Thorns fans fill Providence Park despite sweltering heat
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Thousands of Portland Thorns fans filled Providence Park for Saturday night's game against the KC Current as plans to keep both the players and the fans cooler during the match with sweltering temperatures were in place.
Players began getting ready two days ago, Thorns Communication Manager Alberto Huichapa told KOIN 6 News. The players introduced "a lot more electrolytes and hydrating food and drink into their diets to prepare their bodies for the extreme heat on Saturday," and training times began a bit earlier so the Thorns could practice "outside of peak heat time."
During the game, the Thorns medical team had "ice buckets set aside for the players and cold towels to help them cool off" and there were "water breaks during the match to ensure player safety."
They also tested the field to make sure it's safe for the players.
"We call it the Wet Glow Bulb Temperature Index," Thorns official Matthew Radmanovich told KOIN 6 News. "It doesn't just factor in the temperature. It factors in things like shade amount, cloud cover, solar radiation. And so we've been working closely with the league to monitor that. We've been testing it. We tested it yesterday. We're testing throughout the afternoon."
The thousands who filled the stands got some extra perks, too.
"We came out yesterday (Friday) and we took a look, and a good chunk of the stadium by kickoff time at 7 p.m. will be in the shade. So there are plenty of options for shaded entry within the stadium," he said. "Fans will be permitted to bring sealed sports drinks and sealed water bottles into the stadium. We also will have a number of water filling stations open within the concourse for fans to stay hydrated."
The Thorns were in close contact with league officials to make sure the 7 p.m. kickoff stayed under the accepted protocols.
"Obviously we know that, you know, these situations can lead to some potentially dangerous circumstances, but we'll make sure that they're covered. We also have extra for the team as well," Radmanovich said.
Temperature records that have been in place since 1988 will likely fall on Saturday as forecast highs put the Rose City at 102. These extreme temperatures come as a KOIN 6 Weather Alert remains in place through the weekend. So, too, does an Extreme Heat Warning for the Willamette Valley through Tuesday from the National Weather Service.
The extreme heat also caused TriMet MAX trains to be delayed by as much as 30 minutes.
Even though the Thorns fans filled Providence Park, the KC Current walked away with a 2-0 win.