PORTLAND, Ore. – With the start of their inaugural season next weekend, the Portland Timbers U-23s opened preseason training camp Saturday at PGE Park and announced the final details regarding their inaugural season in the Premier Development League.

The Timbers U-23s’ home schedule includes three matches at PGE Park and five games at other venues throughout the greater-Portland area. On Saturday, the team named its alternate home venues and official match kickoff times. The Timbers U-23s play their first game of the season on Saturday, May 9, against the Victoria Highlanders at the Tualatin Hills Recreation Center in Beaverton, Ore., at 7 p.m.

Full-season tickets for the Timbers U-23s’ 2009 campaign, including all eight home matches, are available for $15 by calling the Timbers office at (503) 553-5428. Current Timbers first team season-ticket holders can purchase a Timbers U-23s season ticket for $10.
Single-game tickets for Timbers U-23s’ three games at PGE Park are general admission and available for $10 through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Single-game tickets for each of the team’s matches held at alternate venues will be available through each match’s host organization; visit www.portlandtimbers.com for more information.

The Timbers U-23s began their preparation for the upcoming season Saturday with the team’s first official preseason training at PGE Park. The team’s player pool on Saturday consisted of committed players and trialists. The team’s opening-match roster will be announced at a later date.

The Timbers U-23s compete in the PDL’s 10-team Northwest Division and serve as a development team for the Timbers’ first team, which competes in the USL First Division. The PDL is North America's top amateur league for players 23 years of age and younger and serves as a ground for elite and up-and-coming players.