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  #1  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 12:19 AM
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MLS In Portland?

An article in today's Oregonian talks about the potential for Portland (or Seattle) to obtain an MLS franchise. I think Porland would be a great market for MLS. It seems like the Seattle option is certainly viable but perhaps not as strong as initially thought (hence the look at Portland). PGE seems more suited to the type of venue MLS prefers (25k or so) versus Qwest (around 70k).

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...400.xml&coll=7
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  #2  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 12:45 AM
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Wasn't this topic brought up at least a year ago..... i believe it was about an MLS franchise in portland if i'm not mistaken...... but if i am, then i'm the idiot.
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  #3  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 5:20 AM
EastPDX EastPDX is offline
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At oregonstadiumcampaign.com, we ...

... have discussed PGE Park being moved toward a football only facility. We would hope a location like Blanchard or the MC would be developed into a minor league ballpark with the structural systems ready for a upper deck/roof/etc. if a MLB possibility arose.

I'm sure the locals near PGE Park would love to not deal with baseball, and american football, plus soccer.

I understand that MLS really, really doesn't go for dirt or concrete pitch and prefers grass.

EP
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  #4  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 7:10 AM
zilfondel zilfondel is offline
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I would go to every game if we got MLS. Heck, I'm probably going to start going to Timbers games too, once I finish school!
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  #5  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 2:12 PM
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seems like portland would be a good fit size-wise with MLS, and PGE Park could be a cool place to see a match too. the urban setting and transit access is great, and if the open part along 18th was filled in with stands it would make an intimidating soccer/football environment. i just hope the Timbers branding, colors, etc., could stay for an MLS side
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  #6  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 3:19 PM
Alek184 Alek184 is offline
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I think it would be awesome. Portland is known for great soccer fans and supporters. But I never feel city officials ever enthusiastic about soccer unless money involved.
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  #7  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 3:45 PM
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Major League Soccer comm. looks at Portland
07:39 AM PDT on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Associated Press

Major League Soccer hopes to have an expansion franchise in the Pacific Northwest by 2010, and Portland is a possibility.

Portland is known as "Soccer City USA" because of its fervent interest in the sport. Crowds of more than 20,000 have watched matches involving the U.S. men's and women's soccer teams at PGE Park, and the city has embraced the two-time national champion University of Portland women's soccer team.

The Portland Timbers, who play a step below the MLS in the United Soccer League First Division, also draw enthusiastic support.

On Tuesday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber took a 45-minute tour of PGE Park, and later repeated what many Portland soccer fans have been saying: "Here we are in 'Soccer City USA' and we don't have Major League Soccer. There's irony there."

But Portland is no sure thing to land the expansion team. The league might not find PGE Park suitable, and there's the possibility that Seattle gets the Pacific Northwest entry.

Garber said the league has been discussing adding a Northwest franchise for at least six months with an investment group. The investors, whom Garber declined to identify, initially envisioned Seattle as the locale. Only recently has Portland emerged as an option.

After his first tour of PGE Park, Garber said he liked its urban setting. "Certainly you've got a fairly appropriately sized stadium that's operated fairly well and has a great history," Garber said. "But I haven't even gone so far as to see if it's the best option or only option."

He added that he was not sure if the stadium's NeXturf surface "would be a solution for an MLS team."

Garber, who met with MLS sponsor Adidas while in Portland, said the league could someday have two Pacific Northwest teams.

"But for now, our view is we'd like to find one city in the Pacific Northwest and expand the breadth and scope of the league above Southern California."

Los Angeles is home to the West Coast's only two MLS teams, the Galaxy and Chivas USA. The two-time MLS champion San Jose Earthquakes moved to Houston after the 2005 season.

MLS started with 10 clubs in 1996 and now has 13. The league is expected to add three more teams by 2010.

http://www.kgw.com/sports/stories/kg...r.bbe18d4.html
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  #8  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 8:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkDaMan View Post
Garber, who met with MLS sponsor Adidas while in Portland, said the league could someday have two Pacific Northwest teams.

"But for now, our view is we'd like to find one city in the Pacific Northwest and expand the breadth and scope of the league above Southern California."

Los Angeles is home to the West Coast's only two MLS teams, the Galaxy and Chivas USA. The two-time MLS champion San Jose Earthquakes moved to Houston after the 2005 season.
Why just have one or two for the PNW? They should have three including Van BC. This region's probably one of the few areas on the continent that's progressive and cosmopolitan enough to support top level soccer, whereas everywhere else it's probably dismissed as a sport for girls or something like that.

And how do you figure MLS's operations? Why do they have two teams in LA playing out of the exact same venue, but none in the Bay Area or the entire NW?
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  #9  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 9:05 PM
zilfondel zilfondel is offline
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They play cricket up in Vancouver.
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  #10  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 9:06 PM
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They play cricket up in Vancouver.
All I know is that there's a cricket park in Stanley Park.

Not really surprising, since Vancouver has a large East Indian population.
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  #11  
Old Posted Mar 29, 2007, 9:16 PM
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this is encouraging news for soccer fans. a co-worker and i were just discussing today how cool it would be to have MLS in the northwest.

i don't see why the region couldn't support 2-3 teams (portland, seattle, vancouver), but i'll be happy with 1 to start!
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  #12  
Old Posted Mar 30, 2007, 2:14 PM
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From today's Oregonian:

Investors plan bid for MLS franchise
Real estate developer Ben Stutz leads an effort in Portland and says the $30 million fee is attainable
Friday, March 30, 2007
BOAZ HERZOG and HELEN JUNG

A group of investors, led by a local real estate developer, is pulling together a proposal aimed at bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Portland by 2010.

Ben Stutz, of JB Equities of Portland, said Thursday about five to 10 local investors have committed to a potential ownership group of an MLS franchise. He declined to name the investors but said they have the financial means to make a credible bid, which would include $30 million for an entry fee.

"It's a very powerful group," Stutz said. "It's a substantial group with substantial resources, and it's a serious effort to try and figure out how to bring MLS soccer to Portland."

Stutz, who also is co-owner of Kelly's Olympian bar in downtown Portland, said his group plans to submit a formal proposal to MLS officials within a few months. .

MLS Commissioner Don Garber toured PGE Park and met with an Oregon Sports Authority official on Tuesday to scout Portland as a possible site for a MLS expansion franchise in the Pacific Northwest by 2010. That day, Garber said the league had been talking for at least six months with an investment group that envisioned an expansion franchise in either Portland or Seattle. Garber did not identify the group and could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Dan Courtemanche, an MLS senior vice president, on Thursday said the league has not discussed expansion possibilities with Stutz's group, but "it's good to hear others are interested in bringing MLS soccer to Portland."

The 13-team league wants to add three franchises within three years. Areas other than Portland or Seattle that MLS is considering include Atlanta, the Bay Area, Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia and St. Louis.

Stutz said his group is interested in locating in Portland, not Seattle. His group also believes it would need a new stadium for an MLS expansion franchise, rather than PGE Park, a site Garber did not rule out after his tour Tuesday.

MLS requires expansion teams play in stadiums built for soccer or have definite plans to construct one, Courtemanche said.

"Could a retrofitted PGE Park ultimately become a soccer-specific stadium? Quite possibly," he said.

Since 1999, venues tailored for soccer have opened in Columbus (Ohio), Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago. The Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC, the newest expansion team, will play in stadiums opening this year. Teams in New York and Salt Lake City have planned new stadiums for 2008.

"You can see where soccer is going in MLS -- soccer dominant stadiums where the vast majority of the revenues come back to the club," said Mick Hoban, president of SoccerSolutions, a Portland-based consulting firm. Those revenue streams include sales from merchandise, concessions and parking.

The 11-year-old MLS has gained credibility, clout and a modicum of financial success lately after years of struggles to popularize soccer in the United States. The 13-team league will be compensated for television rights to its games for the first time this year. And two clubs, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, have signed multimillion-dollar jersey sponsorship deals, the first such pacts since the league changed its rules last fall to allow advertising on the fronts of its jerseys.

But most team investors still need additional revenue streams to make their investments pay off.

"You can't get by without them," Hoban said. He said he is not part of an investor group eyeing an MLS franchise.

Although the group led by Stutz has begun scouting potential stadium sites, he said it is too early to offer details of a project and whether the group would seek public financing.

Portland Mayor Tom Potter would be "very supportive and want to help in any way he could to bring a Major League Soccer team to Portland," said John Doussard, the mayor's spokesman. "But he hasn't changed his opinion that the public shouldn't be building stadiums for private owners at a time when tax dollars are needed for housing and schools and so many other basics."

It is unclear how a potential MLS team in Portland would affect the United Soccer League's First Division Portland Timbers, who along with the Triple-A baseball Portland Beavers, play spring through summer seasons that are concurrent with the MLS season. The Timbers and Beavers are signed to a lease at PGE Park through 2010.

