Today was another big day for a lot of NWSL teams as single game tickets went on sale for a lot of different clubs. With that, we want to let everyone know that we have assembled a Travel Committee to help with the 2016 Riveters Away Day Travel. This group is working with the different ticket sales reps to better understand if we can get a group discount for Riveters and if we can get Away Supporter sections at the different stadiums.

If you are planning on or interested in hitting the road this year to support the Thorns, please bookmark the 2016 Away Stadium Ticket Info to stay in the know about stadium policies (drums, banners, flags, smoke) and group tickets. We really want to take advantage of group discounts for tickets as much as we can, so each away event has a Facebook page set up (also available on the 2016 info page under each match) so we can get a sense of the demand for each game. Most group discounts kick in at or around 8 tickets, so if you’re planning to go, help out your fellow traveler and let us know so we can get things put together.

Also, the Facebook pages will help with coordination and carpooling to the games. After all, we’re a small group of road warriors.

FOR SEATTLE AWAY — Hold on to your horses. We are working with their ticketing rep to get a different section at Memorial set aside for us as well as buses (2!) lined up for the trips. More information about the 2 matches up north will be available shortly. 

Please donate $8 or more, if you are able, in order to help Tiffany Weimer, her fellow players, and host family recover from a devastating fire. https://www.gofundme.com/nwslfirefund

Ocho. Tiffany Weimer may have worn #19 on the pitch for the 2013 NWSL Championship winning Thorns FC team, but supporters who followed her career closely knew that Tiffany’s nickname was Ocho, and that she has a specific affinity for Batman. Tiffany scored the monumental tying goal in the sweltering heat of the semifinal game at Kansas City and she was an enormous reason why there is a star above the Thorns crest and a banner hanging in our stadium.

Tiffany also wrote eloquently during the end of our inaugural season about the Superheroes tifo and what it was like to feel the kind of support we are known for in Portland. Tiffany’s post is a great reminder why we do what we do, and you should read it all. This section is especially pertinent today:

Imagine doing what you love for a living. Then imagine 15,000 people cheering you on every time you land a plane or publish a book. Or whatever it is you love doing.

Then imagine your competitor trying to bring you down. And those same 15,000 people standing behind you saying “no, honey, you need to take a step back, this is our house.” And that happening every single day. And even if you make a mistake on the job, like the best friend that will always tell you “you were too good for Zac Efron anyway”, they will show you unconditional love like you’ve never experienced.

When someone has your back, you truly feel like you can do anything. Your superhero superpower is invincibility. You’re untouchable. Being on a field competing in an arena like professional sports, there’s nothing more powerful.

Earlier this afternoon, we learned that Tiffany Weimer and her fellow professional soccer players Tori Huster and Britt Eckerstrom, alongside Britt’s parents, Pam and Kurt, have lost almost everything they own to a fire. Thankfully, nobody was injured.

One of the images from the aftermath of the fire that has most struck with me is Tiffany’s journal, covered in ash, on top of a book with a sticker of her trademark Batman silhouette.

The signal has been sent for our community to rally and support our superhero once more. Instead of 15,000 people cheering Tiffany on the pitch, we need to stand behind her and those impacted by this horrible event. While it may not be during the course of a game, we know that community during all facets of life is important, especially through trials such as these. We have your back, Tiffany. Once a Thorn, always a Thorn.

Please consider donating $8 or more in order to help Tiffany Weimer, her fellow players, and host family recover from a devastating fire. https://www.gofundme.com/nwslfirefund

I had a miserable time yesterday. MISERABLE! I sat at home and watched our Portland boys give it a go with that cranky team from the Midwest. I hacked, I wheezed, I may have gotten a little misty when ESPN ran some clips from the moments following what was a historic moment for the Timbers. An MLS cup. Ours. A star. Ours.

I was all set up in my chair with some tissues to my right and a glass of water to my left, cold medicine within easy reach, and animals settled in on my lap and in the chair next to me, content to snooze until I cursed at the screen in frustration or screamed in celebration.

There was the inevitable build-up to the unveiling of the banner. Talk of how long it had been. 1975. That’s a loooong time. Being in the North End for most matches for the past 5 years made me feel small. When you’re looking down the barrel of 1975, when I was 2…yeah, go ahead and do the math if you must…5 years looks small. And you know, there hasn’t been a championship in the Rose City since those ’77 Blazers. Whoa. That’s a loooong time, too, rig…wait.

