While the roar of the crowd has thundered in Providence Park for years playing witness to numerous events, soccer, baseball, football, concerts and more, few know that not too far under the surface, a piece of Portland history literally runs underneath: Tanner Creek.
Nick Firchau, Senior Editor at MLSsoccer.com, dives deep into the creek--history that is--to explore how it has evolved over time and the secret world that few know about it:
Only a limited number of people actually know for sure what Tanner Creek is anymore. Some say they can hear it rush freely under a manhole near the Providence Park light rail station, others think it’s a sewer. Some say the water is only deep enough to cover your bootlaces, but others still walk around Portland today with t-shirts telling the world they kayak’d Tanner Creek, remnants from a DIY approach to cheap thrills in the 1970’s.
“It looks a like something you’d see out of old London down there,” says Timbers executive Ken Puckett, the man in charge of Portland’s stadium since 2000. “It’s Jack the Ripper kind of stuff.”
It's a fantastic read about the long history of Providence Park ahead of Wednesday's AT&T MLS All-Star Game (6:30pm PT, ESPN2).
Club
All-Star: MLSsoccer.com's Nick Firchau takes a look at unique history of Tanner Creek underneath Providence Park


Pride Night | July 25
Pride Night returns to Providence Park on July 25! This package's limited-edition scarf is designed by Portland-based queer, transmasc, Vietnamese-American graphic designer El Tran and is focused on ways visual art can fuel positive social and political transformation.

Leagues Cup 2026 comes to Portland
Liga MX giants Club Puebla, Club América and Club Tijuana come to Providence Park in August!
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Night in Pictures | Images from a tremendous win in Seattle
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6:00
"I'm happy for my teammates" | Kevin Kelsy discusses victory over Seattle
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2:00
"I'm delighted for the players...great satisfaction" | Interim head coach Jack Cassidy on win over Seattle
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5:03
"As a team, we feel really good" | Kamal Miller on win over Seattle
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10:32
HIGHLIGHTS | Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers | July 16, 2026
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1:22
GOAL | Alexander Aravena scores his first MLS goal with strike against Seattle
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RECAP | Timbers defeat Seattle Sounders FC with historic 5-1 thumping


