It must be difficult balancing two first teams — a men's team and a women's team — under the umbrella of the same club, but that's what the Portland Timbers and Thorns, and their various associate personnel, have to do to make their business work.
CONCACAF examined this relationship in a recent documentary, the latest in their Beyond The Pitch series. (The first two, on Liga MX and operations leading up to a CONCACAF Champions League match, respectively, can be seen here and here.)
The Timbers and Thorns share the same owner and much of the same business personnel and facilities. Both clubs have had success in recent years and have passionate fan-bases, a byproduct of the clubs being based in Portland, one of the most soccer-crazed cities in the U.S.
It surely can't be easy to balance the needs of two by-and-large separate teams within one organization, but somehow the Timbers and Thorns make it work.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
