PORTLAND, Oregon — Music lovers will have another place to see concerts in the Rose City next summer. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Providence Park will bring back shows starting in August 2024.
The Portland Timbers made the announcement Monday morning. Rock band Foo Fighters will be the first to headline a show at the stadium on Friday, August 16, 2024. General admission tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Oct. 6.
"This is very exciting for us, for our fans and for the city of Portland," said Timbers CEO Heather Davis. "We are proud to continue our investment in the vibrancy of downtown Portland as Providence Park becomes the largest concert venue in the Portland area. Artists who had to bypass Portland on their West Coast tours will have a great new option to consider."
Over the past few years, Providence Park has undergone more than $130 million in renovations and upgrades, according to the Timbers. The stadium can seat about 30,000 people. For comparison, Moda Center has a maximum capacity of 20,000 people.
The announcement has a lot of people excited, potential concert-goers and nearby business owners alike.
"It's gonna be a rambunctious for sure," said Portland resident Kendall Wapner. "But, you know, I think that going into games, and the Timbers game could get pretty exciting, too. So it's gonna be just more excitement, a lot of people around — it'll be nice. It'll be a breath of fresh air after COVID and everything."
"I think it's just really awesome that those fans (are) coming back to Portland and I feel like that's gonna open up and attract other people that come to Portland and stuff and have a great time," said Skyler Harrison, another Portlander.
Legendary singer Elvis Presley held the stadium's first ever concert in 1957, the Timbers said. Other notable bands and musicians who have performed at Providence Park include David Bowie in 1987, Johnny Cash in 1992 and Def Leppard in 2005.
"I don't know why they quit, because it's obviously profit-making for them. And it helps the neighborhood a lot if you get concerts — anytime you have something going on in stadium, it's just a lot of fun for the whole neighborhood," said Gary Jondahl, who has owned the nearby Kingston Sports Bar & Grill for 41 years. "I think it'll bring probably a lot more young people downtown in this neighborhood."
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