The famed Timbers Army may not be able to be there in person for their team's first meeting of 2020 with fierce rivals the Seattle Sounders, but Providence Park will still have some of its familiar feel, or at least sound, on Sunday night.
Portland Timbers revealed on Sunday that supporters' chants will be played throughout Sunday's game (10 pm ET | FS1 in US; TSN1/3 in Canada). The decision was made at the request of the team and the players, the club said.
While there has been much debate over recent months about the merits of piping in crowd noise during broadcasts of games in empty stadiums, the playing of supporters' chants in the stadium itself promises to add a familiar layer of atmosphere for the players as well.
The Sounders made a similar announcement on Friday, stating that they will pipe in recorded crowd noise, songs and chants during games at CenturyLink Field as MLS returns to regular-season action in home markets.
