The Hillsboro Hops (Short Season A; Northwest League) will take over business operations for professional soccer’s Portland Timbers 2 (USL Championship), the result of a new partnership with MLS’s Portland Timbers.
Under the terms of the partnership, Timbers 2 (T2) players and coaches will continue to be supplied by the Portland Timbers, the club’s owner and MLS parent. The Hops will run all business operations for T2, including marketing, ticketing, and sponsorship sales. Starting in 2020, T2 will play home matches at Hillsboro Stadium, which is adjacent to the Hops’ Ron Tonkin Field.
“We are excited to partner with such a well-respected organization in the Hillsboro Hops,” Timbers president of business Mike Golub said in a press statement. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to grow T2’s fanbase and create a dynamic environment for soccer at Hillsboro Stadium.”
“The Timbers are a world-class organization and the opportunity to partner with them on running T2 is something we are very excited about,” Hillsboro Hops President K.L. Wombacher said in a press statement. “There is a tremendous base of soccer fans on the west side and playing home games at Hillsboro Stadium will allow us to tap into that excitement and help grow the T2 brand.”
Hillsboro Stadium will be upgraded to accommodate T2, with the facility to receive a FIFA certified FieldTurf CORE for home matches. This is the same playing surface used at Providence Park, the home of the MLS Timbers. Previously known by names such as Multnomah Stadium, Civic Stadium and PGE Park, Providence Park was once a home to Minor League Baseball in Portland, most recently hosting the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) until undergoing renovations prior to the 2011 MLS season to become a full-time soccer stadium.