Plans? Of all the plans Portland State has- and there are many- none involve athletics. The program is adrift.
Having said that, I’m about to go off on a couple tangents that will probably read like a Jackson Pollock painting. There’s the possibility of an opportunity.
Major League Soccer is all but preparing to go to a fall-to-spring schedule. I’d still want to see it to believe it, and this possibility creates issues for three obvious no votes… Minnesota United, Toronto FC, and CF Montreal. The rumor is that they’re the ONLY three no votes. As in not Portland. On the competition front, given most of the BIG leagues around the world run on this schedule, there’s a business case for doing this that centers on being able to be in the larger pre-season market without being near the end of your own season, making it easier to buy and- especially- sell players.
Without the possibility of MLS playoffs in November and even December, it might be easier for Merritt Paulson to accommodate PSU.
But that’s not enough. The wildcard is the Portland Thorns. To this end, I’ll point out a couple things going on elsewhere.
Kansas City Current built their own stadium much closer to downtown than the really nice place Sporting KC has out near the Kansas Speedway. Up until this development, NWSL were pure renters. That, plus KC running away with the shield this year, is resulting in some interesting decisioning.
New team in Boston is refurbishing an old school district stadium and will be the main tenant.
Denver Summit is the other new team next year, and instead of joining the Rapids in Commerce City, they’ll open a temporary modular place next year while deciding where to build a permanent stadium.
Bay FC started in San Jose, but has consistently expressed a desire for their own stadium.
Chicago Stars started some years ago WAY out in a private suburban college field, then took over the suburban stadium Chicago Fire had built before the Fire decided to head back to Soldier Field… and while they’ll still be a renter next year, they’ve decided to use the soccer stadium at Northwestern. Yes, that’s the stadium that was expanded to host Northwestern football games the last couple years while Ryan Field gets totally rebuilt. IOW they’ll be accessible from the EL in Chicago for once.
As the Thorns have been sold to different ownership, I can see the murky gears turning in Merritt Paulson’s head about trying to push them out. But the PP location is prime and there would be plenty of friction from fans and city leaders. So I can’t say that such a thing is anything to bet on. But if this new ownership was already diving into a training facility to be shared by the Thorns and the reborn Portland Fire, what other investments would they make?
All this could end up being an absolute zero in the grand scheme of Portland things. But, eh, keep an eye out.