There’s a little red sign.

It’s actually not so little. Actually, it’s quite large. Must have been as big of a pain in the ass to hang as that nifty Timbers banner that was unveiled yesterday. Perhaps you’ve glanced up now and then to look at it while searching the for the signs of great retired Timbers players and, of course, of our beloved Timber Jim.

It says NWSL Champions…2013.

Huh. Maybe we should talk about this. There must have been a mistake somewhere, because the announcers said that there hasn’t been a championship in Portland since ’77. Caleb Porter himself, of the laser blue eyes and confident smirk, said that there hasn’t been a championship in Portland since the Blazers won in ’77. It’s almost like the Thorns accomplishment is…invisible.

I’m a reasonable person. I understand that sports have been a bastion of testosterone for…well…ever. This is one piece, though, that I’m willing to have a say about. The USWNT won the World Cup last summer. Let that sink in for a second. They won. The. World. Cup. They didn’t just win it, either…they DEMOLISHED Japan in the final. It was impressive. It was inspiring. It was…historic. We have, at this point, 4 USWNT players who will be on the pitch for the Thorns this season. We also have national team players from Canada, Denmark, England, and Iceland. I know, I know, “club over country.” Ok. Well, I don’t really have a stance on that, to be honest. But if you’re going to complain about it, then shut your mouth about Nagbe being called up to the USMNT, and we’ll call it good.

Back to that pesky little red sign, though.

It’s there. I checked. And every time it’s not acknowledged in our proud “Soccer City USA” heritage, it’s a silent permission slip to pay some of our best female players $6,000 a season…or bring in unpaid players to round out the roster during the Olympics or the World Cup…to not make kits that can be worn by men…to write angry emails about swearing and finger-flipping at Thorns matches when the same damn things are done each week from the main stage and capo nests for the Timbers. The more times we let it go by and say nothing, the more we are saying it’s quite alright that a derby match between Seattle and Portland be bumped for “Behind the Scenes at NASCAR.”

I will be the first to say that that first Thorns season was full of just plain weirdness. There were stories about CPC and her lack of plan or control, how the players had taken things into their own hands, Morgan’s attitude, Heath’s apathy, etc. Doesn’t matter. The little red sign persists. As a matter of fact, let’s relive a goal that pertains to that sign:

Yeah. Not so much with the apathy there.

I think that it’s time that Soccer City USA prove its mettle and make a goddamn ruckus when ANYone forgets that before the Timbers put a star on it after 40 years, the Thorns did it…in one.

I realized something last night, watching Mark Parsons talk about the Thorns and their fans. See, I’ve been trying to put my finger on it for a while now, why I like supporting the Thorns so much. There’s a lot there. First, I like soccer. All soccer. Any soccer. And the Thorns play some excellent soccer.

Then there’s an added benefit with the Thorns. With most sports, I can acknowledge to myself that I’m being sort of ridiculous – that in the grand scheme of things that matter in this world, whether or not my Red Sox win shouldn’t really rate on that list. Of course, it does. I have very clear memories of absolute heartbreak, and much foggier memories of raucous celebrations and the hangovers that follow. But I know very well I’m just watching grown men play a game. There’s no larger social movement behind it. Supporting women’s sports, on the other hand, is also about equality. Title IX did a lot of good. It increased female participation in sports by 990% in high school, and by 560% in college. But the job’s not done yet, and opportunities to play professionally are still lacking. Even today, even with our beloved Thorns, the minimum salary is less than $7,000. Last year, during the World Cup, there were women playing for professional soccer teams without any pay at all. There are still miles to go in the fight for gender equality, and supporting women’s sports is one way to aid in that battle.

But mostly, when you go to a Thorns game, you aren’t thinking about that. You’re just thinking about the soccer and the atmosphere and the fun. And that isn’t just down to the soccer being played. It’s also the fans. We have excellent fans. We have a supporters section that sings the entire time, not to mention tifo displays to rival men’s sides. We have – quite literally – the best fans in the world. That’s a point of pride for me, and I suspect for a lot of people. But it’s also useful. Thorns fans have more direct influence on their team than any group I’ve ever seen. It’s not just the immediate impact on a game that you might have (or hope to have) anytime you’re in the stands. Honestly, with the Thorns, I think sometimes that backfires. Players from other teams come in ready to play. They want to play in front of a serious, loud, knowledgeable fan base, even if they are, as Meghan Klingenberg described us, “hostile” (which I took as a ringing endorsement). I’ve heard players say that coming to Providence Park was the first time they felt like a professional athlete.

