Pacific Index

Attending a Portland Thorns game with Pacific’s TRIO Program

By: Ezri Thompson

   On September 26, Pacific University’s TRIO program took 18 students to Portland for a full day at Providence Park—and what started as a simple trip to watch the Portland Thorns, the excursion turned into a loud, funny, chaotic, and an honest-to-goodness day. Between the stadium tour, Treasure AI presentation, atmosphere, and game, the whole day ended up being extraordinarily memorable. 

   We left campus around noon in two vans; the energy was already high. Students were talking, laughing and excited to be off campus. By the time we got to Portland, the sun was bright, the city was busy, and Providence Park loomed in the distance.

   First and foremost, our group went on a tour around the stadium, walking through areas most fans don’t usually see and get a better feel for the place. After the tour, we attended a presentation for Treasure AI. They discussed how AI is being used to help different heritages share their stories and teach cultural traditions. Hearing how technology can support communities in preserving their history was an insightful opinion on AI.

   Walking into the stadium, all of my senses were overwhelmed at once. The large field was bright green and the air smelled of freshly watered turf. The stands were packed with Thorns fans dressed in red garb. The smell of popcorn, baked potatoes, and pizza drifted through the air, mixing with people alternatingly chanting “P-T-F-C!,” and “Let’s go Thorns!” A group of girls—maybe seven to 12 years old—sat nearby, and they were chanting, stomping, and cheering louder than anyone. As the game progressed, more kids joined them until there were about fifty of them yelling in unison. Their energy became a part of the game. 

    The match itself was intense. The crowd booed several perceived-unfair calls, and every close play made the stadium explode with noise. The announcer’s voice echoed across the field, mixing with the chants and even the sounds of buses and cars outside the stadium. Even though the game ended in a tie during overtime, the energy didn’t stop. 

   Throughout the whole day, the TRIO group stuck together taking lots of pictures, walking around the stadium and enjoyed being there. On the drive back, no one was tired at all.

   Looking back, the trip wasn’t just about watching a soccer game. It was about getting off campus, learning something new, and bonding as a community. The sun, chants, smell of stadium food and chaotic cheering section, all made the day feel alive. 

   For TRIO, this trip was more than an outing. It was a reminder of how important it is to build a community, learn together, and experience something new as a group.