Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) and The Portland Timbers (Portland) on March 22 announced a winner’s tie in their “Paint-The-Plane” contest. Elements of the two first-place designs created by Paul Wright, of Portland, and John Bode of San Mateo, California, will be combined into a final design that will adorn an Alaska Airlines 737-700 jet and fly throughout the carrier’s network.

Wright, who was born and raised in Portland, used the Timbers jersey as the inspiration for his design, which features the team’s name across the fuselage overlaid against a subtle soccer ball screen. The tail boasts the team’s signature chevron and ax.

Bode is a passionate soccer fan and remembers attending matches during the years of the original North American Soccer League as a child with his father in San Jose, California. He appreciates the spirit of Rose City soccer fans and has been a follower of all “Left Coast” soccer teams for more than three decades. His winning artwork combines the team’s trademark colors with a rising sun across the forward part of the fuselage.

Bode said he felt a responsibility to the Timbers’ loyal and spirited fans and chose to honor them with the rising sun, a symbol traditionally associated with Timbers fans.

The artwork by Wright and Bode was among about 500 designs submitted by fans across the country. The winning artwork was selected by representatives from Alaska Airlines and the Portland Timbers. In addition to the first-place winners, Lee Zeman, of Portland, was named runner-up and seven other submissions were named honorable mentions.

Besides having their designs featured on a plane, Bode and Wright will each receive the grand-prize package, which includes two first-class tickets on Alaska Airlines, two club seats to the Timbers’ home opener on April 14 and a team-autographed jersey.

The final design of the Timbers-themed airplane will be unveiled during a special event at Portland International Airport in early May and immediately enter regular service to all cities currently served by Alaska Airlines with a 737-700.

Above images: Alaska Airlines. The two designs will be combined into a joint design to be unveiled in early May.

Below images: Some of the runner-up submitted images: