A Heartfelt Thank You to Soccer City, USA | Thorns Edition

Every person in the stands and supporting at home are the heartbeat of the club. Your love for the Portland Thorns means everything to the players, coaches, staff, and new owners.

Credit: KATU

Thank You Letter to Soccer City, USA

When the Portland Thorns take the pitch today, they will have the full support of ownership, the entire Rose City, and every single supporter.

This brand new restart led by new owners, Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, has been a breath of fresh air for everyone. The players, coaches, and staff have endured more than they should ever have to over the past few years. However, the supporters are the ones who have gone through just as much. For the first time, in what feels like forever, everyone feels like they can support the Portland Thorns with their whole hearts.

There is no experience that compares to Providence Park. Game days are filled with joy, love, and over 20,000 people all united, in their support of their Portland Thorns.

The Rose City Riveters are the heartbeat of this club. Every single week, rain or shine, they bring it. Their passion will be reignited to a whole new level this season and they’ll be back at full force. Thank you for your everlasting love, chanting, and unwavering devotion. I know a simple thank you will never ever be enough, but all of you should know, that you are the real Soccer City, USA.

To all of the fans who have supported this club by attending games or watching them on whatever platform or TV, thank you. The players give everything they have to you and never ever give up. Thank you for always being there for the Portland Thorns.

The players dream of being supported by all of you.

Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal have made the players feel special and treated them like the most important people on the planet. Thank you for listening to the players, coaches, staff, and supporters. You two are going to get to be a part of a city that loves the Portland Thorns through all the highs and lows. Everyone will forever be grateful to both of you.

When the heartbreaking news of Ryan Clarke of The Oregonian being reassigned and not returning to cover the Thorns beat for the 2024 season, the news impacted the Portland Thorns the hardest. He gave both Timbers and Thorns equal billing. What he has done for coverage of soccer in this city, is unmatched. Thank you Ryan, for everything. We’ll miss you in the press box.

This season, as far as I know, I will be one of the few “full time” Portland Thorns reporters. I wear this as a badge of honor. These players, coaches, and staff deserve a safe platform. Telling their stories and covering the team is a privilege that I will never take for granted. We at Stumptown Footy will always strive to give both clubs equal coverage. Thank you to all our subscribers for supporting us, without you, we would not have such a strong platform. To the Portland Thorns, thank you for entrusting me with your stories and allowing me to tell them.

2024 has a chance to be special, not because of shields or championships, but because everyone is finally reunited and together again.

The home opener result doesn’t matter and whatever happens the rest of the way — it feels like this season is already a success.

To the Portland Thorns: Soccer City, USA is 1000% behind you.

---

Thank You from the Portland Thorns

I had the opportunity to ask many of the newest Portland Thorns to speak about their excitement and love for Soccer, City, USA. Hear from Isabella Obaze, Jessie Fleming, rookies Olivia Wade-Katoa & Payton Linnehan, Reyna Reyes who is playing in her first home opener, and the comeback star, Janine Beckie.

This is a moment they’ve dreamt of their entire lives. That feeling of walking out to you all will be remembered by them for the rest of their careers. Providence Park is magical and there will never ever be a place like it.

---

Bonus: Mike Norris’ Entrance Song

---