Sponsorship controversy is latest disappointment for Portland MLS fans

The Portland Timbers began the Major League Soccer season with a dominant 4-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Once again, however, the team's season is being overshadowed by scandal.

On Wednesday night, the Timbers announced the termination of their deal with DaBella Exteriors, the team's front-of-shirt sponsor, after The Oregonian reported on allegations that DaBella Exteriors' CEO sexually harassed female employees.

According to the Timbers' statement, a lawsuit that included the allegations was made public on Friday. The Timbers ended the partnership with the Portland-area home improvement company immediately after learning of the suit on Tuesday, according to a statement posted by the Timbers on social media on Wednesday.

"This decision was rooted in the responsibility we have to our fans, supporters, partners and employees to transparently reflect and uphold the values and expectations of our community," the Timbers wrote in the statement.

It's the latest disappointment for a Timbers fan base that has recently dealt with several controversies under owner Merritt Paulson.

Paulson, who was formerly owner and CEO of the Timbers and National Women's Soccer League Portland Thorns, stepped down from his executive roles in October 2022. His departure came after a U.S. Soccer investigation into systemic abuse in the NWSL outlined the role Paulson and the Thorns organization played in alleged sexual misconduct from former Thorns coach Paul Riley.

Paulson remained as owner of the Timbers, but he was required to sell the Thorns, which sold to the Bhathal family for $63M at the beginning of January.

Additionally, the Timbers spurred more discontent from fans after reports the club would be hiring Phil Neville as its new head coach went public. Timbers supporters' groups quickly released a statement urging Paulson to rethink the hire, citing Neville's history of sexist tweets and lackluster record as a coach.

In the statement, the supporters said the hire went against Portland's "ongoing efforts to rebuild trust with their fans and the community," referencing the fallout of Paulson's controversy.

For what it's worth, the fans seem to be warming up to Neville: In an interview with The Athletic, Neville said he had met with leadership of some of the Timbers' supporters group and they all seemed to be "on the same page" by the end of the meeting.

The DaBella Exteriors controversy is another hit for a Portland community that is still healing. However, the decision to drop the multi-million-dollar partnership, as well as the process of removing logos from the stadium and dealing with the inventory of DaBella Exteriors-branded jerseys, shows a commitment to morality that will appease the community, even if it was in the team's best interest long term.

Heather Davis, who replaced Paulson as Timbers CEO early last year, told The Athletic the team will play with a blank space on its jerseys in the near future.

"We did what was in the best interest of our club and our community, as well as our staff and other corporate partners," Davis told The Athletic.

Going forward, the best the Timbers can hope for is a successful season on the pitch — and an uneventful one off the field.