Sport management alumnus takes his talent to Major League Soccer

Liberty University alumnus Dallas Peyton (’17) is sharing his passion for Christ on the West Coast while serving as manager of soccer sales for Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Portland Timbers.

The Greensboro, N.C. native and sport management graduate moved to Portland, Ore., shortly after graduation to begin what has been a successful start to his work in the sales arena. He started an account executive for the Timbers before being promoted to his current role in February which consists of selling on-field experiences and group ticketing packages for youth soccer teams to experience Timbers matches.

Peyton’s first step into the sporting sales world was during his freshmen year at Liberty, when he worked in event management for Liberty Athletics.

“There was almost always some sporting event that I would work each weekend,” he said.

That experience, as well as his degree program, helped him to obtain an internship with the National Hockey League his senior year. With an impressive resumé and valuable life lessons learned through Liberty, Peyton felt prepared to move across the country to work with the Timbers.

“My time at Liberty was really a chapter in my life where I was able to grow in my faith, and for that I am very grateful,” he said. “That season of life definitely helped to prepare me for where I am at now.”

Now, in 2020, COVID-19 has presented many challenges for the Timbers just as it has for sporting franchises around the world. Across the globe, every organization has faced similar worries and issues.

As the 2020 season nears its ending, the Timbers are continuing to play without any fans in attendance.

“We even talked with some employees for teams in England, Canada, and Australia,” Peyton said. “We spent a lot of time working with the fans who had already purchased tickets for games that were canceled. Now we are finally getting to the place where we are looking toward 2021. We are hopeful that we will see a breakthrough and have some games with fans next calendar year.”

A positive to this difficult season of life for Peyton has been the opportunity for the outdoorsman to explore more of the beauty that Oregon has to offer. He claims that the state is the best spot in America for nature lovers.

“The summer was a wonderful time to be outdoors and enjoy this beautiful state,” Peyton said. “I went to a waterfall with some friends and we’ve done some great kayaking, too. I moved out here without really knowing anybody and have absolutely fallen in love with this place.”

He has also made the most of opportunities to be a light in and outside of his workplace. Although Peyton spends much of his time on the job, he is primarily focused on sharing the love of Christ with the Portland community.

“When I first arrived in Portland, I got connected with the local pastor of Garden Church, and I began to get involved there,” he said. “He was very kind and invited me, a complete stranger, into his house to have dinner with his family.”

Peyton said it took him a while to adjust to the spiritual state of the West Coast. He said that when growing up in Virginia, many people would either attend church or act understanding if those around them did. That is not always the case in the Northwest.

“I feel like in the Southeast, it is not as common to meet people who are searching for their identity and trying to discover who they are. Here in this region, that is prevalent and you kind of have to adapt the way you witness to people.”

Despite the challenge that living in Portland presents to Peyton and his church family, he is thankful that the Lord has him there.

“It has been so cool to be able step into a church that is doing their best to reach a difficult area for the Kingdom of God,” Peyton said. “We do a lot of outreach and we tell people that we would love to be a part of helping them as they search for who they are by telling them how loved they are by God.”