MLS Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson yesterday announced that the team will "play their home games in the newly named Providence Park," as both the club and Jeld-Wen "mutually agreed to end" the venue's previous naming-rights deal early, according to Geoffrey Arnold of the Portland OREGONIAN. The new deal is part of what both the Timbers and Washington-based Providence Health & Services "say will be a greatly enhanced integrated partnership." Paulson said that the deal is for 15 years, but he did not reveal financial terms. Providence also is the jersey sponsor for the NWSL Portland Thorns, the Timbers' sister team, while the 12,000-square-foot Providence Sports Care Center "was constructed as part of the renovations to the stadium" in '10. Paulson said that naming-rights talks between the Timbers and Providence "started in mid-2013." Oregon-based Jeld-Wen had "held the naming rights to the stadium since the Timbers joined MLS" in '11. Jeld-Wen VP/Sales & Marketing Operations Bill Hueffner said that the company will "continue to maintain a connection with the team as one of the Founding Partners." Arnold noted with Providence now "commanding a much greater presence within the organization, the issue of the Timbers jersey sponsor surfaced." Alaska Airlines is the
current sponsor for Timbers' jerseys, but that deal expires after the '14 season. Paulson said that the team is "currently in talks to renew the partnership" (
OREGONLIVE.com, 2/10).
