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FOOTBALL STADIUM
- Thread starter 2012ram
- Start date
bigskyconf
Active member
The drawback for Hillsboro is that it is 20 miles from campus, and not on the MAX line. Difficult for students (and east side alums) to make it for game night. I wouldn't mind as I'm only 10 minutes from the stadium, but we are PORTLAND state, not Hillsboro State. We should play our games in Portland.
bigskyconf said:
Students aren't going to games 15 blocks away.
Part of the point I'm making is, outside of the P-5 level (and there's a drop there, too), there's a large decline in student interest, specifically in urban centers. Even Boise is having issues on this front.
That being said, I get one story here and another elsewhere. Has a contract been signed for the 2015 season at PP? I can make a guess that the athletic department would be rather adamant about the fact that Montana State and Montana making appearances in October means giving this season a chance at PP. However, I'm not sure if they're going into negotiations (which AD Rountree has mentioned) for 2015 or (and/or ? ) beyond. The last piece I saw mentioning a contract was in one of last year's Canzano columns saying it was done at the end of 2014, but it's JC, I'm not going to take THAT as gospel.
bigskyconf
Active member
Pounder said:
I'm trying to find it, but I thought I read something awhile back that had pretty much everything expiring the end of 2015 (radio deal, Burton's contract, PGE Park agreement). We did get out of Burton's contract, so I guess everything can be "renegotiated", so to speak.
bigskyconf said:
So I found an attachment in Canzano's piece last February.
http://media.oregonlive.com/john_canzano_impact/other/contract.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
According to this, the contract was over at the end of last month. That doesn't erase the possibility of an extension signed sometime between then and now, of course.
I get the argument of Hillsboro. More our size (currently), better parking (tailgating), cheaper to rent, etc.
In my opinion, PSU football just feels wrong out there. It has since that first season we were out there due to the renovation of Civic Stadium to PGE Park.
Call me old school, but sitting in the stands with a background of US-26 traffic going by is not the feel of an urban university. Sitting in the stands hearing and feeling MAX go by, now that is the feel of an urban university.
In my opinion, PSU football just feels wrong out there. It has since that first season we were out there due to the renovation of Civic Stadium to PGE Park.
Call me old school, but sitting in the stands with a background of US-26 traffic going by is not the feel of an urban university. Sitting in the stands hearing and feeling MAX go by, now that is the feel of an urban university.
VikThunder
Active member
Great Let's change the name of the team to Hillsboro State University. Hillsboro Stadium is awful. move out to Hillsboro and the program permanently becomes irrelevant and every home game is an away game.
CC CATHOLIC HS (2 state championships) didn't seem to have a problem with the Hillsboro stadium. Filled it with students, family, opposing teams players families & students. lots of parking easy to get to. Also had a lot of X CC alum at their games because of the west side local. My kids played at both locations, and one still plays for PSU and I hate driving to the games down town. Have any of you seen the field at Mt. Hood CC ? I really think at the present its large enough. easy to get to and plenty of parking.
BroadwayVik
Active member
This is an interesting conversation.
Hillsboro stadium (HBS) reflects where our program is now while Providence Park (PP) represents more where we expect our program to be (at the minimum). Some metro residents would have a more difficult transportation issue without the MAX line going to HBS. Perhaps a spur line could be built?
Right now, Hillsboro Stadium is primarily a car and shuttle transport venue that is very good for authentic tailgating, which is probably the greatest aspect of this location: a more authentic game day experience. Tends to get awfully chilly there, however. Best bundle up.
If we follow the single-A baseball model of the Hillsboro Hops organization, we could perhaps successfully package our program to the families of the high tech industry and more upscale residents of Beaverton-Hillsboro as the family thing to do on an autumnal Saturday, as the Hillsboro Hops have become the place for families to go during the summer. Hillsboro loves its single-A baseball, playing against places like Eugene, Everett, Spokane, Boise, etc.
Hillsboro playing against Boise? What a stroke of genius it was to establish a fit for them there. The Tonkin family recognizes a winner when they see one and so honored one of their own with the naming rights.
Perhaps that is what we need to do: Think of our program as bringing live college football entertainment to Washington County families. Of course the entire metro area is invited. If the program becomes popular and grows, then perhaps this will spark a "war between the stadia" in that HBS may choose to expand and enhance its venue to keep the Viks, whereas PP may begin incentive programs of its own. That would create a whole new dynamic for the Viks ... to be fought over.
Soccer fans tell me they don't like football being played at PP because of the effect it has on the playing surface. Maybe HBS could begin a wave for the future for the program if we package ourselves in a way clever to provide fall athletics family fun there.
Hillsboro stadium (HBS) reflects where our program is now while Providence Park (PP) represents more where we expect our program to be (at the minimum). Some metro residents would have a more difficult transportation issue without the MAX line going to HBS. Perhaps a spur line could be built?
Right now, Hillsboro Stadium is primarily a car and shuttle transport venue that is very good for authentic tailgating, which is probably the greatest aspect of this location: a more authentic game day experience. Tends to get awfully chilly there, however. Best bundle up.
If we follow the single-A baseball model of the Hillsboro Hops organization, we could perhaps successfully package our program to the families of the high tech industry and more upscale residents of Beaverton-Hillsboro as the family thing to do on an autumnal Saturday, as the Hillsboro Hops have become the place for families to go during the summer. Hillsboro loves its single-A baseball, playing against places like Eugene, Everett, Spokane, Boise, etc.
Hillsboro playing against Boise? What a stroke of genius it was to establish a fit for them there. The Tonkin family recognizes a winner when they see one and so honored one of their own with the naming rights.
Perhaps that is what we need to do: Think of our program as bringing live college football entertainment to Washington County families. Of course the entire metro area is invited. If the program becomes popular and grows, then perhaps this will spark a "war between the stadia" in that HBS may choose to expand and enhance its venue to keep the Viks, whereas PP may begin incentive programs of its own. That would create a whole new dynamic for the Viks ... to be fought over.
Soccer fans tell me they don't like football being played at PP because of the effect it has on the playing surface. Maybe HBS could begin a wave for the future for the program if we package ourselves in a way clever to provide fall athletics family fun there.
BobWoodshed
Active member
Does anybody recall what attendance numbers looked like for the season they played in Hillsboro? Were they any better or worse than what we draw now?
BobWoodshed said:
Most of this was pulled from the NCAA attendance data. I did the 2014 season by box score. Do recall that the Northern Arizona game became famous for claiming 4,083 while the report to the city posted a count of 809. I used the larger number just on an apples-to-apples basis.
2010 G Total Avg
Portland St. 4 19,579 4,895 (at Hillsboro)
2011
Portland St. 6 35,684 5,947
2012
Portland St. 5 29,787 5,957
2013
Portland St. 6 30,886 5,148
2014
At Hillsboro 4,241
At PP 4 18,673 4,468
I think you put this in relative terms and call this a wash. PSU makes a little money by lowering the rent. However, it would be wise to lower ticket prices regardless.
