Huh? It would be nice if you explained how soccer fans "saved" Portland. Was it from a tidal wave or volcanic eruption? It certainly wasn't for want of a top tier pro sports franchise. Or the housing crisis. Yes, people from other countries with amazing soccer leagues, come here and watch our soccer fans get really excited about a team that would be considered subpar in your home country! And don't trip over the people sleeping on the sidewalks while you're out and about.
Ya I call fake sarcasm. Portland has not been saved by anything and probably never will be, certainly not by soccer or any other sports franchise. And DEFINITELY not by the sold-out, vacuous human colostomy bags that ruined our beloved home paper. God it turns my stomach to realize that more than half of these rants are desperate attempts by the Merc to generate hits for some of the most bottom feeder mobile advertising I have ever seen.