Paulson said that the organization put additional money in its fund that assists part-time staff membersGETTY IMAGES
Timbers and NWSL Portland Thorns Owner & CEO Merritt Paulson said that he now is "anticipating that the shutdown will cost his organization 'tens and tens of millions of dollars,'" according to Jamie Goldberg of the Portland OREGONIAN. The Timbers and Thorns organization invested nearly $100M into an "ambitious expansion project" at Providence Park that finished last year and were "looking forward to the gate revenue" from the teams' first full season at the venue. Paulson said, "The timing couldn't have been worse with the nearly $100 million we just spent on the expansion." Goldberg noted the Timbers and Thorns "will give season-ticket holders the option to either roll over unused funds for missed games into next season or request refunds." Meanwhile, the Timbers and Thorns have "not had to furlough or lay off any staff at this point." The organization also announced in March that it had "created a financial assistance fund to help support part-time staff members affected by game cancellations." Paulson said that the organization "put additional money in its fund for those staff members at the beginning of May." But it "remains unclear whether the organization can avoid cuts in the long term if the shutdown continues" (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/13).
