Ahead of the 2026 seasons, Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC are proud to announce a multi-year partnership with hummel, as the iconic Danish sportswear brand will make the kits for both clubs going forward.
hummel is one of the premier kit providers in world football, working with top teams like the Bundesliga’s Werder Bremen and FC Köln as well as La Liga’s Real Betis. Internationally, the brand is most heavily associated with the men’s and women’s Danish national teams as the company itself is Danish.
hummel has began making its mark on the American soccer landscape, primarily with USL clubs such as Portland Hearts of Pine, Lexington Sporting Club, and Forward Madison.
Now the Danish manufacturer comes into one of the world’s most Nordic neighborhoods, Ballard, and will help Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC continue to have some of the best kits in the American soccer ecosystem.
Check out the announcement video below.
History of hummel
hummel started in 1923 in Germany and at that time was only making football boots. Due to a poor economy, ownership changes, and a warehouse bombing, it would take over 40 years until the company was truly established as one of Germany’s top sports brands, manufacturing an assortment of clothes alongside the boots.
In the 1970s, the company’s rise truly began as they spread across Northern Europe, becoming the official kit provider of the Danish National Team and introducing the bumblebee logo for the first time. Then in the 80s, the brand became Danish owned and became the official kit provider for many of the biggest clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa.
Now, hummel has been in business for over a century and remains a pioneer within the sport. hummel has a women’s line of apparel that’s designed at a women’s specific factory, pushing the boundaries of gender equality within the sporting apparel industry.
Looking Ahead
From the fjords of Denmark, to fishermen’s terminal, and all the way to the pitch at Interbay Stadium, this partnership celebrates a shared Nordic spirit that runs through both the clubs and the brand.
The first kit releases featuring the hummel chevrons will be later this year as both Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC will release their 2026 home kits.
Written by Max Dresbach
