A little more on info on the PGE Park remodel:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/timbers/2009/12/while_the_dispute_plays_on_the.html
Stadium Talk: As mentioned in my last posting, the preliminary stadium redesign plans were released on December 21st, showing the future of the stadium as a soccer/football only facility. These plans will be presented to the Portland City Council sometime in early January for approval as the final piece in the evaluation process.
The north and west ends of the stadium remain relatively unchanged in the new design, keeping the stadium’s current boomerang or L shape. The biggest changes will be to the east and south ends, as the current centerfield scoreboard on the east wall will be replaced with a covered stand, and the south end will be replaced with an open area that could be used as a concert stage or additional seating as needed. The stadium’s capacity will be increased from approximately 16,000 for USL soccer to nearly 24,000 for MLS with using all available seats, although for most matches, seating will be about 20,000.
The stadium’s main entrance, currently on the SW 20th and Morrison end, will move to the SW 18th street side, which will now house an open-air plaza, restaurant area, proposed injury rehabilitation clinic, and a team shop that will be open year around. Improved concourses and concessions will be available throughout the stadium, while seating is now on all sides, thus putting fans very close to the action. PGE Park is already a very loud stadium because it sits under street level, and now adding additional seating just amplifies the noise potential.
As much as hard-core football fans are interested in seeing a natural grass surface, it appears that the team is focusing on using an experimental version of Field Turf as the playing surface. This doesn’t preclude the team installing grass for special occasions as needed, such as for exhibition matches or competitions. Because of the climate and potential use of the stadium, the Timbers feel that turf is the better choice for the facility. I can say that the current Field Turf the team uses now is light years better than the old surface used in previous seasons, which more resembled green painted concrete, and apparently, this newer version is more designed with soccer in mind. The facility will also offer an improved experience for football games, such as high school games and Portland State University, as the new stadium will be available to convert from soccer to football as needed. There are more long-term questions, such as naming rights on the stadium after the deal with Portland General Electric expires after the 2010 season.
Based on the initial sketches, I’m very pleased with the overall design. It offers an intimate experience for all parts of the park while retaining much of the current charm that PGE Park offers. For the price tag associated, it will provide a gem of a soccer stadium that will also provide a quality football site in the Portland area, as well as an outdoor concert and event venue. Looking up north on what Vancouver is doing with their soccer stadium, we are also getting a great deal for the money involved as well.
There is still the issue of the Portland Beavers and their search for a new home, which has questions still arising after all these months. While the Oregonian’s Editorial Board put out their support for the new redesign for soccer, they are still asking about the future of baseball in the Portland area. While I’ve had some great memories in PGE Park for baseball, I look forward to it becoming a soccer showpiece for all of North America, while I also hope that someone realizes the tremendous benefit of the Beavers and helps find them a home in the Portland area.
