Stadium News

[Pounder]

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2016/10/merritt_paulson_is_cautiously.html#incart_river_home

Lest you think this is good news; PSU already has a hard time selling season tickets, especially expensive ones. These seats are being built because they won't be cheap seats. Also, sports organizations tend to do things to raise prices along with other things like rent when improvements are made.

I think things have come to the point where I was looking at Google satellite the other day, wondering if the school could place seats around the Community Field and thus stop paying rent.

Best-case scenario: the Timbers decide a gut-and-rebuild is necessary (which doesn't preclude this from happening), meaning they have to be out for at least a season, an alternate site is required, and since Hillsboro isn't happening for this, something with 5K-10K seats is built near PSU with added bleachers to get to 20K for the interim. The state helps with the PSU facility. Of course, it's not the way to bet.

 

[Alan1]

Pounder, I've often wondered if it would be possible to cut a deal with teh Portland Public Schools to provide for improvements to the facility at Lincoln HS. We pay for what we need/want in the way of improvements and split maintenance for the site in exchange for rent free use. 5000 covered with another 4000 uncovvered should work. Better yet a third of that and accept an offer from the GNAC. We are kind of like Idaho they moved up, did poorly and are now moving down.

 

[martymoose]

Also, sports organizations tend to do things to raise prices along with other things like rent when improvements are made.

Good point.

Do you think that this weighs in on part of the master 50m plan by the Timbers? It's no secret that they don't want PSU, or any other "football" in the stadium so that they can get a proper natural pitch.

 

[Pounder]

Also, sports organizations tend to do things to raise prices along with other things like rent when improvements are made.

Good point.

Do you think that this weighs in on part of the master 50m plan by the Timbers? It's no secret that they don't want PSU, or any other "football" in the stadium so that they can get a proper natural pitch.

Merritt Paulson has honored the spirit and the letter of the agreements made to this point. OTOH, he has gotten himself into broadcasting to 107ist once or twice his belief that PSU football was going away of its own volition, only for it to be saved. So it's not like he doesn't get occasionally wound up. Maybe more than occasionally... both he and 107ist are pretty good at winding each other up.

The short version: he doesn't want to be seen as short-circuiting PSU football. If anything, he doesn't seem to mind having a renter. But if PSU football falters, he's probably ready to rock.

 

[BroadwayVik]

_________________________________________

Old KGW video: http://www.kgw.com/news/local/timbers-mulling-providence-park-expansion/72792422

Merritt Paulson Discusses Providence Park Expansion
By Zach Spedden on November 1, 2016 in MLS

With the Portland Timbers continually drawing capacity crowds, owner Merritt Paulson is expressing hope that Providence Park can be expanded.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Timbers—who can seat about 21,000 at Providence Park—were look to expand the stadium. The fact that the team continues to draw fans in high numbers makes the project desirable, but the TImbers have been looking to address questions about cost and design.

Paulson recently confirmed that talks are still on for expansion. Under the current plan, Providence Park would increase in capacity by about 4,000 seats as part of a privately financed project. More from The Oregonian:

“We would still need to get an agreement with the city, and a number of other things,” Paulson said. “We would be talking about adding 4,000 seats in a way that really works operationally on the east side over where the Key Bank Club is now, basically bringing the whole stadium up to the level of the roof on the other side, still maintaining some street views even from the street on 18th Ave.

If the Timbers are able to move forward with the plan, Paulson said the club would aim to complete the new construction in two phases in back-to-back off-season said, in hopes of limiting the impact of the construction on the team during the season.

The Timbers finished the MLS regular season with a per-game average attendance of 21,144.

 

[bigskyconf]

Also, sports organizations tend to do things to raise prices along with other things like rent when improvements are made.

Good point.

Do you think that this weighs in on part of the master 50m plan by the Timbers? It's no secret that they don't want PSU, or any other "football" in the stadium so that they can get a proper natural pitch.

Merritt Paulson has honored the spirit and the letter of the agreements made to this point. OTOH, he has gotten himself into broadcasting to 107ist once or twice his belief that PSU football was going away of its own volition, only for it to be saved. So it's not like he doesn't get occasionally wound up. Maybe more than occasionally... both he and 107ist are pretty good at winding each other up.

The short version: he doesn't want to be seen as short-circuiting PSU football. If anything, he doesn't seem to mind having a renter. But if PSU football falters, he's probably ready to rock.

The bottom line is about money. Your building isn't making any money when it is sitting empty. That is true with the Blazers and the Rose Garden, that is true with the Timbers and Providence Park. Paulsen may not like the Vikings playing football there, but he can't argue that he is better off financially when we aren't.

