By JOSE M. ROMERO
Not many MLS team jerseys look so distinctly different than the primary and secondary uniforms the expansion Portland Timbers unveiled Thursday afternoon at Portland International Airport.
Most figured green would be the primary color. It is, a dark green two-toned look with white and green sleeves, an axe on the upper back and a "No Pity" jock tag in honor of the Timbers Army, the team's main supporters group. Alaska Airlines, a Northwest-based carrier, is the jersey sponsor, those words splashed across the front.
The secondary kit, however, was the true star of the day – Rose City red with white sleeves and red stripes, a Rose City logo badge in honor of the city and its nickname, thorns stitched into the back and down the middle of the two shades of red used, and the words "Rose City" stitched on the back.
Both jerseys feature the club's primary crest on the top left front.
The Timbers staged a big production to present the jerseys and apparel line, using a hangar at the airport to house guests and opening the hangar doors to reveal a Boeing 737 jet on which was painted the team crest and a scarf over the fuselage.
Interestingly, both Boeing and Alaska Airlines are companies with Seattle roots, but the mere mention of Seattle drew boos at the unveiling. The two cities are longtime rivals in soccer going back to the NASL days and NBA days when Seattle had the Supersonics.
The plane rolled into the hangar, and people on board deplaned to a runway that they walked, fashion-show style, to model the Timbers gear. Alaska Airlines employees were featured as were players Steve Cronin (in primary kit), Ryan Pore and his wife Ashley, Adam Moffat, Peter Lowry, Eric Brunner (in secondary kit) and Rodney Wallace (long sleeve secondary kit).
The team's downtown Portland store opens Friday morning and the primary jerseys will be on sale. The secondary kits are available in early 2011.
What do you think about the Timbers' new jerseys? Prefer the red or the green or neither? Share your thoughts below.
These are great jerseys. I’ve always hated the way most mls jerseys were the same style in years past and the color schemes were simliar. the green and gold is new for the league and i like the red alternate shirt. i also like vancouver’s kit.
and whats so bad about them? I just want to know whats so bad about the 2 shades of color?
Everybody will get used to them very quickly. I really, really like the red/rose jerseys. Everybody will appreciation the class, history and uniqueness Portland posses.
Ryan Pore said it best…
“The thing about the jerseys that I like the most are the little intricacies in the design of both. Other clubs don’t have that history.”
Barcelona’s kits? Ummm you mean the blue and maroon? Two different colors.
Not two different shades of the same color: red and light red; green and light green.
Portland definitely pulling off lots of class here.
I love them, I don’t understand all the haters on this board. If you guys are such fashion aficionados, I suggest you move to Paris or Milan and help out some the designers there. I’m sure they’d love to listen to your expert opinions.
When I first saw the jersey I did not like them. But after looking at it for a couple of minutes, you can really see the class Portland is pulling off.
You really do have to give credit to Portland here, though. Very few teams can actually make a jersey look unique AND look great. Portland has done both here. All teams in MLS sure learn a lesson here. Props to Portland.
I think they look fresh.
Whatd’ya expect from normal people. There was one true model out there today: Cronin’s wife.
Actually, having slogans like “No Pity in the Rose City” would be “trying to hard”
yeah maybe some clown kits like RSL hahaha.
I guess people that hate the two tones, hate the barcelona kits as well? Yeah I thought so. Bunch of haters.
Ha! I’m glad we finally got the opinion of a designer. Back to the drawing board boys! We need some of those adidas tech bra-straps! Can we get some really dull color too? Maybe a slate or charcoal?
this ridiculous fashion show ordeal just turned me into a Sounders fan, not even joking.
*disclaimer* i’m a sounders fan through and through but i’m also a designer and i’m very happy for portland to be joining the league… but these are seriously among the worst uniforms in the league and they had so much to build on. conversely i think vancouver’s new kits are AMAZING and seattle’s new shale grey away kit is looking sharp as well.
can’t wait for the coming season
Those are terrible. The two tones are the suck.
I do like that they tried to be a bit unique with the Rose City and all that jazz, but yuck.
I’m digging Houston’s new Holland look–
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee233/nbrooks503/IMG_3553.jpg
This off-season is starting to look classy, as far as jerseys go.
Love that red jersey. All other MLS teams (via Adidas) need to step their game up (here’s looking at you, LA).
