Timbers to face New York Red Bulls at JELD-WEN Field in 2013 Season Opener

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers will play host to the New York Red Bulls in their 2013 season opener at JELD-WEN Field on Sunday, March 3, it was announced today as MLS unveiled the home openers for all 19 teams. Kickoff time and broadcast information for the Timbers’ first game and the balance of their 34-game, regular-season schedule for 2013 will be announced at a later date.

The league’s 18th season will kick off Saturday, March 2, with six matches and will continue that same weekend with three games on Sunday, March 3, including the Timbers third MLS season opener.

It marks the second straight season the Timbers have opened at home. Portland is 2-0-0 in home openers since joining MLS, defeating the Chicago Fire 4-2 at JELD-WEN Field on April 14, 2011, and beating the Philadelphia Union 3-1 in Portland on March 12, 2012.

It will be New York’s first trip to JELD-WEN Field since the 2011 season when the two clubs played to a 3-3 draw on June 19 that year. The Red Bulls finished the 2012 season with a 16-9-9 (57pts) record, good for third place in the Eastern Conference.

Dates and matchups for the 2013 MLS regular-season home openers are below.

WEEK 1
Saturday, March 2: 
Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City (PPL Park)
FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids (FC Dallas Stadium)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC (BC Place)
Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Montreal Impact (CenturyLink Field)
Chivas USA vs. Columbus Crew (The Home Depot Center)

Sunday, March 3: 
LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire (The Home Depot Center)
Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls (JELD-WEN Field)
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (Buck Shaw Stadium)

WEEK 2
Saturday, March 9: 
Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (TBD)
D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake (RFK Stadium)
Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Park)

WEEK 3
Saturday, March 16: 
New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United (Red Bull Arena)
Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire (LiveStrong Sporting Park)
Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC (Olympic Stadium)
Columbus Crew vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Crew Stadium)

WEEK 4
Saturday, March 23: 
New England Revolution vs. FC Dallas (Gillette Stadium)