Hillsboro stadium

[DavidKeys]

Within the article on Valerie Cleary's contract extension:

"Cleary and President Percy have established goals for Viking Athletics in the coming years. Some of the top priorities include:
• Developing a plan to enhance Hillsboro Stadium (video board, premium seating) to support the needs of the football team and fans while continuing to explore downtown options."

Geez, Louise, I hope so. Particularly a replay video board... especially if I get to run it!

 

[bigskyconf]

I for one do not want to lose sight of the bigger picture, that is getting our games back in Portland where they belong. I don't want to start getting comfy in Hillsboro, only to get thrown back on the street again.

 

[Alan1]

Within the article on Valerie Cleary's contract extension:

"Cleary and President Percy have established goals for Viking Athletics in the coming years. Some of the top priorities include:
• Developing a plan to enhance Hillsboro Stadium (video board, premium seating) to support the needs of the football team and fans while continuing to explore downtown options."

Geez, Louise, I hope so. Particularly a replay video board... especially if I get to run it!

Of course Hillsboro Stadium will get premium seating and a video board. Merritt Paulson's T2 needs it.

 

[Pounder]

Within the article on Valerie Cleary's contract extension:

"Cleary and President Percy have established goals for Viking Athletics in the coming years. Some of the top priorities include:
• Developing a plan to enhance Hillsboro Stadium (video board, premium seating) to support the needs of the football team and fans while continuing to explore downtown options."

Geez, Louise, I hope so. Particularly a replay video board... especially if I get to run it!

Of course Hillsboro Stadium will get premium seating and a video board. Merritt Paulson's T2 needs it.

There's a reason Paulson basically gave control of the business side of that arm of the organization to the Hops... fishing for premium seats for T2 would be a waste of time. For that matter, the Hops may have "club seats" of a sort at Tonkin Field, but in name only.

The video board... I can see that happening between the Hops and Hillsboro if PSU contributes a bit.

BTW... the turf replacement is already in process.

 

[Alan1]

Within the article on Valerie Cleary's contract extension:

"Cleary and President Percy have established goals for Viking Athletics in the coming years. Some of the top priorities include:
• Developing a plan to enhance Hillsboro Stadium (video board, premium seating) to support the needs of the football team and fans while continuing to explore downtown options."

Geez, Louise, I hope so. Particularly a replay video board... especially if I get to run it!

Of course Hillsboro Stadium will get premium seating and a video board. Merritt Paulson's T2 needs it.

There's a reason Paulson basically gave control of the business side of that arm of the organization to the Hops... fishing for premium seats for T2 would be a waste of time. For that matter, the Hops may have "club seats" of a sort at Tonkin Field, but in name only.

The video board... I can see that happening between the Hops and Hillsboro if PSU contributes a bit.

BTW... the turf replacement is already in process.

And about that turf:

"FIFA certified FieldTurf CORE will be installed as the playing surface for T2 games at Hillsboro Stadium - the same playing surface used at Providence Park. CORE's multi-layer dual-polymer fiber design optimizes the systems performance delivering a more realistic, textured, grass-like shape with optimal durability and resiliency. The field won't have any football lines on it for T2 games."

"It's a tremendous opportunity to ... create a dynamic environment for soccer at Hillsboro Stadium."

At least we know who the prime tenant is.

 

[bigskyconf]

Within the article on Valerie Cleary's contract extension:

"Cleary and President Percy have established goals for Viking Athletics in the coming years. Some of the top priorities include:
• Developing a plan to enhance Hillsboro Stadium (video board, premium seating) to support the needs of the football team and fans while continuing to explore downtown options."

Geez, Louise, I hope so. Particularly a replay video board... especially if I get to run it!

Of course Hillsboro Stadium will get premium seating and a video board. Merritt Paulson's T2 needs it.

There's a reason Paulson basically gave control of the business side of that arm of the organization to the Hops... fishing for premium seats for T2 would be a waste of time. For that matter, the Hops may have "club seats" of a sort at Tonkin Field, but in name only.

The video board... I can see that happening between the Hops and Hillsboro if PSU contributes a bit.

BTW... the turf replacement is already in process.

And about that turf:

"FIFA certified FieldTurf CORE will be installed as the playing surface for T2 games at Hillsboro Stadium - the same playing surface used at Providence Park. CORE's multi-layer dual-polymer fiber design optimizes the systems performance delivering a more realistic, textured, grass-like shape with optimal durability and resiliency. The field won't have any football lines on it for T2 games."

"It's a tremendous opportunity to ... create a dynamic environment for soccer at Hillsboro Stadium."

At least we know who the prime tenant is.

You all are throwing these quotes around with no links to the actual story.

Two truths that I would like to point out regarding PSU, T2 and the stadium (I don't know if it was addressed in the link)...1) the turf at Hillsboro Stadium was long overdue to be replaced, and 2) PSU has an agreement through 2024 to play football at the stadium.

You're getting worried over nothing. But coming from someone who would rather drive to Monmouth than Hillsboro, I guess is par for the course.

 

[Pounder]

I think Alan is wishing for the wholesome fun of painted center logo and painted end zones. FIFA frowns on this...

...but between Portland State not playing many September home games and possible workarounds for T2, I'd tend to think you could get the paint in if you wanted.

At least there's one game T2 usually plays just before school lets out for the summer at PP that kicks off at 11 am. Somehow, it wouldn't surprise me if that stays at PP. That's my first "for instance."

The only issue I wonder about... good turf isn't really an all-sport turf. In the latter years of the Kingdome, they had a harder base surface for the Mariners and a somewhat softer turf for the Seahawks (I don't know how they switched/converted). Soccer needs an even softer turf to mute the bounce of a ball a bit AND to allow players to cut more, to display agility and enhance ball control. It doesn't always favor pure sprinting. I know some NFL teams complained about the grass surfaces at some European stadia because it was a different feel- softer- and apparently "caused" injuries. This is partially why the new Tottenham stadium (where the London NFL games are played) literally has kind of a folding surface so that the NFL games are played on rubber while Spurs play on grass. (https://www.popularmechanics.com/ad.../tottenham-hotspur-stadium-retractable-pitch/... I wish the story in this link showed the cost of that system.)

(Whether that last paragraph jibes with Notre Dame's tendency to not cut the grass before certain games, I have no clue. Just none. So don't bug me about that... and get off my lawn.)

 

[bigskyconf]

I think Alan is wishing for the wholesome fun of painted center logo and painted end zones.

It doesn't matter if they paint the end zones or not, Alan still won't go to any games. :lol:

I think the City of Hillsboro is trying to offset the cost of improvements at the stadium. We are not the only "displaced tenant" that found a home in Hillsboro. Central Catholic has played their games at Hillsboro ever since the Timbers kicked them out of Providence Park. Also, the stadium has been the home for Century High ever since the school opened. I think they are trying to reach in to the private donations (Central Catholic), the city itself (Century), the state (PSU) and now the Timbers in order to finance the necessary improvements that need to be done. A video board is one of the things they have wanted there, and now that many schools, both high school and college, are getting them, the city sees an opportunity to get one (that will benefit all who use it).

I also heard that the T2 team averages about 1500 per game. That number is quite lower than the other three football schools including us. I'm not going to get an ulcer worrying about getting kicked out of there, at least until the T2 team starts selling out their games.

We have until 2024 to fix our own situation regarding where to play football. I hope Cleary realizes this and doesn't wait until 2023 to try to figure it out.

Happy Holidays! :thumb:

 

[Alan1]

I think Alan is wishing for the wholesome fun of painted center logo and painted end zones.

It doesn't matter if they paint the end zones or not, Alan still won't go to any games. :lol:

I think the City of Hillsboro is trying to offset the cost of improvements at the stadium. We are not the only "displaced tenant" that found a home in Hillsboro. Central Catholic has played their games at Hillsboro ever since the Timbers kicked them out of Providence Park. Also, the stadium has been the home for Century High ever since the school opened. I think they are trying to reach in to the private donations (Central Catholic), the city itself (Century), the state (PSU) and now the Timbers in order to finance the necessary improvements that need to be done. A video board is one of the things they have wanted there, and now that many schools, both high school and college, are getting them, the city sees an opportunity to get one (that will benefit all who use it).