Alaska Airlines started in Alaska and then moved their HQ to Seattle. Nike Started in Eugene and ended in Beaverton. Adidas is German. Shall I go on? Yes, this is business decision.
Tiny url is your friend
http://tinyurl.com/
But yes, they also sold dark red scarves a few years ago too. I need $220 dollars now.
Doesn’t it seem strange to be calling out Alaska Airlines on selling out Seattle when their name is ALASKA Airlines? Anyway, I believe it’s called a business decision.
You can lob that joke at this Timbers fan any day! Nice.
They look really good when seen on the players.
http://www.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/ASnews/images/Timbers_jersey4.jpg
Those red jerseys are class.
I love em.
Love them too! Oregon Ducks and now Portland Timbers set the stage for uniforms in their respective sports. Love it!
You would be correct if Alaska Air was from anywhere in the US besides Seattle. It’s called selling out your home town.
Boycott Alaska Airlines!
I find them interesting. Nice effort.
Not the most attractive kits but hey at least it’s different than most MLS teams
Underwhelming.
Badass!
After the bad logo, this is well deserved. Awesome jerseys! Both of them. Seattle will have bra straps, very sad. Portland, Vancouver,………..Seattle in order of good to bad of the three.
Should’ve done green hoops.
Those red jerseys are hideous. In your face!
The “where is the sponsor based” talk is silly. MLS isn’t so huge that it’s got every national company falling all over itself to be a sponsor. So Alaska is based in Seattle? PDX is a major hub for Alaska and it’s subsidiary Horizon so it makes sense for Alaska. Obviously the Timbers can’t have Nike be their shirt sponsor and Alaska wanted to be involved.
Boeing moved corporate to Chicago more than 10 years ago
I dig ’em both. The primary/home kit is like St. Etienne meets Werder/Hibernian. And the Rose City secondary is a nice distinct (for MLS) version of an away jersey that (not to sound eurosnobbish) reminds me of EPL teams with second and third kits that are nothing like their primary. And the fact that the rose city red meme has precedence and a tie to Portland is a bonus.
The Timbers have sported a Rose City Red alternate uniform at the USL level for several years now. Most of us in Portland were expecting it, and it has never felt like “trying too hard.” Instead, it has felt like a unique touch honoring our home. “There’s No Pity In The Rose City!”
see here:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://timbers.theoffside.com/files/2008/09/timbers-charleston.jpg&imgrefurl=http://timbers.theoffside.com/match-reports/match-29-portland-timbers-1-2-charleston-battery.html&usg=__rbqfqLoWNa6DJCOtTECK8ar1MEs=&h=261&w=464&sz=131&hl=en&start=32&zoom=1&tbnid=c-4byMI2peYO9M:&tbnh=109&tbnw=194&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drose%2Bcity%2Bred%2Bportland%2Btimbers%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG%26rlz%3D1T4GGLL_enUS365US365%26biw%3D1132%26bih%3D606%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=219&ei=4IABTfCqJITm4AaB0v32BA&oei=2oABTZvoBZD6swO5s8XEAg&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:32&tx=130&ty=31
I’m not a Portland Timbers fan, nor do I know a lot about their history but I kind of like the jerseys. Gotta like anything that has both an axe and “No Pity” on it.
And I second what TifosiCade said about all the MLS teams not looking exactly alike. Way to show some imagination MLS and Adidas!
timber, ho!
I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised by the new jerseys for 2011. So far the “cookie-cutter” style that has plagued the league in terms of jersey design seems to be gone.
And as for the jerseys… they both look quite good. I am interested in the red, too bad it isn’t available till 2011.
It’s Christmas all year long in Portland!
Red ?
Can you say trying too hard.
Bold. The Rose City Red is VERY unexpected, but this looks to represent the in-your-face nature of the team’s support. Either way, Go Timbers!!!!
so sexy, glad Adidas is starting to put some thought into designs and effort to have teams not all look alike. PTFC fans are pleased as opposed to their crest unveiling, so all is good. Congrats from Dallas.
I love it.
I’m not fashion expert but those look awful. Sure it looks like a lumberjack’s vest but why you do that to yourself?
the 2 tone shirt with white sleeves is a bit strange, but there’s been a lot worse in mls.