It’s no longer a question of ‘will we or won’t we’. It’s official and it’s exciting. Portland will be entering the race to be the next expansion target for Major League Soccer. And we’ve got a deadline.
Earlier today, MLS officials provided a timeline for candidate cities to submit their bids, citing an October 15th deadline. Bloggers and expansion watchers had only a couple of hours to comment on Portland’s chances given what was widely regarded to be a very tight timeline, before Paulson announced his intention to submit a bid by October 15th.
Those who follow the MLS expansion process from afar know that Paulson has hinted at the use of public support to upgrade PGE Park for both MLS and PSU Football. The hope among those pushing for expansion to other cities was that the October 15th date would be too soon for a bid that involved city decision makers since Mayor Elect and MLS supporter Sam Adams would not assume his new post until November.
That’s not the case. As a result of the economic revitalization aspects of the plan in addition to the tourism, business and cultural and public facilities elements, there is already broad support in the Portland City Council for the project that would also be a green light for MLS. While the city will surely allow for due process and public feedback, this could theoretically be approved in the very near term.
With what Paulson describes as “the most ardent and authentic soccer fanbase in the United States,” as well as a commitment to invest in the historic jewel that is PGE Park, Portland should rightly emerge as the city to beat for MLS expansion in 2011.
See the full announcement below:
PAULSON, PORTLAND TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR MLS EXPANSION FRANCHISE
For immediate release: July 31, 2008
PORTLAND, Ore. – Merritt Paulson, owner and president of the Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers, today announced plans to submit an application for a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise that would play at PGE Park in downtown Portland, Ore.
MLS today announced the timeline and application process for the league’s next two expansion teams, with plans to add two clubs by 2011 to bring the league to 18 teams.
MLS, which will consider markets in the United States and Canada, has set an Oct. 15, 2008, deadline for applications.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Major League Soccer in Portland would both add a tremendous amount to the league and have a phenomenally positive impact on our community and state,” Paulson said. “We have the most ardent and authentic soccer fanbase in the United States, and Soccer City USA deserves a Major League Soccer team."
In the coming months, we look forward to making an exceptionally strong case to both MLS and our community as to why Portland should be designated as one of the next two MLS expansion cities.”
MLS has indicated that an announcement regarding the next two expansion clubs will take place during the fourth quarter of 2008 or the first quarter of 2009.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and features many stars from the U.S. and around the world. Now in its 13th season, the 14 teams in MLS are: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC. Seattle Sounders FC will join the League in 2009 and a Philadelphia expansion team will debut in 2010.
-- visit www.portlandtimbers.com --
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Why Should Portland Care About MLS?
“Soooo …” you might be saying to yourself. “My niece plays soccer. I’ve heard about the Timbers. But what’s the big deal about an MLS franchise? “There are many ways to answer that question. Here’s a few for starters:
1. Major League Soccer is the premier professional soccer league in North America.
You knew that already. But what you may not realize is that Portland already has the infrastructure in place for a successful franchise.That’s what makes Portland's MLS efforts different than previous attempts to land a major-league baseball franchise. This time, Portland has an ownership group in place, headed by Merritt Paulson, owner of the Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers. We’ve also got the place to play – PGE Park. Though it would need some alterations, Portland’s historic stadium fits perfectly into the current spectrum of MLS stadia, which ranges from the 27,000-seat Home Depot Center in Los Angeles to the 18,500-seat Dick’s Sporting Goods Park where the Colorado Rapids play.
2. Portland is ripe for another big-time sports franchise.
Of the top 25 television Designated Market Areas – Portland ranks 23rd – only three markets have just one major-league franchise. (See sidebar.)Moreover, there is an untapped appetite for top-level competition in this city. You can prove that passively: Despite not having a major-league baseball team, Portland’s TV ratings for MLB telecasts have historically been very high.Or, more relevantly, you can prove it at the box office: Portland has provided exceptional – even legendary – support for its sole major-league team, the Trail Blazers. Beginning in the late 1970s, the Blazers played to 810 consecutive sellouts – a streak that ultimately led to the construction of the Rose Garden Arena. Even after the new arena opened with 50 percent more seating capacity, the Trail Blazers drew capacity crowds while charging ticket prices that were the highest in the National Basketball Association for three consecutive years.Though they range from $10-$130, the average ticket price for the Trail Blazers last year was $45. By contrast, the average ticket for a Major League Soccer game in 2008 is exactly half that – $22.47. (OK, not exactly half. Keep the change …)
3. Major League Soccer is the big-league sport that’s attainable and affordable.
The economics of big-time sports almost always include an involuntary contribution from taxpayers. Just look up the road to Seattle, where two downtown stadiums have been built in the past decade. Safeco Field, which opened in 1999, was funded largely by $340 million derived from a food tax. Qwest Field, where the Seahawks play, required $250 million in taxpayer cash. Major League Soccer, though, operates on a different (read: “smaller”) scale. With the exception of the expansion franchise in Seattle, the trend in MLS has been toward soccer-specific stadiums. In the past few years, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas have moved into suburban stadiums seating between 20,000 and 30,000 fans. These stadiums have been built for one-third of the costs of the Seattle stadiums.Portland’s PGE Park, then, combines the best of both worlds: A retrofitted PGE Park, capable of seating perhaps 22,000 fans, would become a summertime hub of activity in the Downtown District’s revitalizing West End. In addition, the stadium could house Portland State University’s football and soccer teams,In November 2007, after meetings between Timbers’ Owner Merritt Paulson and MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Garber guesstimated that it would cost approximately $20 million to bring PGE Park up to MLS standards. So what’s the bottom line? No one ever knows until the deal is done. But here’s one less-than-perfect scenario:
• Let’s assume the City of Portland finances the entire amount by issuing bonds.
• Let’s further assume that the costs will be 50 percent over Garber’s estimate.
• Even so, you get a per-household assessment of approximately $10 annually.
At prices like that, the Sonics would still be in Seattle.
4. MLS is the gateway to the world.Like no other sport, soccer brings the world’s attention.
In August, for example, a group of Japanese tourists will be spending several days in Portland … seeing the sights, sampling the beers, strolling on the Esplanade.Nothing unusual about that, but the attraction for this particular tourist group is neither Tram nor Trolley. Instead, it’s Taka – Takayuki Suzuki, a member of Japan’s 2002 World Cup team who is finishing up his first season with the Timbers. Soccer stirs that kind of passion. Fans don’t watch … they take part. They sing, they chant, they stand in the cheap seats.A home video of Suzuki’s first goal with the Timbers has been posted on YouTube. That makes in one of about 80 million other home videos on YouTube. But Suzuki’s first goal in Portland has had more 48,000 views – many of them from outside the United States.Yes, that kind of passion.
What is soccer? It’s chess on grass.
It’s ballet with cleats.
It’s fast. It’s tough.
It’s played without pads, without helmets.
It’s Spain against Russia.
It’s Manchester United against Real Madrid.
It’s Portland against Seattle; Portland against Los Angeles; Portland against New York.
It’s 20,000 people waiting for lightning to happen and magic to strike.
It’s Portland’s turn. And it’s Portland’s time.
1. Major League Soccer is the premier professional soccer league in North America.
You knew that already. But what you may not realize is that Portland already has the infrastructure in place for a successful franchise.That’s what makes Portland's MLS efforts different than previous attempts to land a major-league baseball franchise. This time, Portland has an ownership group in place, headed by Merritt Paulson, owner of the Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers. We’ve also got the place to play – PGE Park. Though it would need some alterations, Portland’s historic stadium fits perfectly into the current spectrum of MLS stadia, which ranges from the 27,000-seat Home Depot Center in Los Angeles to the 18,500-seat Dick’s Sporting Goods Park where the Colorado Rapids play.