I also heard that the T2 team averages about 1500 per game. That number is quite lower than the other three football schools including us. I'm not going to get an ulcer worrying about getting kicked out of there, at least until the T2 team starts selling out their games.

We have until 2024 to fix our own situation regarding where to play football. I hope Cleary realizes this and doesn't wait until 2023 to try to figure it out.

Happy Holidays! :thumb:

@bigskyconf says: “Alan still won't go to any games.” As usual you are wrong @ bigskyconf. On November 9th I found my way to Hillsboro stadium, paid my admission and watched Aggies defeat us. Had the experience of PSU football in Hillsboro improved since 2018? Not one whit. @bigskyconf there is a reason we have the worst attendance in the Big Sky Conference. The team is at best mediocre but more important the game day experience remains in a word: awful. Canned music, no band, few students and food a bit south of pedestrian is the order of the day. You may find cheering on a poorly coached mediocre football team playing in an unusually dismal atmosphere a pleasing experience. I don't.
I will admit that in 2019 I took in two games at Western Oregon and one at Linfield. The game day atmosphere at both was far, far superior that that in Hillsboro. @bigkyconf you really should get out more. Take in a game or two at Linfield or Western Oregon. Take in the experience and don’t worry about the NCAA classification. After all FCS with few exceptions is really D2.5
Oh, and @bigskyconf, Century High did not play at Hillsboro Stadium last year and is a unit Hillsboro School District not the City of Hillsboro as you implied. You really should do better research and, as you admonished me, note your sources. At least my statements were accurate.
And @ bigskyconf do you think in our agreement with the City of Hillsboro the amount of rent we are to pay for the use of their facilities is fixed, or is it flexible depending on the City’s expenses? Oh, and how about game/match dates, do you suppose the agreement gives us a priority there? Another, what about the cost of converting from soccer to football and then back to soccer? And, do you suppose PSU football will be at a disadvantage by practicing on a surface with one characteristic and playing on turf with another?
I could go on and on but I don’t want to confuse you.
Oh, and @bigskyconf , if you quit getting personal in these messages I will too.
Next season I’ll trek out to Hillsboro and check out the 2020 game day atmosphere. Hopefully I will be surprised.
So Merritt Paulson’s T2 is obviously Hillsboro Stadium’s prime tenant now; and, we get to play football on turf optimized for soccer. How nice. We just can’t get loose from these people. Don’t Mt. Hood CC and Clark College have stadiums we could use? There just has to be a better way.

 

[Pounder]

Last year's T2 home schedule in September and October... given the understanding that there were no home games in Providence Park before end of May (T2 had two games before the official opening to work the bugs out)...

Sunday Sept 8
Friday Sept 20
Sunday Sept 29
Friday October 11

For comparison, 2018:

Saturday September 1
Sunday September 9
Wednesday October 3 (which was played at UP)

I think 2018 is the fairer comparison now that the big stadium is available for a full year (and T2 isn't there)... and Portland has proven that, if anything, "actual" attendance is better for colder games. This means USL will probably load up T2 in Hillsboro in spring and early summer.

Consider, of course, that Portland State football is playing two money games, so there's probably a home game after Labor Day and- maybe- a home game at the end of September. Or early October.

My guess... the conversion probably happens twice each way. If Seattle is an indicator, it's nearly 48 hours to put the paint on, and 14 to wash it off. Seattle uses a "designed to fail" paint, environmentally sensitive, maybe not cheap, but probably not that expensive. They use this process WAY more often than what you'll see in Hillsboro.

Furthermore, USL has playoffs. T2 has qualified once in five seasons (and didn't host the playoff game). T2 is used more for development, not so much for direct competition, and the league is a mix of these teams and teams that operate independently. It's a curious little tournament. The independent teams draw (sometimes very well, which is how Cincinnati ended up in MLS and Sacramento is about to), the MLS-owned teams not so much.

