You may have noticed that the Timbers have played with a very barren jersey recently, with only the Timbers logo encapsulating the center. A recent fallout between the Timbers and their sponsor company, DeBella, where a flurry of allegations was charged against the company’s CEO, Donnie McMillian Jr., caused outrage from both fans and the Timbers organization. On Feb. 28, the Timbers terminated their relationship with DeBella and were left sponsor-less in the middle of an MLS season. 

The Timbers jerseys, a blank canvas, left the administration scrambling for a new sponsor. As of May 12, the Timbers are now sponsored by the Oregon-based dairy company of Tillamook. “We are absolutely thrilled to bring these two iconic Oregon brands together and to celebrate our state in such a unique way through this expanded partnership,” said Timbers CEO Heather Davis in an official statement. “Tillamook is a brand that truly represents the best of Oregon, and the Portland Timbers are incredibly proud to wear the Tillamook name on our jerseys.”

Established in 1909, Tillamook is well known by Oregonians for its delicious dairy products including ice cream and cheeses. The local company based in Tillamook, OR, is now on one of this state’s biggest stages and is the face of one of Oregon’s most iconic sports teams. 

This isn’t the first time that Tillamook has appeared in Providence Park — as the company has been heavily involved with the Timbers since 2014. Tillamook signs can be seen around the stadium as well as in concession stands with their ‘Cheddar Baby Loaf’ dish and the Tillamook grills that bring iconic Tillamook cheese concessions to fans. 

With Tillamook’s new sponsorship, the certified B Corporation is pledging money and donations to the Timbers’ program of Timbers Fields for All. This program helps bring soccer and futsal courts to rural areas in under-served communities. The program has vowed to begin setting up soccer fields around rural Oregon starting in 2025. 

Now with a brand new kit, the Timbers jerseys are looking sleeker than ever before with Tillamook’s neat cursive painting the front. The Timbers have been through a lot of changes this past season, but it’s exciting to see a new local face for the soccer team and fans alike. “We’re excited to expand our relationship with the Portland Timbers, and this is truly a result of the fans. When the Timbers began looking for a new jersey sponsor, we received dozens upon dozens of comments from fans pleading with Tillamook to become the jersey sponsor,” said Kate Boltin, Vice President of Marketing at Tillamook, in an official statement. “It will always be important to us to support our home state of Oregon, and the time felt right to further invest in our longstanding partnership with the Timbers, do some good for the community and show appreciation to the fans.”