2. Portland is ripe for another big-time sports franchise.
Of the top 25 television Designated Market Areas – Portland ranks 23rd – only three markets have just one major-league franchise. (See sidebar.)Moreover, there is an untapped appetite for top-level competition in this city. You can prove that passively: Despite not having a major-league baseball team, Portland’s TV ratings for MLB telecasts have historically been very high.Or, more relevantly, you can prove it at the box office: Portland has provided exceptional – even legendary – support for its sole major-league team, the Trail Blazers. Beginning in the late 1970s, the Blazers played to 810 consecutive sellouts – a streak that ultimately led to the construction of the Rose Garden Arena. Even after the new arena opened with 50 percent more seating capacity, the Trail Blazers drew capacity crowds while charging ticket prices that were the highest in the National Basketball Association for three consecutive years.Though they range from $10-$130, the average ticket price for the Trail Blazers last year was $45. By contrast, the average ticket for a Major League Soccer game in 2008 is exactly half that – $22.47. (OK, not exactly half. Keep the change …)
3. Major League Soccer is the big-league sport that’s attainable and affordable.
The economics of big-time sports almost always include an involuntary contribution from taxpayers. Just look up the road to Seattle, where two downtown stadiums have been built in the past decade. Safeco Field, which opened in 1999, was funded largely by $340 million derived from a food tax. Qwest Field, where the Seahawks play, required $250 million in taxpayer cash. Major League Soccer, though, operates on a different (read: “smaller”) scale. With the exception of the expansion franchise in Seattle, the trend in MLS has been toward soccer-specific stadiums. In the past few years, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas have moved into suburban stadiums seating between 20,000 and 30,000 fans. These stadiums have been built for one-third of the costs of the Seattle stadiums.Portland’s PGE Park, then, combines the best of both worlds: A retrofitted PGE Park, capable of seating perhaps 22,000 fans, would become a summertime hub of activity in the Downtown District’s revitalizing West End. In addition, the stadium could house Portland State University’s football and soccer teams,In November 2007, after meetings between Timbers’ Owner Merritt Paulson and MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Garber guesstimated that it would cost approximately $20 million to bring PGE Park up to MLS standards. So what’s the bottom line? No one ever knows until the deal is done. But here’s one less-than-perfect scenario:
• Let’s assume the City of Portland finances the entire amount by issuing bonds.
• Let’s further assume that the costs will be 50 percent over Garber’s estimate.
• Even so, you get a per-household assessment of approximately $10 annually.
At prices like that, the Sonics would still be in Seattle.
4. MLS is the gateway to the world.Like no other sport, soccer brings the world’s attention.
In August, for example, a group of Japanese tourists will be spending several days in Portland … seeing the sights, sampling the beers, strolling on the Esplanade.Nothing unusual about that, but the attraction for this particular tourist group is neither Tram nor Trolley. Instead, it’s Taka – Takayuki Suzuki, a member of Japan’s 2002 World Cup team who is finishing up his first season with the Timbers. Soccer stirs that kind of passion. Fans don’t watch … they take part. They sing, they chant, they stand in the cheap seats.A home video of Suzuki’s first goal with the Timbers has been posted on YouTube. That makes in one of about 80 million other home videos on YouTube. But Suzuki’s first goal in Portland has had more 48,000 views – many of them from outside the United States.Yes, that kind of passion.
What is soccer? It’s chess on grass.
It’s ballet with cleats.
It’s fast. It’s tough.
It’s played without pads, without helmets.
It’s Spain against Russia.
It’s Manchester United against Real Madrid.
It’s Portland against Seattle; Portland against Los Angeles; Portland against New York.
It’s 20,000 people waiting for lightning to happen and magic to strike.
It’s Portland’s turn. And it’s Portland’s time.
The MLS Campaign needs to change its current strategy
Cliff Pfenning is the editor of oregonsports.com
PGE Park is a baseball stadium that’s also home to soccer and football games. And, that’s how it’s going to remain, so fans of MLS to PDX should begin supporting a drive to build a true soccer stadium.
