Local bank buys spot on Timbers’ warmups

The Portland Timbers have reached a sponsorship deal with locally based bank Simple that will put the company’s mark on the team’s practice and pregame warmup tops, the first agreement of its kind in MLS.

Terms of the multiyear deal were not disclosed.

The Portland Timbers are the first MLS team to sign a sponsor for their practice and pregame warmup tops.



MLS allowed teams to have front-of-jersey advertising beginning with the 2007 season. The Timbers renewed their jersey sponsorship with Alaska Airlines in October, the only jersey sponsor the team has had since its debut 2011 season. Mike Golub, president of business operations for the Timbers, said the idea to bring on Simple as a practice and pregame sponsor came out of those renewal discussions with Alaska Airlines.

“When we started our discussions with them regarding a renewal, we mentioned the possibility of spinning out the training gear as well,” Golub said. “During the process of negotiations, we worked with them to offer more assets elsewhere and give us the ability to free up that category.”

The Timbers quickly turned to Simple for the new business. The Portland-based all-electronic consumer banking services provider is a subsidiary of BBVA.

“The fact that the Timbers are the first team to try this type of sponsorship with a training kit is exciting for us, as we share that enthusiasm for things that are creative and a bit disruptive to what you might expect,” said Simple spokeswoman Krista Berlincourt.

In addition to branding the training and warmup gear, Simple will have branding on ATMs in Providence Park. The bank also will sponsor a community service week as well as a preseason tournament that the Timbers host.

“Hopefully this will be the precursor for more MLS teams to have similar deals,” Golub said. “It’s obviously different than a traditional jersey deal, but it’s a great chance for exposure and provides the ability to also have the products at retail.”