In a special event at the Key Bank Club at JELD-WEN Field this morning, the Portland Timbers and adidas unveiled the Northwest club’s official third uniforms. The response so far has been decidedly mixed, ranging from ESPN announcer Taylor Twellman’s “SICK. LOVE IT!” (via Twitter) to shouts of “Ugly!” from various comment boards.
Made of 100% recycled materials, the alternate uniforms are designed to honor the Rose City’s soccer heritage, which dates to the mid-1970s and the NASL.
“One of the greatest strengths of the Timbers is the rich history of the club,” Merritt Paulson, president of the Timbers, told the MLS website. “With this third kit, we are paying homage to the teams and players that inspired our city to become Soccer City, USA.”
The “Timbers” script on the back of the neck is rendered in the same font the club used in its NASL days, and the sponsor logo is done in the same style that company used in 1979, when it started regular service in Portland.
While we appreciate the retro spirit and the honorary details, the uniform is a little bland, and the collar makes the shirt look like a tennis (or golf) get-up.
The Timbers have produced 2,012 limited-edition “box sets” that include an authentic third jersey, a Timbers scarf (made of 100 % recycled cotton), and a collectible gift box featuring a photo collage of historic Timbers images. They’re available at the Timbers store at JELD-WEN Field or online at the team site for the next six days.
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