Late Wednesday afternoon the Portland, Oregon, city leaders voted in favor of a financial package that will aid Merritt Paulson, owner of minor league baseball's Portland Beavers and the United Soccer League's (USL) Portland Timbers, in his effort to bring an MLS team to the city.
According to an earlier article in the Oregonian, as part of the agreement "Paulson is also required to give $100,000 a year to nonprofit youth sports groups, 30 percent of which must be used for field improvements. He also agreed to hold an annual open tryout for soccer players who aspire to be on the Timbers; give local high school teams free access for practices at both stadiums; hold an annual Special Olympics event at one of the stadiums; make the stadiums available for community events at least three times a year."
The vote and hearings were contentious and there are a few financial holes left to fill. It appears, however, that a rich soccer tradition in Portland will continue to grow; from the first edition of the Timbers in the NASL to the successful women's and men's programs at the University of Portland, and now to the possibility of an MLS team, the City of Roses loves it some futbol.
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