"It's pretty early to speculate," said Chris Metz, assistant general manager of the two clubs. "Scenarios could happen, but that's not our focus now."

A soccer fan whose children play the game, Stutz said he found himself growing more and more interested in professional soccer.

"It just seems to me to be something that makes a lot of sense from a business standpoint and from a fan standpoint," he said.

Boaz Herzog: 503-412-7072; boherzog@gmail.com Helen Jung: 503-294-7621; helenjung@news.oregonian.com
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  #13  
Old Posted Mar 30, 2007, 10:01 PM
zilfondel zilfondel is offline
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Hell yes! I'm all for it.
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  #14  
Old Posted Mar 31, 2007, 12:32 AM
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Nutterbug- MLS had a team in San Jose until last season when it was moved to Houston. I think it was mostly a stadium issue
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  #15  
Old Posted Mar 31, 2007, 4:31 AM
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Soccer in portland would be great! I just hope portland gets and not seattle--no offense seattle, i love you but you guys don't need another pro team. Maybe down the road both cities would have teams and that would create a great rivalry
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  #16  
Old Posted Mar 31, 2007, 3:58 PM
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how the hell did Salt Lake score a team?
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  #17  
Old Posted Mar 31, 2007, 4:00 PM
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Quote:
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how the hell did Salt Lake score a team?
Incentives from the city? Who knows...
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  #18  
Old Posted Apr 2, 2007, 3:43 AM
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Why wouldn't SLC score a team? we love our soccer out here! Getting a stadium for next year (thanks to the governors intervention).

Dave Checketts, the team owner wanted to purchase an MLS franchise 3 years ago and since he is from SLC, he wanted to put it there.

Go RSL!!!!!
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  #19  
Old Posted May 2, 2007, 3:49 PM
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Californian eyes MLS here
Developer Michael Keston holds the rights to discuss placing an expansion soccer team in Portland or Seattle -
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
BOAZ HERZOG
The Oregonian

The owner of a potential Major League Soccer franchise in Portland is a California real estate developer with ties to former Trail Blazers owner Larry Weinberg.

Michael Keston said this week he retains the exclusive rights to discuss with MLS the possibility of bringing an expansion team to either the Portland or Seattle area.

MLS commissioner Don Garber has touted both areas as viable candidates for one of three expansion clubs the league wants to add by 2010. Areas other than Portland or Seattle that the 13-team league is considering include Atlanta, the Bay Area, Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia and St. Louis.

Garber has said MLS has discussed its options in Portland and Seattle with an undisclosed investment group for several months. MLS officials confirmed Tuesday that Keston is heading the group.

Keston, 67, said he has not ruled out Seattle but that he and his son James Keston came away very impressed from an initial two-day tour of Portland and PGE Park two weeks ago. James Keston, a 30-year-old recent graduate of the London School of Economics, would probably assume a top leadership role in an expansion team, Michael Keston said.

"We very much would like to be in Portland," he said. "We think the people and atmosphere are great and it's a place we could very happily be."

One hitch, Keston said, is that MLS would want a Northwest expansion franchise to compete within two years.

The MLS season runs concurrent with the spring-through-summer seasons of the two professional teams that currently call the stadium home, the Portland Timbers of the USL and the Portland Beavers Triple A baseball club. The teams signed a lease with the city to play at PGE Park through 2010, and the teams each have the option to extend the lease by two years.

John Doussard, spokesman for Portland Mayor Tom Potter, said Tuesday that the city is very interested in helping the owner of an MLS franchise become a tenant at PGE Park and help pay for upgrades of the facility. City officials have said replacing the 7-year-old NeXturf playing surface probably would be necessary. Other needed upgrades include boosting seating capacity from 19,566 to 25,000, adding more restrooms and concession areas and upgrading the locker rooms and press boxes, Keston said.

The city, however, has a good lease with the Timbers and Beavers, Doussard said, "and we wouldn't want to do anything that would compromise that agreement."

Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and coach of the Timbers, described the idea of an MLS team in Portland as phenomenal, but he couldn't see the team coexisting with the Timbers.

"There's not enough population to support two professional soccer teams in such a small area," Wilkinson said. "It would be great for the community, but how it could work and when it could work still needs to be figured out."

The Oregon Sports Authority is trying to broker a solution. The nonprofit group led a gathering of city, business and community soccer officials who greeted the Kestons on their visit last month.

