Soccer: JELD-WEN Supports the Beautiful Game

Go anywhere around the world and you can find a ball, a pitch, two goals and a game of fútbol. The popularity of the sport, known as soccer in the United States, is why JELD-WEN, the world's leader in manufacturing reliable windows and doors, embarked on its latest sports sponsorship in 2011: as the name sponsor of JELD-WEN Field in Portland, Ore., and as an official corporate partner of both the Portland Timbers soccer franchise and Major League Soccer.

Growing up in the Midwest, Bill Hueffner, director of development and professional relations for JELD-WEN, didn't think too much about soccer. But last year he attended a Portland Timbers soccer game and recognized something he hadn't seen before.

"Just being in the stadium and feeling the energy of the crowd, especially the Timbers fans, I couldn't help but get excited about what was going to happen in our state when the team became a part of Major League Soccer," he said. "Soccer is a universal game with incredibly passionate fans. Just look at all of the enthusiasm around the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. It was tremendous. As the stadium sponsor and a MLS partner, we believe that JELD-WEN is getting in on the ground floor of something that will be really big and connects to a world stage."

The stadium sponsorship also gives JELD-WEN an opportunity to interact with fans around the league, and around the globe, through participation in the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup.

An Oregon story

JELD-WEN and professional soccer both have Oregon roots that date back decades. JELD-WEN, founded in 1960, has grown into a global manufacturer of reliable windows and doors. The Timbers first started as a franchise in the North American Soccer League in the mid-1970s. They immediately captured the attention of the city and state and helped Portland earn the title "Soccer City, U.S.A."

The opportunity for these two Oregon brands to work together to put Portland back on the national soccer scene and inject a sense of community pride into a refurbished stadium has proved to be a win-win for all sides.

"It's extremely commendable for an Oregon company like JELD-WEN to step up and support Portland's stadium and the first major league sports franchise we've had in this state in 40 years," said Drew Mahalic, chief executive officer of the Oregon Sports Authority. "A stadium sponsorship gives the city and region enhanced stature, and calls out that the facility is worthy enough to have JELD-WEN attach its name to it. In that sense, it really validates that it's a big-league venue."

JELD-WEN Field, located in the heart of downtown Portland, plays a significant role in the Portland community. In addition to Timbers soccer games, the stadium will host other local sporting events, such as Portland State University and high school football games, and numerous entertainment acts throughout the year.