates tattoo parlors. If you got your tattoo in another state that does not regulate tattoo parlors, you can donate as long as it has been at least 12 months since you got tattooed. For more information, you can contact the Red Cross, or read more about eligibility requirements and blood donation here.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

I know I am, I'm sure I am, Rose City Til I Die. In the meantime, we can give life by giving blood. We invite you to do the same.

What a game! The opening game of the session did not disappoint. This match was against the team that knocked us out of playoff contention last session. We got some sweet revenge, too, as the final score was 7-6, good guys.

This was mostly due to the Herculean efforts of Mike Kuh, who had five, that's right, FIVE goals! 3 or 4 of which came within the last 5 minutes of the game.

Final Score: Coat? FC 7, opponent 6

Goal distribution:

Milon Good - 1

Mike Kuh - 5

Kevin Imber - 1

The message is simple:  VOTE NANDO!!!!

If you're a Timbers fan, you probably know Fernando Machicado -- or Nando as he's called by almost everyone.

Perhaps you've seen him managing the crew at the 107ist merchandise van, or running charitable events for 107ist and Operation Pitch Invasion, or helping to manage Timbers Army game day operations inside JeldWen Field, or maybe you remember his image from one of those epic Rose City Till I Die billboards: his sat right across the street from Powell's and then, blown up to 747-size, on the parking garage on Broadway near Burnside.

Wherever the Timbers Army is, especially when it's involved with charitable works, Nando is at the forefront -- or, more often, behind the scenes, working in advance with community partners, sponsors, donors, and Timbers Army volunteers to make stuff happen. He's the president of Operation Pitch Invasion, which works with Portland Parks and Recreation to restore and maintain soccer fields, and he sits on the board of the 107 Independent Supporters Trust, where he chairs the Game Day Operations and Merchandise Committees and co-chairs the Community Outreach Committee.

As part of his 107ist commitments, Nando has been the spearhead of a program to bring soccer gear and mentorship to 4-15 year olds at the Tamarak Apartments, a public housing complex with a history of losing kids to gangs, and he has been 107ist’s principal liaison to the Portland Public Schools, providing an avenue for the Timbers Army to donate equipment and sweat-equity hours to soccer programs at four local high schools.

With Operation Pitch Invasion, he has helped rehabilitate the soccer fields at several Portland parks, helped put a turf field where a blacktop once sat in a North Portland schoolyard, is negotiating the funding and installation of an artificial turf soccer field at New Columbia (another public housing project in an economically disadvantaged community), and helping to assemble a program of volunteer coaches and instructors for a soccer program at the new field.

It's safe to say that Nando's commitment to the game of soccer, the local community, and the Timbers Army and its various organizational and charitable bodies makes him a living embodiment of the phrase Rose City Till I Die. He exemplifies the Eternal Golden Triangle of Team/Town/Timbers Army.

Nando has been nominated by the Timbers front office as their candidate as MLS W.O.R.K.S. 2012 Community MVP, which involves a $10,000 award which he intends to donate to Operation Pitch Invasion, and you can help him win. The prize is being awarded on the basis of votes cast on the web, and (and this is the genius part) you can vote as many times as you care to (and we hope you’ll care to a lot).

For all subsequent votes, do the same as above and then enter the captcha codes you’ll see on the screen. Do this often enough and you can actually see Nando rise in the standings before your eyes! Voting ends at 2 pm Pacific on Friday, July 13, and we’d like to see Nando’s name on top of that column at 2:01.

Maybe you’ve wanted to get involved in the charity works of 107ist and Operation Pitch Invasion but haven’t quite been able to find the time. But throughout this week, if you take a few minutes once or twice a day and bang on that voting booth a couple of times, you could be the person who puts Nando over the top and brings OPI $10,000 closer to a signature project that will add immeasurably to the legacy of Soccer City USA. You know you’ve got the time to spare. Go on and vote!

In order to provide a fair and consistent entry procedure at Gate 3, and after much collaboration between the 107ist Board and Timbers management, we will be distributing wristbands to facilitate entry at the LA Galaxy match on 7/14/2012.

This FAQ will also be distributed as people collect their wristband so they know what's happening. Please feel free to post any additional questions in the comments and we'll endeavor to answer them as soon as we can (remember, we're all volunteers!).

When will wristbands be given out?

Volunteers will arrive to distribute wristbands at a variable and unannounced time for each match. If the volunteers have not yet arrived, you should plan to stand in line at the TA gate as usual.

How many wristbands will there be?

The first 1000 Timbers Army section ticketholders in line will receive a numbered wristband based on arrival order. You will need to show your TA section ticket in order to receive the wristband.

Does a wristband guarantee me early entry before all the other gates?

Yes it does – But please remember that you'll need to be back in line, and in numerical order, before the TA gate opens.

Can I take an extra for my child/spouse/brother/friend etc.?

No, wristbands will be placed on each fan upon arrival; you must be physically present to get one.

What happens after I get the wristband?

You can leave the JELD-WEN area, but must be back in line 180 minutes before kick-off (5:00pm). If you don't return by 5:00pm you are not guaranteed priority entry.

If I have this wristband, why do I have to be here again three hours early? Why can't I just show up 5 min before the gates open?

You have to be in line and in order per the number on your wristband. It's going to take a while for everyone to sort themselves out.

Where do I go when I come back?

Head to Gate 3 (the TA gate) and line up in number order - each wristband is consecutively numbered.

When will the TA gate open?

Gate 3 will open 120 minutes before kick-off (6:00pm).

How will wristbands work with the bag-check line?

If you bring a bag you'll still need to have it searched and your entry will be delayed. The non-bag line always moves faster, so if getting in quickly is your #1 priority, don't bring a bag into the stadium.

What if all the wristbands are gone?

You can go to the end of the Gate 3 line, but please remember people that *do* have wristbands will be returning to the line and will stand in front of you.

Alternatively, use any of the other JELD-WEN Field gates that open at 6:30pm. These are gates, 4, 2 and 1.

Does this mean I get a reserved seat up front?

Not necessarily. The TA section is general admission and all seats are first come first served. Having a wristband only ensures that you get in via the TA gate before the other gates open.

IMPORTANT:

Once in, can I still save extra seats for my child/spouse/ friend etc.?

Please DO NOT try to save multiple seats for late arriving people.

We have a policy of '1 scarf =1 seat' in the TA section. This means that it's ok to save a seat for a friend as long as they get to the stadium at least 30 mins before kickoff.

Saving a seat any longer than that, or saving more than 1 seat is just plain rude and inconsiderate of your fellow Timbers Army members.