Timbers unveil new jerseys at Portland 'Last Thursday' art gallery event

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers and adidas today unveiled the club’s official new primary and Rose City secondary jerseys for the 2013 MLS season as part of a unique art gallery event at the city’s monthly “Last Thursday” art show in Northeast Portland.

In conjunction with Alberta Main Street and Art on Alberta, Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri and forward Ryan Johnson presented the new jerseys as the hallmark of a special show curated by Chris Haberman, featuring original fan-created, Timbers-inspired artwork spread across several art galleries in the city’s Northeast Alberta Street neighborhood.

The primary Ponderosa green and white jersey, produced by adidas, continues the two-sided chevron design theme on the front panel mixing the club’s Ponderosa tone with white to create definition. The Portland city flag and “Soccer City, USA” motto is showcased inside an outline of the state of Oregon on the jock tag as a tribute to the club’s roots in a state that has displayed fervent soccer support dating back to the original North American Soccer League in 1975.

The back of the primary jersey also continues an homage to the team’s passionate supporters’ group, the Timbers Army, featuring an embossed rising sun along the back of the neck, while the inside neck highlights the Timbers community outreach initiative with “Stand Together” written on the neck tape.

Inspired by the unrivaled passion and pride in Portland, the club’s Rose City Red secondary jerseys feature the similar two-sided design along the front panel with rose thorns replacing the chevrons. The left chest further highlights the unique design with an embossed Rose City logo enveloping the club’s main crest.

The jock tag includes the Rose City logo while the neck taping prominently includes a tribute to one of the most popular chants heard around the stadium with the words “You cannot stop us” on the inside neck tape and “We are the Rose City” placed on the back of the neck.

The Timbers are one of 12 MLS clubs unveiling new kits during the league’s Jersey Week in the run-up to the start of the 2013 MLS regular season on Saturday, March 2. Portland kicks off the season on Sunday, March 3, against the New York Red Bulls at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific) at JELD-WEN Field on ESPN2.