Portland Diamond Project (MLB) | Proposed - Page 8

joeplayer1989 · #**141** Posted **Aug 23, 2008, 5:03 AM**

effing mariners aint cutting it man, I NEED A HOME TEAM!!!!!

zilfondel · #**142** Posted **Aug 24, 2008, 9:03 PM**

didn't they have an article about MLB in the Portland Monthly mag? I didn't pick it up, tho.

MarkDaMan · #**143** Posted **Mar 21, 2009, 3:42 AM**

that's right baby...this is the MLB thread even when we got a second major league team today!

Friday, March 20, 2009
Quick Hits
Play ball?
Portland Business Journal

Word that the Oakland Athletics could relocate their Major League Baseball franchise has rekindled the fire among Portland’s baseball enthusiasts.

Drew Mahalic, CEO of the Oregon Sports Authority, acknowledged that the group is “closely watching” the A’s’ situation, revealed last week when owner Lew Wolff announced he’ll move the team.

The Sports Authority, which seeks to bring big-time events to the state, and the Oregon Stadium Campaign were two groups that unsuccessfully sought to bring the Montreal Expos to Portland in 2004. The Oregon Stadium Campaign has not met since the Florida Marlins made overtures toward Portland in early 2006, said Wally Van Valkenburg, the group’s former chairman.

However, Portland Beavers and Timbers owner Merritt Paulson’s willingness to spend money on a Major League Soccer franchise could spur baseball advocates into action.

“If he can run a good strong minor league team and get the MLS franchise, our chances would be pretty good in the future” of landing big-league ball, said Van Valkenburg, who’s also a Stoel Rives LLP managing partner.

Supporters still hold a big trump card: The Oregon Legislature passed a 2003 bill calling for $150 million to be raised in stadium funds through taxes on player and executive salaries.

“That money is still sitting on the table” said Ryan Deckert, executive director of the Oregon Business Association and a former state senator whose parliamentary move helped save the bill. “That was the first effort of the (Oregon Stadium Campaign), to get that bill signed into law, and we did it.”

Portland officials made several steps to attract the Expos, even launching an exhaustive stadium site study. The Oregon Stadium Campaign estimated that building a new major league ballpark would produce more than 1,500 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs.

The $150 million legislative contribution would have funded one-third of the campaign’s original stadium cost estimates. The rest would have come from several sources, including ticket surcharges, seat licenses and hotel taxes.

— Andy Giegerich
http://portland.bizjournals.com/port.../tidbits1.html

IHEARTPDX · #**144** Posted **Mar 21, 2009, 5:35 PM**

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
ESPN--Rob Neyer Blog

With Fremont out, A's should turn to Portland

Well, it's official: the A's aren't moving to Fremont. Owner Lew Wolff's official statement:
"After much consideration, today we informed Mayor Wasserman and City Council members that the Oakland Athletics will cease efforts to relocate our franchise to the City of Fremont.
"I expressed my regrets and gratitude, especially to those people who shared our vision and spent endless hours in support of our proposal. However, it became increasingly clear that our ballpark project faced significant delays ahead and I could not, in good conscience, continue to lead our team down this path.
"My focus now is on baseball with Spring Training and the opening of the 2009 season. I am extremely excited about the team's prospects this year.
"My goal and desire for the organization is to determine a way to keep the team in Northern California. This goal has not changed."
This is huge news, right?
The Coliseum isn't the worst place to see a baseball game … but it's far, far from the best. I suppose this is good news for the taxpayers in Fremont and it's good news for all the A's fans who didn't want to schlep all the way to Fremont without even a BART stop at the end of their journey.
By my count, after the Twins move into their new palace next spring, only the Dodgers and the Red Sox will play in older homes than the A's. But Dodger Stadium and Fenway Park are both baseball-only cash cows, while the A's are sharing with the Raiders, and nobody shows up even when they're winning.
So what's next? As Neil deMause notes, there doesn't seem to be a Plan B, with the best course looking like this:
Wild speculation aside, what seems most likely is for Wolff to lay low for a year or two, while working behind the scenes to put out feelers for a new site, and wait for the economy to perk up a bit. Though given recent reports, he might not want to hold his breath on that last one.
I feel sorry for everyone involved, and I wish to extend a heartfelt invitation from the good citizens of sunny Portland, Oregon.

Downtown_Gal · #**145** Posted **Mar 21, 2009, 5:56 PM**

"sunny Portland, Oregon"

Since when has Portland gotten a reputation for being sunny?

JordanL · #**146** Posted **Mar 21, 2009, 6:14 PM**

During the baseball season Portland is one of the least rainy cities in the country...

IHEARTPDX · #**147** Posted **Mar 21, 2009, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downtown_Gal

"sunny Portland, Oregon"

Since when has Portland gotten a reputation for being sunny?

I think he was being sarcastic. Wow.

twofiftyfive · #**148** Posted **Mar 21, 2009, 8:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JordanL

During the baseball season Portland is one of the least rainy cities in the country...

On average, yes. But we have some years where it doesn't stop raining until July. The stadium would probably need a roof.

MarkDaMan · #**149** Posted **Mar 21, 2009, 11:28 PM**

So let's see...we have $150M from the legislature passed players salary tax. $50M passed already for the minor-league park, which I assume could be easily put towards an MLB stadium. Hmmm, seems like we are halfway there?

casino anyone?