"Now, it's really time to put our heads together and explore what we can do to make this work here," said Drew Mahalic, the Oregon Sports Authority's chief executive.

Mahalic declined to describe possible solutions but said, "All options are on the table."

It appears that a bid by real estate developer Ben Stutz, of JB Equities of Portland, to bring an MLS expansion team to Portland is dead. Mahalic said he referred Stutz to Keston a few weeks ago. Keston said Tuesday that he has not heard from Stutz.

Stutz did not return phone calls from The Oregonian, and MLS officials said they had not spoken to him.

Keston has amassed his fortune -- enough to afford the $30 million MLS requires for an expansion entry fee -- by building and investing in California residential and commercial real estate as the owner and chief executive of Larwin Company. The privately held business was founded by Weinberg, the original owner of the Trail Blazers.

A native of New York City, Keston joined Larwin in 1970 and bought it from Loews Corp. eight years later. The residential building arm of Larwin, with 43 employees, generated revenues of between $100 million and $150 million last year, Keston said.

Keston said his interest in soccer grew from the excitement his two sons have for the sport and his eight years coaching youth teams that they played on during their childhood. Los Angeles, where Keston and his wife, Linda, reside, already is home to two MLS clubs, the Galaxy and Chivas USA. So owning an expansion club in the Northwest, where Keston said he enjoys visiting, became the next best option.

PGE Park is the preferred venue for an MLS expansion franchise in Portland, but Keston said he would consider the idea of building a 25,000-seat stadium outside the city should a lease at PGE Park not work out. Keston estimated it would cost about $120 million to build such a facility.

Officials operating stadiums in Hillsboro and Gresham said they would be open to negotiations to host an MLS expansion team during the construction of a new facility. Hillsboro Stadium seats 7,000 people but has boosted capacity to as high as 10,000 for Portland State football games in 2000 and some high school football games since then.

Steve Gregor, director of Hillsboro's Parks & Recreation agency, said he wasn't sure of the maximum crowd the stadium could hold but that it would probably be feasible to go higher than 10,000 by adding extra bleachers on the facility's north side.

"If the interest starts drifting west toward Hillsboro, we'll start looking at what they need," Gregor said.

Mt. Hood Community College's stadium on the Gresham campus can barely accommodate 4,000 fans.

"But there's room for more if someone wanted to bring them in," said Brandon Drawz, the community college's assistant athletic director. "I'm all for upgrading facilities."

The college is in the middle of a $1.5 million project to renovate its aquatics center. About $300,000 of the project's cost is coming from private donations, Drawz said, adding: "So it's not a leap to go into a partnership with the soccer community."

Keston said he would be very interested in discussing options in Hillsboro and Gresham. First, however, he wants to hear back from Portland officials to see how their offer measures up with Seattle's.

Ultimately, Keston said, choosing between the two locales will come down to which stadium has the best lease to offer. That's because MLS "wants to make sure there is strength in the team and, via the financial arrangements, would be sustainable," he said.

Keston described Qwest Field as the perfect venue for an MLS expansion team in Seattle. The 67,000-seat stadium is home to the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL and the Seattle Sounders, which compete against the Portland Timbers in the United Soccer Leagues' First Division.

Suzanne Lavender, a spokeswoman for First & Goal Inc., which operates Qwest Field, said Tuesday that officials last spoke with Keston a number of weeks ago but that "right now, there aren't any specific discussions going on."

Keston said he hopes to make a decision on selecting Seattle or Portland as the preferred city for Northwest expansion within a month, then seek the blessing of MLS brass.

Boaz Herzog: 503-412-7072, boherzog@gmail.com
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...420.xml&coll=7
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  #20  
Old Posted Oct 10, 2007, 10:35 AM
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If they're going to build a new stadium a site that I think should get consideration would be the nursery site adjacent to the Sunset MAX station. A new parking facility could be built to supplement the current garage. Since Stadium use would be weekends and evenings you would have outstanding synergy. PSU football could also use the new stadium as could Beaverton Public Schools adding revenue to the MLS club.

Then Civic Stadium could become a baseball only facility which would be great as well.

One thing I don't like about the MLS is the way they treat the A-league like shit and don't even consider the plight of the ownership and fan-base that have worked hard to make the Timbers a success. It reminds me a lot of Starbucks' MO which has been to let somebody else start up in an area, build up a customer base and then move in next door. I also don't like the system in the US where there is no relegation of the worst clubs down a level and the movement of the best 2nd division clubs up to the top level. That's the way it's done every where else of consequence the sport is played.
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