BEAVERTON, Ore. – When the t-shirts were made, they carried a tone of inspiration: the phrase Guerreros del viaje – roughly translated as road warriors – on the front; the mileage, duration and number of games in the Portland Timbers’ season-opening road trip stacked down the back. The gold letters on black fabric implied something simple: that the misfortunate of el viaje, the trip, could also serve as a cause for cohesion.
It’s not like the team had much of a choice. With their home stadium, Providence Park, enduring the final phase of a two-year renovation – one which expanded its capacity by around 25 percent, to 25,218 – home games wouldn’t be an option until June.