Members of the Riveters Steering Committee will be meeting with new Thorns ownership prior to the meet & greet at the Soop on Monday. We have not yet been in direct communication with the new owners, but have sent a welcome letter, which we wanted to share with our members here.
Hello from the North End,
We are members of the Rose City Riveters Steering Committee. We are writing to introduce ourselves, to say “Welcome to Portland!” and to begin what we hope will be a productive and positive ongoing conversation during this new era for the Portland Thorns FC.
First, welcome to the Rose City! We are full of anticipation for this new era. We’ve read and listened to what you have said since finalizing the purchase and we agree– this club and this city are special. Under your stewardship, we believe that the players of the Portland Thorns will get the facilities, staff, and marketing they deserve, and we are happy to support that goal in any way we can. We often say how fortunate we are that we get to watch the best players in the world right here in Portland, and we can’t wait for even more people to come join in the celebration.
A little about us. We are the Rose City Riveters, the independent supporters group for the Portland Thorns. The Rose City Riveters have existed since the club’s inception, and are here to support the club. This has meant many things over the years. Most visibly, it means we show up on game day. The North End of Providence Park (the General Admissions seating in sections 101-108, and 202 through 208) is a beloved home to many of us, though Riveters are scattered throughout the stadium and the world. At games, you’ve seen our capos on the stage leading chants and popping smoke to celebrate goals, several sections of standing supporters singing their hearts out, flags, drums, trumpets, and a passion that is deeply rooted in community. Our actions also extend outside the stadium. Riveters are under the umbrella of the 107 Independent Supporters Trust, a registered not-for-profit organization that supports soccer in the Rose City from the grassroots to the highest professional level. The 107IST supports and partners with many local community organizations: both soccer- and service-focused. We are loud, we are passionate, and we are all volunteers who give our time and heart to this club and city. The past few years have admittedly been very difficult for our community, and we look forward with cautious optimism toward what comes next.
In early 2023, we shared a blog post, in which we spoke directly to the players, supporters and future owners of the club. These words continue to feel as true as ever, so we share them with you today:
To the new owners in 2024, you undoubtedly realize that you have inherited an unruly horde of supporters along with your purchase of the club. We hope that you have also come to realize that our passion is only matched by our caring and our dreams. We dream of true equality, emotional and physical safety, and playing environments that match the excellence we see before us each season. While we might make you uncomfortable at times, we share your hopes and dreams for this team. We welcome you, the new owners of the Thorns, and are hopeful for a future where we can play our independent roles in harmony– for the greater good of Portland soccer.
As the club transitions to your stewardship, we know there must be a million and one items on your to-do list. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you, introduce you to this community, and begin getting to know one another.
As the long-time supporters of this club, we want to extend to you our warmest welcome and gratitude for your investment in its future. We can’t wait to see what’s next.
Sincerely,
The Rose City Riveters Steering Committee
Wendy Broussard
Sarah Williams Brown
Tina Ettlin
Rachel Greenough
Hannah Mueller
Sheridan Nichols
Sam Prince
Gabby Rosas
Chris Spalding
Jennifer Sato