2oh1 · #**150** Posted **Mar 23, 2009, 7:29 PM**

Oh, not a casino. Otherwise, yes, let's get MLB in PDX! Put it in the Post Office site in the Pearl (ok, I'm dreaming), or in the Rose Quarter.

PacificNW · #**151** Posted **Mar 23, 2009, 8:21 PM**

↑ I actually like the idea of a "major casino attached to the headquarters hotel" for the Rose Quarter/Lloyd District. I know the Governor does not support the concept of building off the reservation but, heck, this was once Indian territory. The casino would be a major draw to the area. Hell, the casino here in little old Florence is usually packed. I hope those who are opposed to the idea aren't doing so because of a some sense of morality....give me other reasons to change my mind because another persons sense of morality has no bearing on how I should lead my life and spend my money. The Grande Ronde tribe even stated, at one time, they would pay for the construction of the stadium. I would bet if a casino was also planned for the area hotel operator would partake in developing a major headquarters hotel.

IHEARTPDX · #**152** Posted **Mar 23, 2009, 9:39 PM**

I would support a casino here. It would help Portland diversify its economy.

FYI: According to the book Portland Confidential, Bugsy Seagal back in the day actually considered Sauvie Island for the location of his gambling mecca. He came to Oregon during a particularly rainy February and chose sunny and dry Las Vegas instead.

PacificNW · #**153** Posted **Mar 23, 2009, 10:28 PM**

Interesting:::: ↓↓↓

http://portlandarchitecture.com/

RoseCtyRoks · #**154** Posted **Mar 24, 2009, 4:18 AM**

^^ I'm glad there's another possibility for the new ballpark, and the hope of saving the MC. The more I think about it, it just seems like it needs to stay, as it's a part of Portland. The city has been losing money year after year, as reported, with the coliseum. This will have to be reversed undoubtedly, if the MC is going to survive.

Could it be possible to have an upgraded PGE Park(name?), Rose Garden, new baseball park, AND keep the Memorial Coliseum? My head says no, but the Rip City in me says yes.

65MAX · #**155** Posted **Mar 24, 2009, 7:55 AM**

MC doesn't have to be an arena. It can be a transportation hub, a public market, an aquarium, any number of reincarnations. So yes, the MC can live on with 3 other sports venues here.

EastPDX · #**156** Posted **Mar 24, 2009, 6:57 PM**

This has been a dream of some of us (www.oregonstadiumcampaign.com) for six (?) years now (I have lost count and will need to check the archives there.). This is not a new idea people. But it is nice to see the next level of people start joining in. Everything takes time to make our ideas grow. Some ideas die just like seeds in the garden. Some ideas grow into shade trees!

Blanchard as the site for a AAA Ballpark has been the dream of that shady tree for years. Some over at www.oregonstadiumcampaign.com say that we don't have the time to get this done at Blanchard (1. Find a new/temporary home for the PPS operation. 2. Move them there. 3. Design the AAA Ballpark (hopefully with expansion in mind). 4. Clear the site. 5. Build the AAA Ballpark.) Some think that the MC is the only viable location because of the timeline issue here.

But I think these steps (step 1) started about two months ago as a contingency plan as part of normal operations at PPS. Step 3 is happening now also. I think PPS/Blanchard was the primary site all along because of the advantages/logic. I now think developers are starting to see the opportunity and are jumping on the bandwagon/into the parade. Welcome aboard! Push Hard!

Two years to get them done is tough but doable.

I still have hope.

Ep (Big Boomer at OSC)

MarkDaMan · #**157** Posted **Mar 25, 2009, 1:42 AM**

^And have the schools donate their land that is currently worth more than $60M, assessed, on Portland Maps?

I think the school district should get a lot more out of the deal than a smaller house.

But if that can be resolved, then hell yeah, let's get them moved and the MLB stadium built!

twofiftyfive · #**158** Posted **Mar 25, 2009, 2:55 PM**

The day Major League Baseball comes to Portland is the day I buy each and every forumer a condo in the Casey. We only by the skin of our teeth got the city to back $70 million in bonds for PGE and the AAA park, and even that isn't finalized. The Florida Marlins just announced a $634 million stadium, of which the vast majority is coming from Miami and Dade County.

jaxg8r1 · #**159** Posted **Mar 25, 2009, 4:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by twofiftyfive

The day Major League Baseball comes to Portland is the day I buy each and every forumer a condo in the Casey. We only by the skin of our teeth got the city to back $70 million in bonds for PGE and the AAA park, and even that isn't finalized. The Florida Marlins just announced a $634 million stadium, of which the vast majority is coming from Miami and Dade County.

Miami/Miami-Dade County taxpayers got really screwed on that deal....

I'm usually one for being pragmatic and open to these sorts of deals, but the Miami deal seems ridiculous.

Okstate · #**160** Posted **Mar 25, 2009, 8:25 PM**

^ Wow that's crazy about Miami. Those Marlins have been trying to relocate for nearly ten years. I remember years ago they said they were thinking very strongly about coming to OKC. It would make sense to have big league ball here in Oregon. We have excelled on the national spotlight in different aspects such as the Lake O Lakers making the nationals more than once & OSU with the world series. I think Oregon could really hop on board with baseball.