 

[Pounder]

Also, sports organizations tend to do things to raise prices along with other things like rent when improvements are made.

Good point.

Do you think that this weighs in on part of the master 50m plan by the Timbers? It's no secret that they don't want PSU, or any other "football" in the stadium so that they can get a proper natural pitch.

Merritt Paulson has honored the spirit and the letter of the agreements made to this point. OTOH, he has gotten himself into broadcasting to 107ist once or twice his belief that PSU football was going away of its own volition, only for it to be saved. So it's not like he doesn't get occasionally wound up. Maybe more than occasionally... both he and 107ist are pretty good at winding each other up.

The short version: he doesn't want to be seen as short-circuiting PSU football. If anything, he doesn't seem to mind having a renter. But if PSU football falters, he's probably ready to rock.

The bottom line is about money. Your building isn't making any money when it is sitting empty. That is true with the Blazers and the Rose Garden, that is true with the Timbers and Providence Park. Paulsen may not like the Vikings playing football there, but he can't argue that he is better off financially when we aren't.

But he can make the Timbers and the city more money hosting one World Cup Qualifier (requiring grass because of USSF) than he can with a whole PSU season. There could be an annual men's friendly and an annual women's friendly in Portland that both sell out and turn downtown into a crazy party for a weekend.

Instead, he has sacrificed being able to bring in better marquee players as well as sacrificed national team opportunities (exceptions one women's friendly and the Gold Cup game that was organized through CONCACAF instead of USSF) to keep a promise.

 

[bigskyconf]

Also, sports organizations tend to do things to raise prices along with other things like rent when improvements are made.

Good point.

Do you think that this weighs in on part of the master 50m plan by the Timbers? It's no secret that they don't want PSU, or any other "football" in the stadium so that they can get a proper natural pitch.

Merritt Paulson has honored the spirit and the letter of the agreements made to this point. OTOH, he has gotten himself into broadcasting to 107ist once or twice his belief that PSU football was going away of its own volition, only for it to be saved. So it's not like he doesn't get occasionally wound up. Maybe more than occasionally... both he and 107ist are pretty good at winding each other up.

The short version: he doesn't want to be seen as short-circuiting PSU football. If anything, he doesn't seem to mind having a renter. But if PSU football falters, he's probably ready to rock.

The bottom line is about money. Your building isn't making any money when it is sitting empty. That is true with the Blazers and the Rose Garden, that is true with the Timbers and Providence Park. Paulsen may not like the Vikings playing football there, but he can't argue that he is better off financially when we aren't.

But he can make the Timbers and the city more money hosting one World Cup Qualifier (requiring grass because of USSF) than he can with a whole PSU season. There could be an annual men's friendly and an annual women's friendly in Portland that both sell out and turn downtown into a crazy party for a weekend.

Instead, he has sacrificed being able to bring in better marquee players as well as sacrificed national team opportunities (exceptions one women's friendly and the Gold Cup game that was organized through CONCACAF instead of USSF) to keep a promise.

Still, if the park is going to be dark on Saturday afternoons in the fall, why not let Portland State use it? Every time PSU plays there, it is more money for the Timbers than having it sit dark.

Right or wrong, Paulsen is already thought to be the one who drove baseball out of the city. I doubt he would want to add to that distinction if the Viks can't play there either.

 

[Alan1]

Are you kidding me! Who would he offend, the 1000 +/- who showed up to watch us defeated by Northern Colorado last Saturday?

 

[martymoose]

Also, sports organizations tend to do things to raise prices along with other things like rent when improvements are made.

Good point.

Do you think that this weighs in on part of the master 50m plan by the Timbers? It's no secret that they don't want PSU, or any other "football" in the stadium so that they can get a proper natural pitch.

Merritt Paulson has honored the spirit and the letter of the agreements made to this point. OTOH, he has gotten himself into broadcasting to 107ist once or twice his belief that PSU football was going away of its own volition, only for it to be saved. So it's not like he doesn't get occasionally wound up. Maybe more than occasionally... both he and 107ist are pretty good at winding each other up.

The short version: he doesn't want to be seen as short-circuiting PSU football. If anything, he doesn't seem to mind having a renter. But if PSU football falters, he's probably ready to rock.

The bottom line is about money. Your building isn't making any money when it is sitting empty. That is true with the Blazers and the Rose Garden, that is true with the Timbers and Providence Park. Paulsen may not like the Vikings playing football there, but he can't argue that he is better off financially when we aren't.

But he can make the Timbers and the city more money hosting one World Cup Qualifier (requiring grass because of USSF) than he can with a whole PSU season. There could be an annual men's friendly and an annual women's friendly in Portland that both sell out and turn downtown into a crazy party for a weekend.

