GOripCity "TICKETS"

Due to limited capacity, tickets for the match against Manchester City are exclusively available to Timbers full-season ticket holders; the exhibition is included in full-season packages as Game C.Current full-season ticket holders have an exclusive window through Friday to purchase additional season tickets – at prorated prices – in order to secure additional tickets for the Manchester City match. Fans with half-season packages or Major League Soccer deposits may upgrade to full-season packages in order to secure tickets to the exhibition also during the exclusive period through Friday. On Saturday at 10 a.m., tickets to the exhibition will then be available to the public only by purchasing a prorated full-season ticket package by calling the Timbers ticket office.

The exhibition against Manchester City will be played at Merlo Field due to the unavailability of PGE Park. Capacity for the event is approximately 4,900 seats.
Manchester City features several top international players, many of whom are slated to represent their country in the FIFA 2010 World Cup this summer – defenders Wayne Bridge (England) and Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast), midfielders Nigel de Jong (Netherlands), Gareth Barry (England) and forwardsCarlos Tevez (Argentina) andRoque Santa Cruz (Paraguay).Read more.

Founded in 1880, Manchester City is one of the most historic clubs in England. The club has won England’s prestigious FA Cup four times, won the League Cup twice, won the FA Charity Shield three times, won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1970 and has won nine league championships, including two titles in England’s top division. Manchester City has played over 80 seasons in England’s top tier and has been a member of the Premier League since the 2002-03 season.

Manchester City kicks off its preseason tour of the United States with a nine-day training camp in Portland and makes its only appearance on the West Coast in the exhibition against the Timbers. As part of its tour, the club will then make its way to New York for a four-team tournament organized by Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls.

The Timbers have played international exhibitions against four English clubs since 2005, including Premier League-bound sides Sunderland (2005) and Burnley (2009). Portland has also squared off against Coventry City (2006) and Preston North End (2007).

The Blues will kick off their summer tour of America in Portland, Oregon with a match against the Portland Timbers and a nine-day training camp at the world headquarters of Official Club partner-Umbro's parent company, NIKE, Inc.

he team and coaching staff will begin training on July 13 at the NIKE, Inc. campus in Beaverton, just outside of Portland, prior to leaving for their tour of the East Coast.

Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini said:

"It is vital that we begin our pre season preparations in the right way and so we're very excited about kicking off our tour at Nike’s Campus.

Not only is Nike’s excellence in sport, research and product development world renowned, but in their Portland campus they have some of the finest training facilities in America. It is a real privilege to have been invited there and our whole club will benefit from the experience.

"We are looking forward to playing the Timbers as the first of our pre season matches and we are delighted to be calling Portland our home for the week. "

"Bringing the team here is yet another demonstration of how Umbro’s partnership with Manchester City is thriving,” said Eunan McLaughlin, Nike Affiliates President. "It will be a pleasure to open up our facilities to City’s squad and back room team.”

Countless athletes have visited Nike’s design teams and the Nike Sports Research Lab where staff members test the biomechanics and physiology of athlete interaction with product. The campus features three full-size football pitches, two health clubs and an 11-lane swimming pool.

The first game of the US tour against the Portland Timbers will be an exhibition match at Merlo Field on the University of Portland campus. Timbers currently play in the USSF Division-2 Pro League, but they will become the latest team to join the MLS when the 2011 campaign begins.