Portland hosts Columbus on Feb. 21; Learn more about special performances and a limited edition Black Excellence Night scarf
The Portland Timbers open the 2026 MLS regular season and celebrate Black Excellence Night on Feb. 21 when they face the Columbus Crew at Providence Park (7:30pm PT, TICKETS).
Check out the full list of performances happening around the stadium plus learn more about the limited edition Black Excellence Night scarf available for purchase exclusively at PTFC Authentic locations at Providence Park.
Saturday Schedule of Events
- 5:45-6:05pm
- Sebe Kan African Drummers outside SeatGeek Gate F. Sebe Kan is a West African Drum & Dance Troup that study works from Mali, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire
- 5:30pm
- Hear DJ Aspen, who blends culture, creativity and energy for the next era of music and media will be spinning outside Gate D
- Anthem:
- Daughter and father duo Kyra Smith-Davis and Trevor Smith will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” followed by Smith-Davis singing the national anthem
- Halftime
- At halftime SEI Dance Team, a dynamic group of 15 SEI Inc. students spanning elementary, middle and high school with a repertoire that blends hip-hop, contemporary and cultural dance styles will perform
Black Excellence Night | Feb. 21
The Timbers Black Excellence Night honors the strength, talent, and legacy of the Black community. It’s a celebration of past and present contributions – recognizing the people, stories, and impact that have helped build Oregon’s communities and continue to inspire future generations.
This exclusive ticket offer includes a limited-edition scarf, designed by TK Irving, a Portland native whose work reflects the creativity, influence, and excellence of the Black community.
Limited Edition Black Excellence Night Scarf
Available on matchday is a limited edition Black Excellence Night scarf designed by TK Irving, a Portland native whose work reflects the creativity, influence, and excellence of the Black community. Fans can purchase the scarf in advance with a special Ticket+Scarf combo package (seen above) or pick one up exclusively at PTFC Authentics locations at Providence Park.
About Black Excellence Night Scarf artist Tristan "TK" Irving
Tristan “TK” Irving is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural storyteller based in Portland, Ore., with a bicoastal presence that bridges the creative energy of both coasts. His work fuses bold portraiture, abstract form, and vibrant color to explore themes of Black identity, recovery, memory, and collective liberation. Self-taught and grounded in lived experience, Irving channels emotion into visual narratives that honor both personal healing and cultural legacy.
His art has been exhibited in major institutions such as the Portland Art Museum and featured in public projects including the PDX Window Project and Brooklyn’s Art Break series.
Black Excellence Scarf
Artist's Statement:
"I created this scarf in collaboration with the Portland Timbers to center Black culture, soccer, and community. The primary pattern is based on the Akan kente cloth WOFRO DUA PA A NA YEPIA WO, which means 'one who climbs a tree worth climbing gets the help they deserve.' It speaks to the belief that meaningful effort is supported by the community because everyone benefits from its fruits.
Blending kente-inspired patterns, Adinkra symbols, and my portraits of Black youth in motion, this piece highlights unity, resilience, and collective progress. By weaving the Timbers crest into the design, I wanted to affirm that Black culture, Black youth, and Black fans are an essential part of Portland soccer’s present and future."
