PGE Park Possibility

[Pounder]

Please note the following pro-Timbers blog entry. Scroll down for Merritt Paulson's designs on PGE Park...

http://www.urbanhonking.com/truefan/2008/03/merritt_teases.html

...not to mention who might be coming to PGE Park this year...

http://timbers.theoffside.com/player-news/wicks-earns-senior-spot-with-galaxy-jordan-to-sign-developmental-contract.html

Paulson obviously needs investors and/or the city for the stadium expansion to happen.

I'm going to ask my Eugene buddy to scan in whatever he has on the ORIGINAL design of Multnomah Stadium. A vision more than 80 years old might actually come to pass soon.

 

[ManOfVision]

Thanks for posting that. For some time, I've been making the argument that PSU fans should be full supporters of Paulson and the MLS because it is our best hope of getting a stadium upgrade. Nice to hear that Paulson and PSU have at least discussed a united front.

 

[VikThunder1]

I saw a posting like that on www.soccercityusa.com too.

"He's (Merritt Paulson) done his financial and feasibility legwork, and is in ongoing discussions with local politicians, business folk, and MLS hierarchy about bringing an MLS team to Portland. Part of this development would include 1) a permanent stand on the east side of PGE Park, making the stadium a horseshoe for MLS, 2) a cohabitation agreement with PSU football to use the renovated PGE Park, and 3) the Beavers playing in a newly constructed 8,000-10,000 seat stadium somewhere else."

The Multnomah Athletic Club had an article in their magazine around the time of the stadium remodel that discussed the original design of the stadium. It showed the facility as a completed horseshoe. It'd be cool to see that posted here.

 

[5thAvenueVik]

This is just what the doctor ordered! Better usage for PGE Park and an expandable minor league baseball park in a new location. Completing the horseshoe (or the inverted 'U') by filling in the Eastside Grandstands is just what the Summer tenants Portland Timbers and Atumnal tenants Portland State Vikings need. The Timbers and Vikings are a natural alliance match and best use tenants for the stadium.

Is there good use for the horseshoe stadium come Winter and Spring? Only the Spring Game comes to mind. Perhaps some Spring soccer exhibitions. Concerts? Absolutely. Football sping practice. Even political rallies.

With the cover overhang completed on the eastside, a removable aluminum rod configuration could be secured to connect overhead between both overhangs to cover the field---it having an overhead slopeage to ensure water run-off on to the roof to drain out the roof gutters and a light colored tenting material snugly fitted over it to bring the entire stadium under cover against inclimate weather.

 

[ManOfVision]

http://www.oregonlive.com/soccer/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1209525940199200.xml&coll=7

Things are moving along and PSU fans should do everything they can to help the Timbers out.

One question I have is about the timeline. I'm assuming that MLS wouldn't grant Portland a team without the stadium financing in place first. Would the local funding only kick in after the expansion team was awarded, similar to the MLB2PDX legislation that was passed but won't ever take effect until there is a team to use it?

 

[VikThunder1]

Task force says yes to MLS which would mean upgrades for PGE Park making it more football friendly.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/03/soccer_task_force_says_play...

This would be huge for PSU football!

 

[pdxfan]

With all the talk about MLS this week, no one seems to mention PSU using the renovated field. But at least one source said MLS requires a soccer-dedicated field. Are you sure PSU football is included? Have we been involved in the negotiations? Has our AD said anything about this?

 

[martymoose]

With all the talk about MLS this week, no one seems to mention PSU using the renovated field. But at least one source said MLS requires a soccer-dedicated field. Are you sure PSU football is included? Have we been involved in the negotiations? Has our AD said anything about this?

Yes, yes, and yes. Check the MLS to Portland thread.

 

[VikThunder1]

With all the talk about MLS this week, no one seems to mention PSU using the renovated field. But at least one source said MLS requires a soccer-dedicated field. Are you sure PSU football is included? Have we been involved in the negotiations? Has our AD said anything about this?

Yes, yes, and yes. Check the MLS to Portland thread.

Yes, the Timbers fans have been wondering why PSU and its fans aren't more vocal.

http://www.soccercityusa.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1236281864

When the proposal was first announced, our AD was right there with support.

MLS prefers soccer specific stadiums. They'd prefer them to be owned by the club. However, there are plenty of teams like the Seattle Sounders who will be sharing with football teams.

 

[Pounder]

You will probably read today, tomorrow, over the weekend that talks have broken down.

Thing is, compare the headline to the article... http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/03/major_league_soccer_talks_brea.html
Something is not right here.

http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/02/daily77.html

The Paulson quote is not in this article... it includes where he already agreed to guarantee the bonds, AND says he will contribute direct funding to the project. Not to mention that the Rose Quarter will apparently be the ballpark site.

Let's just say that the contractor who gave revised estimates offered a guaranteed maximum bid, given that I sat in on task force meetings and heard it with my own ears. Concerns about cost overruns are therefore probably non-existant.

I get the sense that this is going to happen. I get the sense that we're watching a little theater. Enjoy.

 

[ManOfVision]

You will probably read today, tomorrow, over the weekend that talks have broken down.

Thing is, compare the headline to the article... http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/03/major_league_soccer_talks_brea.html
Something is not right here.

http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/02/daily77.html

The Paulson quote is not in this article... it includes where he already agreed to guarantee the bonds, AND says he will contribute direct funding to the project. Not to mention that the Rose Quarter will apparently be the ballpark site.

