While the US Soccer Federation mulls over three finalists to become host of the first CONCACAF Hexagonal home match vs. Costa Rica on March 22, Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson wants all candidates to know one thing: No city in the USA beats the home-field advantage offered by JELD-WEN Field.
"I very much hope USMNT will consider hosting a qualifier with us without the sod," Paulson wrote via Twitter on Sunday. "We can offer them the best home field advantage in USA."
The tweet was the fourth in a series in which Paulson made it clear that although the Timbers want to host the USMNT, they are "not putting sod on our surface for anybody. It hurts the turf and is less safe than regular pitch."
The comments come just a few weeks after reports indicated that US Soccer was open to the possibility of taking matches to venues featuring an artificial surface if temporary grass fields are installed. In fact, Portland rivals Seattle are in the mix to host a World Cup qualifier.
But despite what sounds like an entrenched position by the Timbers regarding the field surface at JELD-WEN Field, Paulson did indicate that the club will continue to examine the potential of upgrading the existing turf, including the potential "to implement grass."
The Paulson tweets follow below:
