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PGE Park, Lents, Paulson, etc. Debate

61chad

Member
what well the max Capacity be after the upgrade it for MLS?
when well it be done?
you think it well help PSU get up to D1A football?
any one got any pics of what it well look like?
 
61chad said:
what well the max Capacity be after the upgrade it for MLS?
when well it be done?
you think it well help PSU get up to D1A football?
any one got any pics of what it well look like?

The new capacity will be anywhere from 20,000 to 26,000 from what I understand. I think they are still finalizing the seating configuration and final capacity. Some of it depends on how they handle luxury suites and the eatery.

http://www.mlstoportland.com/templates/template2/?page=17
 
ManOfVision said:
61chad said:
what well the max Capacity be after the upgrade it for MLS?
when well it be done?
you think it well help PSU get up to D1A football?
any one got any pics of what it well look like?

The new capacity will be anywhere from 20,000 to 26,000 from what I understand. I think they are still finalizing the seating configuration and final capacity. Some of it depends on how they handle luxury suites and the eatery.

http://www.mlstoportland.com/templates/template2/?page=17

i was hoping it would be around 30,000+ so maybe we could get Oregon or Oregon state to come play us in p-town.
 
61chad said:
ManOfVision said:
61chad said:
what well the max Capacity be after the upgrade it for MLS?
when well it be done?
you think it well help PSU get up to D1A football?
any one got any pics of what it well look like?

The new capacity will be anywhere from 20,000 to 26,000 from what I understand. I think they are still finalizing the seating configuration and final capacity. Some of it depends on how they handle luxury suites and the eatery.

http://www.mlstoportland.com/templates/template2/?page=17

i was hoping it would be around 30,000+ so maybe we could get Oregon or Oregon state to come play us in p-town.

The website to which I linked lists 25,000 as the new capacity. To get much higher than that, they'd need a second deck or relocation of the MAC. I wouldn't say those things are impossible, but I wouldn't hold my breath on them happening anytime in the next 20 years.
 
If MLS has a enough support and demand in Portland then seating in PGE Park will be increased to 30,000+
 
One of the things mentioned to me in the task force meeting is that some of the west side seating is going to go... in favor of luxury suites that will make more money than the current ones jammed in the corner. It's not just the money... the 2000 renovation removed all of the access points (save one inadequte stairwell for emergencies) on 20th. Everyone now enters on the corner of Morrison and 20th. That's traffic hell in an emergency. The smoking area is insufficient for this purpose.

(Of note: Timbers Army seeks to use a couple floors of the current corner suites for the pub, with all the scarves and other momentos gathered over the years.)

However, with no dugouts, expect a handful more rows near field level.

Then, obviously, the east side will have stands... and possibly suites as well.

Because there's no longer a need for the warning track, the field can be pushed over towards the west, making for better overall viewing, and more seats on the east side.

One other thing of note- Timbers Army is pushing for a standing area; nobody sits in and around Section 107, and the seats often get in the way of the mass pogo that happens a few times a game. The compromise may involve either a concept called "combi-seats" (which fold more cleanly to the far back) or removable rows of seats... many European stadia still have standing areas, which cannot be used if you qualify for Champions League or UEFA Cup, so some teams turn to these solutions to accomodate both desires. Just a thought when it comes to a possibly more active student section at PSU games.
 
Pounder said:
One of the things mentioned to me in the task force meeting is that some of the west side seating is going to go... in favor of luxury suites that will make more money than the current ones jammed in the corner. It's not just the money... the 2000 renovation removed all of the access points (save one inadequte stairwell for emergencies) on 20th. Everyone now enters on the corner of Morrison and 20th. That's traffic hell in an emergency. The smoking area is insufficient for this purpose.

(Of note: Timbers Army seeks to use a couple floors of the current corner suites for the pub, with all the scarves and other momentos gathered over the years.)

However, with no dugouts, expect a handful more rows near field level.

Then, obviously, the east side will have stands... and possibly suites as well.

Because there's no longer a need for the warning track, the field can be pushed over towards the west, making for better overall viewing, and more seats on the east side.

One other thing of note- Timbers Army is pushing for a standing area; nobody sits in and around Section 107, and the seats often get in the way of the mass pogo that happens a few times a game. The compromise may involve either a concept called "combi-seats" (which fold more cleanly to the far back) or removable rows of seats... many European stadia still have standing areas, which cannot be used if you qualify for Champions League or UEFA Cup, so some teams turn to these solutions to accomodate both desires. Just a thought when it comes to a possibly more active student section at PSU games.

I thought it was north side seating slated to go, or is that for an eatery?

I'm really curious to see what, if anything is done with the south end. I'd like to see better use made of that space. It seems like you could place a few seats there with a larger video board or something.
 
First off, nice picnic with Timbers Army and the team Saturday. This led to some corrections of stuff I heard and mentioned here earlier.

BTW... they're still planning on a multi-level restaurant at the north end... probably with a membership pub as well for the Army. Using the corner suites for part of that appears to be a non-starter. Whatever saves on the cost of renovation at this point.

Gavin Wilkinson used the number 24,000. That tells me they may not remove any (or at least much) of the west side stand, while they put new suites over on the east side along with new stands. I do think the fence on 18th will either completely or mostly go away.

The team wants to hold open the possibility of a grass surface, and because of that, they may NOT move the field too far to the west (sunlight). They probably won't convert to grass during the renovation. (I'd extend that to almost certainly won't)

There are limits to what can be done to the south end... the access road must remain, the MAC still owns some of the land there, and the MAC will have none of teams painting or placing any sort of thing on their wall. However, the Timbers talk about tables and the like on a platform... pretty much a raised version of the current Widmer "patio" at field level.
 
Pounder said:
First off, nice picnic with Timbers Army and the team Saturday. This led to some corrections of stuff I heard and mentioned here earlier.

BTW... they're still planning on a multi-level restaurant at the north end... probably with a membership pub as well for the Army. Using the corner suites for part of that appears to be a non-starter. Whatever saves on the cost of renovation at this point.

Gavin Wilkinson used the number 24,000. That tells me they may not remove any (or at least much) of the west side stand, while they put new suites over on the east side along with new stands. I do think the fence on 18th will either completely or mostly go away.

The team wants to hold open the possibility of a grass surface, and because of that, they may NOT move the field too far to the west (sunlight). They probably won't convert to grass during the renovation. (I'd extend that to almost certainly won't)

There are limits to what can be done to the south end... the access road must remain, the MAC still owns some of the land there, and the MAC will have none of teams painting or placing any sort of thing on their wall. However, the Timbers talk about tables and the like on a platform... pretty much a raised version of the current Widmer "patio" at field level.

I've noticed that the Crew have something like a raised platform behind one of their goals in Columbus. I'm not sure what they use it for other than their cheerleaders, but it seems like you could mount something like over the access road and use it as some kind of flex space.
 
That's mostly a concert stage in Columbus. The stadia for Chicago Fire and FC Dallas have stages as well. They're prepped for relatively big concerts... and in Chicago and Dallas (larger markets), that might make sense.

Concerts are a waning business overall. Concerts were something I was touting at the start, but in the task force, mention was made of the industry decline. I'm not sure Portland can go full bore with a stage. We'll see.
 
Pounder said:
That's mostly a concert stage in Columbus. The stadia for Chicago Fire and FC Dallas have stages as well. They're prepped for relatively big concerts... and in Chicago and Dallas (larger markets), that might make sense.

Concerts are a waning business overall. Concerts were something I was touting at the start, but in the task force, mention was made of the industry decline. I'm not sure Portland can go full bore with a stage. We'll see.

Makes total sense. I'm more concerned with it just looking better, anyway. I wish there was some way to make the MAC facade (or the space between it and the south goal) look a little more finished.
 
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/06/house_endorses_money_for_socce.html

House has passed, the Senate must do the same...

...and the Gov only needs to not veto it.

I strongly suggest you add comments if you wish to see this pass.
 
A majority of city council now favors decoupling the soccer and baseball issues.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/06/portland_will_pursue_soccer_re.html

This will allow PGE Park renovations to get approved, then moving, while the city (and likely other metro area locales) consider baseball separately.
 
Pounder said:
A majority of city council now favors decoupling the soccer and baseball issues.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/06/portland_will_pursue_soccer_re.html

This will allow PGE Park renovations to get approved, then moving, while the city (and likely other metro area locales) consider baseball separately.

It is about time these two issues were decoupled. The same thing should have taken place a year ago. Only in Portland would people even consider risking the loss of a top flight franchise to keep a minor league team. I will be so happy when they are finally moving dirt on the PGE renovation. The Timbers, PSU, and the city will all be better off for it.
 
Can we all say "politics" together!

Clash tosses soccer, baseball plans up in the air
UPDATE • City Commissioner Randy Leonard threatens to vote against soccer plan

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=124544044969890700
 
There's politics, and then there's Randy Leonard.

Thing is, the story of a blowup between Leonard and Paulson always seems to come out just before the solution does. I'd say this is another sign that things are close... again.
 

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