 

[Pounder]

The T2 schedule is out. How it looks against Portland State's home schedule in September and October:

9-2: T2 v Orange County
9-12 (would PSU add a game here?)
9-20: T2 v El Paso
9-26: PSU v Montana State
10-4: T2 v Oklahoma City
10-10: T2 v Los Angeles (Galaxy 2... last regular season home game)
10-17: PSU v Idaho State
10-24: PSU v North Dakota
10-31: PSU v Cal Poly

Also of note: as I suspected, T2 has a game at Providence Park on Wednesday May 27. No times are listed, but I'd bet serious money that this game is an 11 am kickoff (it's the field trip game offered to several schools, and generally expected to be the biggest attendance for T2 in any given season). What this means is that the Hops aren't taking possession of all the games; the contract isn't exclusive. So... if there's a minor miracle leading to a T2 playoff game late in October, that might end up in Providence Park.

 

[Pounder]

So after all that’s happened, even funnier crap ended up happening.

United Soccer Leagues postponed their season around the time everyone else did.

Come July, USL went for a schedule of 16 games against only regional teams. T2 had a lot of Tacoma, Sacramento, and Reno. Until a couple signings came on board, they freaking sucked. “11 losses before actually winning a game” sucked.

All of the home games were played at Providence Park.

Late last week (after ALL this), the Timbers announce that T2 will be on hiatus, not playing in 2021. The rumor that came up from a source back east the same day is that most MLS teams will eventually move to a league that is primarily U23, basically only teams affiliated with MLS. It keeps being referred to as a “reserve league,” which is really a different connotation... and something MLS has tried before and abandoned. To me, that’s actually less marketable than the current arrangement... from a spectator standpoint (though opinions will vary there). The money will actually be made from player transfers, as MLS is already publicly planning to be more of a “seller league.”

Is that something to sell in Hillsboro? Shrug. Though I wouldn’t put it past the Hops to try going with one of the new lower level pro leagues.

 

[Pounder]

I probably should shift conversations of this sort to the Other Sports board, because what you should see announced next week includes a shift of priorities in Hillsboro.

The Hops will play a longer season.

Major League Baseball has taken over Minor League Baseball. MLB had leverage for years, but now operations will be run through MLB. The short season leagues are going away... but when the Northwest League starts back up after COVID, the official beginning of the season will be in April... well, pick an April.

In conjunction with this, the hierarchy of single A ball will really flip. California and Florida have been considered “High A,” now they’ll be Low A. The Northwest (and the Midwest and the South Atlantic/being renamed Mid Atlantic or something like that) will be High A... mostly because that’s where the newer ballparks are located. Which isn’t true of Florida (they usually play in the spring training complexes), but MLB apparently wants to bring young international players to Florida.

I don’t think this affects football. Conflicts with softball (since the Hops charge for parking) are more a concern. Thing is, I suspect this gives the Hops a far larger say over what happens in that complex.

 

[bigskyconf]

I probably should shift conversations of this sort to the Other Sports board, because what you should see announced next week includes a shift of priorities in Hillsboro.

The Hops will play a longer season.

Major League Baseball has taken over Minor League Baseball. MLB had leverage for years, but now operations will be run through MLB. The short season leagues are going away... but when the Northwest League starts back up after COVID, the official beginning of the season will be in April... well, pick an April.

In conjunction with this, the hierarchy of single A ball will really flip. California and Florida have been considered “High A,” now they’ll be Low A. The Northwest (and the Midwest and the South Atlantic/being renamed Mid Atlantic or something like that) will be High A... mostly because that’s where the newer ballparks are located. Which isn’t true of Florida (they usually play in the spring training complexes), but MLB apparently wants to bring young international players to Florida.

I don’t think this affects football. Conflicts with softball (since the Hops charge for parking) are more a concern. Thing is, I suspect this gives the Hops a far larger say over what happens in that complex.

Hops can do what they want. The Timbers can do what they want. We have a lease with the city of Hillsboro to play at the complex through 2024. Hopefully by then we will have a plan in place to return to playing in Portland, but something tells me we are going to wait till the 11th hour because, well, that is what we do.