That’s what I realized last night, when Mark Parsons was talking about an as yet unnamed player they were hoping to sign. He said she was very excited about the idea of playing for the Thorns, that he didn’t think she would be coming here if it weren’t for us. He talked about this being a nice place to live, both Portland as a city and Oregon as a state. But mostly he talked about the fans.

When you follow sports, you see a lot of people go somewhere for the money or for the chance of winning a championship. Occasionally you see someone stay where they started out, and you applaud their loyalty. But coming to the NWSL from Europe means leaving home for less money. In Portland, it also means playing in front of the best fans in the world. It means those fans won’t just know the national team stars, but everyone, right down to the bench players. It means they take you seriously as a professional athlete, game in and game out. That’s one hell of a selling point. And that’s the impact that we, as fans, have on this team. How cool is that?

New season, new ambitious plans by our Art Department—so for a limited time, we’re offering special cloisonné pins as a thank-you gift to Riveters who donate at least $10 to our tifo fund!

We expect to be able to send them out or otherwise distribute them by month’s end. Some of the tifo folks will also have these available to hand out at events in exchange for in-person donations while this promotion lasts. Keep an eye on our newsletter, our Facebook page, and/or our Twitter account for details.

Donations are not tax-deductible.

It’s commonly said that Portland sets the standard for support; certainly, most soccer enthusiasts both in and outside of Portland would agree. Standards must evolve—and achieving and maintaining a pinnacle position means expanding ideas, broadening outreach, and otherwise growing. Those who’ve been to a volunteer recruitment get-together for the Riveters this year know there are already great plans created by those in leadership positions to facilitate growth, with diverse opportunities for involvement and contribution.

Ideally, there will be a strong turnout of skilled, creative, and/or otherwise talented and devoted hands this season.

Some folks will not have the ability or desire to contribute. Reasons will be far-ranging, just as they would be in any other other endeavor that relies on volunteers. Nevertheless, for those who can’t commit to volunteerism, there’s still a small way every individual can easily help to set that standard and continually raise the bar. It’s a challenge each one of us should accept for the upcoming season, and it begins simply with an invitation.

While there were indeed sellout matches in last year’s Thorns season, the average attendance was 15,639. Though that average puts the rest of the league to shame, it does show there still remains an opportunity to introduce the Thorns—and women’s soccer in general—to our friends, family, and business contacts.

For something so simple, there’s oftentimes reticence.

It isn’t uncommon to encounter folks who regularly attend Timbers matches, yet have never seen the Thorns play. Some expect the women’s game to somehow be less exciting, perhaps a less skilled performance, and therefore choose not to give the women’s game a chance. There was an uptick in popularity and interest after the U.S. Women’s Team became our beloved FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup Champions—an opportunity for a broader segment of the population to see that the women’s game is every bit as exciting as the men’s. But the off season is long, and a refresher may be needed. A modicum of gentle pressure can’t hurt, too.

Recalling Orwell’s words—”To see beyond the tip of one’s nose needs a constant struggle”—calls to mind the need to see beyond the exuberance, attendance, and enthusiasm in the North End, too. There’s a stadium to fill, and often pockets of seats are left unpopulated. This presents a great opportunity to bring in a group—whether officemates, friends, or helping facilitate the “best field trip ever”. Group tickets purchased from the Front Office are often comparable to, if not more affordable than, minor league baseball, Pac-12 (collegiate) basketball, and major junior ice hockey. The benefit of PTFC over any of those is experiencing not the up-and-coming, or maybe-someday stars, but women at the absolute pinnacle of their careers. Pro sports in every sense of the phrase.

Portland Thorns support is a big tent, as well. There’s room for every type of supporter and personality. Don’t know two-stick from chopstick? That’s fine. Thought tifo was an acronym? No big deal. Can’t breathe around goal smoke, or prefer to remain seated? There’s plenty of space outside the North End. Single? You get your pick of seats. Have a family in tow? Admission is cheap. But most importantly: there’s a place for everybody; all are welcome. (Or, to quote former goalkeeper and now goalkeeper-coach Nadine Angerer, “Except Nazis. I don’t like them”.)

