Pounder
06-26-2008, 09:29 PM
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=121443168872554000
This has been in discussion almost since Merritt Paulson bought the current organization. The vision for MLS has clearly trumped any notion that a ballpark convertible to a major league facility could make Paulson money, since he only seeks 8 to 10,000 seats for a new baseball facility.
The Lents location upsets most of the baseball fans for not being centrally located. It is clearly Randy Leonard's attempt at redeveloping a crumbling neighborhood in Portland.
Across the Broadway Bridge from the Rose Quarter is "almost" riverfront property somewhat north of downtown... maybe. Not sure the city controls the property in question.
The unnamed property is one that is rumored to be Paulson's favorite, and on a lot owned by the city. Thing is, that could be Portland International Raceway, who just lost the Champ Car (now re-merged with IRL) series race. That could somehow be the Memorial Coliseum property, though another Tribune article today has Paul Allen's people actually proposing a rebuilt arena rather than several other suggestions they have pushed in the past. Frankly, that's vaporware IMO... which means that could be where the city's considering the ballpark.
Last year, there were rumors of contacts with Boise and one or two other cities regarding the Beavers. I doubt Merritt Paulson wants to move them, but I wonder if his priority for baseball is a funded ballpark. Stay tuned on this.
This has been in discussion almost since Merritt Paulson bought the current organization. The vision for MLS has clearly trumped any notion that a ballpark convertible to a major league facility could make Paulson money, since he only seeks 8 to 10,000 seats for a new baseball facility.
The Lents location upsets most of the baseball fans for not being centrally located. It is clearly Randy Leonard's attempt at redeveloping a crumbling neighborhood in Portland.
Across the Broadway Bridge from the Rose Quarter is "almost" riverfront property somewhat north of downtown... maybe. Not sure the city controls the property in question.
The unnamed property is one that is rumored to be Paulson's favorite, and on a lot owned by the city. Thing is, that could be Portland International Raceway, who just lost the Champ Car (now re-merged with IRL) series race. That could somehow be the Memorial Coliseum property, though another Tribune article today has Paul Allen's people actually proposing a rebuilt arena rather than several other suggestions they have pushed in the past. Frankly, that's vaporware IMO... which means that could be where the city's considering the ballpark.
Last year, there were rumors of contacts with Boise and one or two other cities regarding the Beavers. I doubt Merritt Paulson wants to move them, but I wonder if his priority for baseball is a funded ballpark. Stay tuned on this.