Portland Beavers Gone?

[BroadwayVik]

Are the Portland Beavers leaving town? I heard they may be headed to Tucson or Boise. If they are, maybe this is a sign that minor league baseball is on its way out in Portland to make way for a major league team franchise, say, by 2020.

Would you be in favor of tradition by Portland carrying forward the Beaver name on to a MLB franchise? Or would you prefer a new name so long as the team image and concept were liked better?

In Milwaukee, the team is known, of course, as the Brewers and they play their games in Miller Park.

Now, the beer highlife is at least as important here as it is in Milwaukee, correct? But whereas Milwaukee produces mass-quantities of beer for national mass-consumption, we in Portland have a more local and artistic focus on beer production and consumption. I think of places like McMenamin's, for example, and the consortium of micro-brewery businesses.

What would you think of the name: The Portland Micro-Brewers for an MLB franchise?

A name like this has true brand appeal for our city, wouldn't you say? It really does tap something near-and-dear to our heart and soul-identity. Or would you rather prefer to stick with tradition and the Portland Beavers name? It might be nice to have just Oregon State being the Beavers instead of multiple sports teams. What is your opinion?

 

[BroadwayVik]

Maybe so.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_15596929?source=most_emailed

The Portland Beavers, who are losing use of their stadium next year, will either be sold or moved to either El Paso, Tucson or San Marcos, Calif., a suburb of San Diego.

Tucson lost its triple-A franchise a year ago to Reno, Nev.

Several baseball insiders have predicted on websites and on blogs that the Padres are going to buy the Beavers and move them to San Marcos. The Beavers are the Padres' AAA team.

Jenny Peterson, communications director for the city of San Marcos, said the Padres contacted the city about moving the Beavers there. The talks also included officials from the university because that is where a proposed stadium might be located.

"All discussions have been very high-level at this point," Peterson said. "I know the Padres have been talking with the city of Escondido, too."

Escondido, Calif., is about 25 miles north of San Diego, and just east of San Marcos.

Peterson did not disclose the details of the talks between the Padres and city officials.

Merritt Paulson, the owner of the Portland Beavers, recently told an Oregon newspaper that he would not make a decision on the future of the Beavers until September. Paulson has not said if he will sell the team or just move it.

El Paso has been without an affiliated minor-league team since 2004, when the Diablos, then a AA franchise, were sold for $10 million. The new owners moved the AA franchise to Springfield, Mo., and made it an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.