For more information on life in Clark County, visit www.columbian.com/portrait.
Three must-sees:
o The five-month lockout may have put off some basketball fans. But a few minutes in the Rose Garden — home of the most rabid fan base in the NBA — can make folks forgive the work stoppage in a heart beat. The Trail Blazers may no longer possess the once-great Brandon Roy, but they are currently on pace to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
Charles Barkley once called the Rose Garden the loudest arena in the NBA, but attendees aren’t just screaming for its own sake, they happen to be among the most knowledgeable fans in the NBA. But you don’t have to be able to recognize a pick-and-roll or zone defense to enjoy the Blazers. The ability to enjoy a beer or dance during time-outs will also suffice.
o Sports fanatics in the Portland-Vancouver can now enjoy games on a Major League level year-round. The Timbers’ first year in Major League Soccer proved to be a monumental success in the region, with games consistently selling out to screaming, possibly loony fans.
Besides often being wildly entertaining, Major League Soccer games rarely last longer than two hours, making the experience brief but chock-full of entertainment.
Besides, if you sit, er, stand in the Timbers Army section, 90 minutes of singing songs and pushing the limits of the human larynx will leave you more than satisfied when it’s time to head home.
o A crowd of 70,000 people, you say? Nope. Just one. The fans gathered at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field for a Seahawks game aren’t individuals, they are part of the collective “12th man.”
This is a common expression in football — the home fans providing that extra boost for the 11 football players they’re cheering on, but the Seahawks embellish the term.
In 1984, Seahawks President Mike McCormack retired jersey number 12 with the word “fans” scrawled across the back. In 2003, fans began raising the “12th man flag,” a tradition now carried out by former players and local celebrities. And in November of 2005, after the Seahawks negotiated the regular season unbeaten at home, Coach Mike Holmgren dedicated the game ball to the 12th man.
Care to be a part of it?
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Portland Trail Blazers
Regular season: October-April.
Venue: Rose Garden.
Individual Tickets: $10 to $265, with variable pricing.
Season tickets and multiple-game packages: Season tickets range from $440 to $6,556. Prices vary on other game packages, including group tickets and mini-packs. Call 503-797-9600 for information.
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at the Rose Garden box office, online at http://www.trailblazers.com, at 503-797-9600, or through Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000
On the Web: http://www.ticketmaster.com, http://nba.com/blazers/tickets/arena.html or http://www.stubhub.com.
Directions: Take Interstate 5 south to the Rose Quarter exit, proceed through two traffic lights, enter parking garages as directed.
NFL FOOTBALL
Seattle Seahawks
Regular season: September-January.
Venue: CenturyLink Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle.
Individual Tickets: $47-$394.
Season tickets: Various packages available; tickets go on sale in August of 2012. Call 888-NFL-Hawk for more information.
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster outlets or at 800-745-3000. CenturyLink Field box office open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.
On the Web: http://www.seahawks.com, http://www.ticketmaster.com, http://www.stubhub.com.
Directions: Take I-5 north to Seattle. Three exits place visitors near CenturyLink Field: James Street, Fourth Avenue and Airport Way.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Seattle Mariners
Regular season: April-October.
Venue: Safeco Field.
Individual Tickets: $8 to $65, with variable pricing. To purchase, go to http://www.ticketmaster.com or call 206-346-4003.
Season tickets and multiple-game packages: Full-season prices range from $1,025 to $3,240. “All-Star” and “Diamond” club seats range from $8,100 to $27,540. Half-season, weekend, business, 16-game and all-star club packages are also available.
On the Web: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com, http://www.ticketmaster.com or http://www.stubhub.com.
Directions: Take I-5 north to Seattle. Take Exit 164B to Fourth Avenue South, merge onto Interstate 90 west, turn right onto Fourth Avenue South, merge onto Interstate 90 west, turn right onto Fourth Avenue South. Turn right on South Atlantic Street.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Portland Timbers
Regular season: March-October.
Venue: Jeld-Wen Field.
Individual tickets: $4.95 to $77.50.
Season tickets: Prices range from $99 to $1,550, although the team’s website also lists packages ranging from $300 to $1,500 that are sold out. For more information, call 503-553-5555.
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at participating Ticketmaster locations or by logging on to http://www.ticketmaster.com.
On the Web: http://portlandtimbers.com.
Directions: Take I-5 south to 1-405 Exit 203B toward Beaverton/US-30 West. Merge onto I-405 south Exit 302B to Couch Street, Exit 2A. Take exit 2A to Burnside Street. Proceed straight to 15th Avenue. Turn right on Morrison Street.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Portland Winterhawks
Regular season: September-March.
Venues: Rose Garden, Memorial Coliseum.
Individual tickets: Adult prices range from $14.25 to $52.
Season tickets and multiple-game packages: Adult prices range from $288 to $810. Prices vary on multiple-game ticket packages.
Tickets: Can be purchased through Ticketmaster via walk-up outlets, at Memorial Coliseum, the Rose Garden, or on the phone at 503-236-HAWK.
On the Web: http://www.ticketmaster.com; http://www.winterhawks.com.
Directions: Take Interstate 5 south to the Rose Quarter exit, proceed through two traffic lights, enter parking garages as directed.
