The Timbers have "'fully vetted' and remain optimistic" about a $50M stadium expansion plan that "would add 4,000 seats to Providence Park," according to Jamie Goldberg of the Portland OREGONIAN. Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson said that he "believes the current plan could be viable and is hopeful that the Timbers can work with the City of Portland to move forward with the proposal." The project would be privately funded. The Timbers, who have 13,000 fans on their season-ticket waiting list, have been "looking at ways to expand seat capacity for well over a year and started to hone in on the new plan last summer." Paulson in October said that the plan would "bring stadium capacity" to about 25,000. Goldberg notes the construction for the project "would likely be completed in two phases in back-to-back offseasons." Paulson said that "despite the large investment," it is "important for the Timbers to expand stadium capacity at Providence Park to give more fans the opportunity to attend games and keep pace with the rest of MLS" (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/3).