Instead, he has sacrificed being able to bring in better marquee players as well as sacrificed national team opportunities (exceptions one women's friendly and the Gold Cup game that was organized through CONCACAF instead of USSF) to keep a promise.

Right or wrong, Paulsen is already thought to be the one who drove baseball out of the city. /quote]

I think that's a bit of a misnomer. Paulsen didn't drive baseball out of Portland. Portland drove baseball out of Portland with their lack of support. At the end, other than Thirsty Thursdays, attendance was null.

 

[bigskyconf]

I think that's a bit of a misnomer. Paulsen didn't drive baseball out of Portland. Portland drove baseball out of Portland with their lack of support. At the end, other than Thirsty Thursdays, attendance was null.

Which is why I prefaced it by saying right or wrong. Some circles say it was the Timbers that forced baseball out of their long time home, while others say it was the city that didn't do anything to keep it. Paulsen is aware of this stigma and I think he would not want to be associated with another long time tenant not having a place to play.

 

[Pounder]

In the end, there were two dozen people really hurt by the Beavers leaving. I think most people acknowledge this anymore. An empty baseball stadium has been replaced with a soccer stadium that's 100% full for the Timbers, 75% full for the Thorns, and T2 is apparently moving in full time next year.

In the meantime, the sharing arrangement between Temple and the Philadelphia Eagles is leading to this: http://news.temple.edu/news/2016-02-08/temple-trustees-approve-funding-initial-designs-studies-campus-football-stadium
(Although that appears to be an embattled process because of neighbors to the university)

Also, as the Chargers basically have one foot out of San Diego, the way San Diego State is taking advantage IS apparently a joint effort with Major League Soccer, BUT...

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sd-sp-survey-0924-story.html

...it's not simply stadium expansion. It's CAMPUS expansion into the current stadium site. That's how SDSU is proposing to take ownership of the grounds.

(...and don't think that I haven't started trying to make a mental picture of a Portland State expansion of some sort, even if it is just dorms and a stadium space somewhere along one of the MAX Orange, Yellow, or Green Lines)

More to the point... the issue about sharing completely misses the point. The value of the stadium comes from having control of it. That's why you will no longer see sharing of MLB and NFL stadia after the Raiders leave Oakland. Those who do not control their stadium are currently struggling. For Portland State, that's only part of the problem, but my argument is that it's most of the solution... provided the sport is even on stable ground by the time PSU comes around to reality.

 

[bigskyconf]

More to the point... the issue about sharing completely misses the point. The value of the stadium comes from having control of it. That's why you will no longer see sharing of MLB and NFL stadia after the Raiders leave Oakland. Those who do not control their stadium are currently struggling. For Portland State, that's only part of the problem, but my argument is that it's most of the solution

You and I have argued about this for awhile, both here and on OLive, but you do make some good points here, especially the part about the value comes from the control. PSU is the only school in the Big Sky whose stadium is not on campus (even Sacramento found a way to put a pretty nice football/track venue on campus), and most serve the communities they are in, not just the school. Granted, most of the cities in the conference are smaller than Portland. And for those who think we should move down, I think all the schools in the GNAC also have football venues on campus (I'm not sure about Azusa). Whenever the venue is rented out, the football team, the athletic department and the school benefits from this. PSU, by not having an on-campus stadium, does not have this source of revenue.

 

[Alan1]

bigskyconf, Azusa Pacific plays at Citrus Stadium on the campus of Citrus Community College.

 

[Pounder]

bigskyconf, Azusa Pacific plays at Citrus Stadium on the campus of Citrus Community College.

Azusa Pacific has an "east campus" about a 13 minute walk from its west campus, and the community college is about an 11 minute walk from the east campus on what looks from a distance like it could be the same campus. Weird to say the least.

 

[martymoose]

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2017/04/portland_timbers_moving_forwar.html#incart_river_home_pop

 

[bigskyconf]

Interesting plans. As long as the city owns the stadium, we still have a place to play, don't we? Maybe it is getting close to the time to hit up our NFL alums and start looking for our own stadium.

I wonder if pounder can provide an unbiased view of this, and the impact that it might have on PSU football. Beware, though, when he starts calling it "concussionball" I'm checking out.

 

[BroadwayVik]

Need Viking Logo up in place as the Timbers' logo is featured here on the right:

A more dynamic look and broader sidewalk are most welcome, even if it is only an increase in 4,000 seats.

($50,000,000)/(4,000) = $12,500 per seat.

 

[Viktorious]

Need Viking Logo up in place as the Timbers' logo is featured here on the right:

 

[BroadwayVik]

Fabulous!