The

will renew their rivalry with Seattle on May 14 at Seattle. That's one of the highlights of the Timbers' regular season schedule that was released by

today.

The regular season schedule was released during the Timbers' news conference

the team's highest-profile signing during the off-season.

Cooper and the Timbers' second game against Seattle is scheduled for July 10 at PGE Park. The Timbers will play their other Cascadia rival, Vancouver, on August 20 (at PGE Park) and travel to Vancouver Oct. 2.

Other home games of interest include playing against Landon Donovan, David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy Aug. 3. Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez and the New York Red Bulls visit June 19.

"I'm happy with it," said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers technical director. "Ultimately I think it's a very good schedule for us."

Because of construction at PGE Park, the Timbers play their first three games on the road. They will play at Colorado (March 19), at Toronto (March 26) and at New England (April 2). The extended trip will be a daunting task for a young expansion team, but Wilkinson said he and head coach John Spencer aren't complaining.

"I look at it as a chance to for the team to actually get some good results on the road and come home confident," Wilkinson said. "Then they won't be nervous, but extremely confident playing in front of our home fans."

The Timbers will have nearly two weeks of rest after the game at New England before playing their home opener against Chicago April 14, which had been announced previously.

"That gives us adequate preparation time," Wilkinson said. "We'll have many days to get the players ready for our first-ever MLS home game."

In addition to opening the season on the road, the Timbers will travel for much of the last month of the season, with three of their last four games on the road. As a result, nine of the 17 games at PGE Park will be on desirable summer dates from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

The Timbers will play on ESPN networks three times, the home opener April 14 vs. Chicago (ESPN2) and both games against Seattle -- May 14 in Seattle (ESPN2) and July 10 in Portland (ESPN). Other games will be available on local TV, though the details still being worked out.

"We will televise all games that are not national broadcasts," said Mike Golub, chief operating officer of the Timbers. "We will have a split package of a regional sports network and free over-the-air partner to televise to games."

Cooper said that anticipation for the season is palpable after strolling through the city.

"I got to check out downtown a little bit. You can really feel the buzz and excitement for the team and the game here," Cooper said. "As a soccer player, that's what you want to be in. We all crave to be in that kind of atmosphere."

The Timbers have hyped Cooper, 26, as one of the final pieces to the team puzzle, a catalyst for their attacking style and – they hope – goal scoring. Portland head coach John Spencer hopes he is getting the Kenny Cooper that played for FC Dallas for four seasons before spending two seasons with a second-division team in Germany. That version of Cooper scored goals at a prolific rate – 40 goals in 90 games. Cooper scored 18 goals and was selected to the MLS Best XI (all-league) and an All-Star during the 2008 season.

The 6-foot-3 Cooper, who spent three years in the Manchester United system to start his professional career in 2004, suffered a knee injury during his first season in Germany that forced him to miss three weeks in 2009. He sustained a broken ankle on the first day of training last July and missed three months in 2010.

If Cooper remains healthy in 2011, he will bring versatility at the forward position.

"He can play right through the middle or he can play wide," Spencer said. "He can play with his back to the goal or he can play wide. Everything he does on the field and off the field is (like) a quality player."

The Timbers hope Cooper can set an example for his teammates to follow as they navigate through their inaugural MLS season.

"I feel fortunate that I come to this club with some great experience in the league and also abroad," Cooper said. "I certainly hope that I can be one of the leaders on this team and that we can be successful as a team."

Notes:

Timbers officials have said the team has sold more than 11,000 season tickets. Plans for selling single-game tickets have not been announced. ... The Timbers resume training at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District's facilities at Walker Road in Beaverton today.

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2011 Portland Timbers schedule (home games in blue)

Date Opponent Time TV Sat., March 19 Colorado 6 p.m. FSC Sat., March 26 Toronto FC 11 a.m. Sat., April 2 New England 4:30 p.m. Thur., April 14 Chicago 8 p.m. ESPN2 Sun., April 17 FC Dallas 3 p.m. Sat., April 23 L.A. Galaxy 8 p.m. FSC Sat., April 30 Real Salt Lake 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 6 Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. FSC Sat., May 14 Seattle 8 p.m. ESPN2 Sat., May 21 Columbus 7:30 p.m. Sun., May 29 D.C. United 2 p.m. Sat., June 4

Chivas USA 7:30 p.m. Sat., June 11 Colorado 7:30 p.m. Sun., June 19 New York 4 p.m. Sat., June 25 FC Dallas 5:30 p.m. Sat., July 2 Sporting Kansas City 8 p.m.

Sun., July 10 Seattle 2 p.m. ESPN Sat., July 16 Chicago 5:30 p.m. Sat., July 23 Columbus 5 p.m. Sat., July 30 Toronto FC 8 p.m. Wed., Aug. 3 L.A. Galaxy 8 p.m. Sat., Aug. 6 San Jose 7:30 p.m. Sun., Aug. 14 Houston 6 p.m. Wed., Aug. 17 Sporting Kansas City 5:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 20 Vancouver 7 p.m. FSC Wed., Aug. 24 Chivas USA 8 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27 D.C. United 4:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 10 Philadelphia 4:30 p.m. Fri., Sept. 16 New England 8 p.m. FSC Wed., Sept. 21 San Jose 7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 24 New York 4:30 p.m. Sun., Oct. 2 Vancouver 1:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 14 Houston 7:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 22 Real Salt Lake 6 p.m.

Dates and times subject to change