Let's just say that the contractor who gave revised estimates offered a guaranteed maximum bid, given that I sat in on task force meetings and heard it with my own ears. Concerns about cost overruns are therefore probably non-existant.

I get the sense that this is going to happen. I get the sense that we're watching a little theater. Enjoy.

I hope it is just theater and posturing. Given the personalities involved, it wouldn't surprise me. I hate the way local Portland politics works. If this were going on in Charlotte or Denver or some other "can do" city, it would have been done by now. In Portland, you have to drag everything out so every last NIMBY has their say.

 

[PortlandStater]

Well, that's the reason this town has not become 1 million people in suburbs with a fountain in the middle. I prefer putting up with NIMBYS over living in a dump like Charlotte any day.

 

[ManOfVision]

Well, that's the reason this town has not become 1 million people in suburbs with a fountain in the middle. I prefer putting up with NIMBYS over living in a dump like Charlotte any day.

I agree. I just want to have my cake and eat it too.

 

[PDXPompey]

As both a PSU alum and football fan and a Timbers season ticket holder, I'm a little surprised that we are not hearing from the Viking faithful on this PGE Park remodel. This essentially doubles the number of good seats for Vikings games. I would think it would help with recruiting too. I've heard nothing from Glanville or any official from the team. Seems like the team, the University, and the fans should be out in force and behind this effort. Why should OSU and UofO get public financial support for their teams and facilities and not PSU.

Let's see some letters in the paper and hear some voices at City Council on Wed. Go Vikes!!

 

[ManOfVision]

As both a PSU alum and football fan and a Timbers season ticket holder, I'm a little surprised that we are not hearing from the Viking faithful on this PGE Park remodel. This essentially doubles the number of good seats for Vikings games. I would think it would help with recruiting too. I've heard nothing from Glanville or any official from the team. Seems like the team, the University, and the fans should be out in force and behind this effort. Why should OSU and UofO get public financial support for their teams and facilities and not PSU.

Let's see some letters in the paper and hear some voices at City Council on Wed. Go Vikes!!

I know people over at the Soccer City USA board are worked up about a lack of visible PSU involvement, but there is no shortage of enthusiasm for this project among the PSU supporters on this board. We are aware of the goings on and excited about the prospect of a PGE renovation.

However, one must realize that it is a hard sell to get local municipalities to support state institutions. Simply put, doing so is not the City of Portland's job. In fact, the more PSU was directly involved, the more opponents and fence-sitters would demand State of Oregon money be involved in financing this whole deal. Since that will never happen (outside of maybe revamping SB5), it is best to not even go there. PSU is playing this correctly by being supportive behind the scenes and publically appearing as little more than an accidental beneficiary. Overt involvement could backfire.

 

[Pounder]

Sure enough, there's a deal.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/03/major_league_soccer_deal_reach.html

I think, for the most part, it works.

I kind of wish Merritt Paulson would try to bypass the need for money from a westside URD somehow (and I think PSU could benefit from that URD). I think enacting that might threaten the URD concept as it plays in Portland. Of course, the screws may already be turning on that end, so who knows.

Otherwise, this deal works. The city council is to vote on this tomorrow.

 

[PDXPompey]

As both a PSU alum and football fan and a Timbers season ticket holder, I'm a little surprised that we are not hearing from the Viking faithful on this PGE Park remodel. This essentially doubles the number of good seats for Vikings games. I would think it would help with recruiting too. I've heard nothing from Glanville or any official from the team. Seems like the team, the University, and the fans should be out in force and behind this effort. Why should OSU and UofO get public financial support for their teams and facilities and not PSU.

Let's see some letters in the paper and hear some voices at City Council on Wed. Go Vikes!!

I know people over at the Soccer City USA board are worked up about a lack of visible PSU involvement, but there is no shortage of enthusiasm for this project among the PSU supporters on this board. We are aware of the goings on and excited about the prospect of a PGE renovation.

However, one must realize that it is a hard sell to get local municipalities to support state institutions. Simply put, doing so is not the City of Portland's job. In fact, the more PSU was directly involved, the more opponents and fence-sitters would demand State of Oregon money be involved in financing this whole deal. Since that will never happen (outside of maybe revamping SB5), it is best to not even go there. PSU is playing this correctly by being supportive behind the scenes and publically appearing as little more than an accidental beneficiary. Overt involvement could backfire.

Fair enough. The URD talk seems to have really touched some nerves so I see how talk of state involvement would also attract lightning bolts. It would be great though if the individual PSU fans let their thoughts be known...and sounds like you all are. If it passes, it will no doubt be good for PSU football. :mrgreen:

 

[VikThunder1]

City Council votes to approve the project proposal to bring MLS to Portland and remodel PGE Park. Imagine what this will do for Football recruiting and attendance! Go Viks!

 

[ManOfVision]

City Council votes to approve the project proposal to bring MLS to Portland and remodel PGE Park. Imagine what this will do for Football recruiting and attendance! Go Viks!

Anybody who wasn't following the live thread on Soccer City USA and Ryan White's live updates on the Tailgate blog was missing out. Today was some great, but excrutiating drama.

 

[PDXPompey]

It was very dramatic. I thought it might be doomed when Fish voted no. The place really errupted when Dan voted yes. I bet the coaching staff is excited.