With a dynamic new coach in Mark Parsons, and new recruits like Icelandic National Team/FSU standout Dagny Brynjarsdottir, USWNT veteran Meghan Klingenberg, and Paris Saint-Germain star Lindsey Horan coming on board as well, PTFC’s 2016 prospects look brighter than ever. Coupled with beloved returning stars like Tobin Heath, Christine Sinclair, and Allie Long, we stand at the precipice of what may very well be the Thorns’ most exciting season to date.

Growing the game is an effort we can all participate in—and it’s fun, too. Every single supporter/fan can and should commit to bring at least one first-timer to a Thorns match this year—whether they’re North End, South Deck, Value Terrace or “prawn sandwich” territory. It’s a great way to support the club, and one can be confident that their first match likely won’t be their last.

You’d better buy some extra scarves.

On Sunday, February 21st, the Riveters will be hosting the second winter meet-up & volunteer recruitment event. This will be at Blitz 99 located at 10935 SW 68th Pkwy in Tigard from 11am – 1pm. We chose to do it early in the day, on a Sunday, to make it easier for folks who couldn’t get to the Thursday night meet-up earlier in the month. Also, the Timbers have a preseason match that evening, so hopefully there is limited conflict.

Come out to this meet-up if you want to connect with like minded fans and also if you’re interested in getting more involved in 2016. We are looking for a lot of new faces to join our efforts and will have committee members on hand to share info about what we do and answer any questions you may have.

If you cannot make it out to either of the meet-ups but still want to get involved, please add your information to one of the sign up forms below. You can sign up for as many committees as you would like. We will be in touch shortly after you sign up to let you know when the next meeting will be or ask about how you would like to get involved.

• Riveters Design Team
• Riveters Communications
• Riveters Sales/Membership Team
• Riveters Travel
• Riveters Capos/Drums/Trumpets

On Thursday, February 11, we’re holding the first of at least two preseason Rose City Riveters meetups and info sessions for prospective volunteers. This one will be at Bazi Bierbrasserie on SE 32nd and Hawthorne from 6:30-8:30pm. If you’re interested in chatting directly with subcommittee leads about the positions where we need help, come on down! In either case, come down to catch up with fellow supporters and meet new people.

We have signup forms online for open volunteer slots. Whether or not you can make it to one of the in-person events, we encourage you to fill out the online form for any position in which you’re interested:

• Riveters Design Team
• Riveters Communications
• Riveters Sales/Membership Team
• Riveters Travel
• Riveters Capos/Drums/Trumpets

Hope to see you there!

Thanks to those of you who were able to attend today’s 107ist Annual General Meeting. To cut to the chase, though: we need you! Here are the Riveters volunteer signup forms for this year:

• Riveters Design Team
• Riveters Communications
• Riveters Sales/Membership Team
• Riveters Travel
• Riveters Capos/Drums/Trumpets

As always, if you’re interested in painting tifo, the call will go out for help with individual displays when the time comes.

Feel free to email us with any questions you might have. Our committee leads expect to get back to all applicants within the coming weeks. 

Greetings and welcome to an unprecedented Year 4 from your 2016 Communications Critter and 107ist Board Liaison!

Along with the ascension of MarPar to the throne, the team looks to have been gifted with a MASSIVE infusion of fresh talent and energy this off-season. We’ve got at least a preseason schedule now, and we can’t wait to be doing more than following along with the domestic and overseas adventures of our Girls in Red, wildly speculating over Twitter, and thinking up fun banner ideas as we sort paint out in the garage.

Watch this space, Facebook, and Twitter for updates in the very near future. In the meantime, a couple of things I’d love from you:

• If you’re interested in receiving emails from us from time to time, sign up using the form on the right side of this page. We’ll send info on Riveters-centric events, volunteer opportunities, and other things you might want to know about as the year progresses.
• Send me an email with feedback about what you’d like to do as a Riveter and what you’d like to see the Riveters do this year. What’s working for you? What’s missing? What are you interested in but not sure how to do? How can you help, and how can we? If it’s not in my wheelhouse (which at this point chiefly consists of our social media presence and the website), I’ll make sure your feedback/question/suggestion gets to the folks in charge of your area of interest: info@rosecityriveters.org

Let’s make this the best year yet!

-Lexi