The Portland Timbers and Oregon-based window and door manufacturer Jeld-Wen yesterday formally announced a naming-rights partnership for the MLS club's stadium, now known as Jeld-Wen Field. The facility will open to the public on April 14 when the Timbers host their first MLS game, against the Chicago Fire. In addition, Jeld-Wen has signed on as the official window and door provider of the Timbers and MLS (Timbers). Jeld-Wen assumes naming rights to the Portland stadium from PGE, whose 10-year entitlement contract expired at the end of last year. In Portland, Geoffrey Arnold notes details of the Timbers/Jeld-Wen deal were not disclosed, but it "will likely be as long as PGE's." Jeld-Wen saw the naming-rights agreement "as an opportunity to expand its exposure." Jeld-Wen President Ron Wendt: "We like the demographics of soccer, the momentum that it has as a professional sport in the United States and around the world." Wendt said that the Timbers "approached the company about the sponsor opportunity a year ago." He noted that with Jeld-Wen's business "being negatively affected by the national and global economies, the company's decision-makers took their time deliberating" (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/15). Jeld-Wen was Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson's "first choice," though he noted that "several companies were in the mix." The company will participate in "soccer-related community involvement programs throughout Oregon," which includes providing 25 tickets "for each Timbers home game to underprivileged youths" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/14).