Argue all you want to keep PGE Park as the home to the Timbers so people can walk across the street to the Bullpen, but PGE Park is a baseball stadium that’s going to be home to the Beavers for quite a while. That’s why the Bullpen is named to attract baseball fans.
There’s a fever pitch in the Timbers Army and the baseball-luvin’ part of Portland’s media to renovate PGE for soccer and build a baseball stadium for the Beavers – currently it’s in the Lents area of Southeast Portland. But, this plan, which is being promoted by the Timbers/Beavers, is going to last about as long as Rudy Giuliani’s Presidential campaign.
Remember Rudy?
Whatever gets built is going to be downtown, and it’s not going to be a hard sell to promote that stadium being for soccer because PGE Park is already a baseball stadium. And, it’s plenty capable, parking-wise, of handling crowds of 3,000 to 12,000 throughout spring and summer.
Portland has a baseball stadium. It needs a soccer stadium, one that’ll make the rest of the world take notice of the creative and artistic abilities of the Rose City. There’s plenty of space to build it next to the Rose Garden, which already handles crowds of 20,000 – the crowd size the Timbers will be aiming for 20 times a year.
This is how Seattle worked Safeco Field and Quest Field – they’re across the street from one another.Beyond parking, think of the soccer fans 10 years into the future walking into the soccer-specific PGE Park wonder aloud, “why didn’t we build a soccer stadium when we had the chance, instead of turning a baseball stadium into soccer stadium?”
Let’s start driving public opinion toward building a soccer stadium - across the street from the Rose Garden.
There’s strong logic in this strategy, the kind that can attract the general public.“Let’s get to MLS as fast as possible,” is not filled with the kind of logic that will sway the public to support using public funds to build or renovate anything.
It would be great if the people who own and manage the Timbers/Beavers came up with this strategy. Building a stadium – for any sport - anywhere outside of downtown Portland isn’t going to happen, especially with $4 gas. And, putting a stadium next to the Rose Garden is a pretty easy sell to the public because of the parking issue and mass transit and the access to land that can be turned into housing such as exists in the Pearl District.Maybe, a headquarters hotel goes into that area as well.And, the owners of the Bullpen can open another Bullpen there, too. That’s the kind of strategy that might be supported by, say, Barack Obama. Remember him?Short term vs. long term.You all need to get behind the long-term strategy … unless you want the soccer stadium to be built in soccer-luvin’ Beaverton – it's not that far away.
PGE Park is a baseball stadium that’s also home to soccer and football games. And, that’s how it’s going to remain, so fans of MLS to PDX should begin supporting a drive to build a true soccer stadium.
Argue all you want to keep PGE Park as the home to the Timbers so people can walk across the street to the Bullpen, but PGE Park is a baseball stadium that’s going to be home to the Beavers for quite a while. That’s why the Bullpen is named to attract baseball fans.
There’s a fever pitch in the Timbers Army and the baseball-luvin’ part of Portland’s media to renovate PGE for soccer and build a baseball stadium for the Beavers – currently it’s in the Lents area of Southeast Portland. But, this plan, which is being promoted by the Timbers/Beavers, is going to last about as long as Rudy Giuliani’s Presidential campaign.
Remember Rudy?
Whatever gets built is going to be downtown, and it’s not going to be a hard sell to promote that stadium being for soccer because PGE Park is already a baseball stadium. And, it’s plenty capable, parking-wise, of handling crowds of 3,000 to 12,000 throughout spring and summer.
Portland has a baseball stadium. It needs a soccer stadium, one that’ll make the rest of the world take notice of the creative and artistic abilities of the Rose City. There’s plenty of space to build it next to the Rose Garden, which already handles crowds of 20,000 – the crowd size the Timbers will be aiming for 20 times a year.
This is how Seattle worked Safeco Field and Quest Field – they’re across the street from one another.Beyond parking, think of the soccer fans 10 years into the future walking into the soccer-specific PGE Park wonder aloud, “why didn’t we build a soccer stadium when we had the chance, instead of turning a baseball stadium into soccer stadium?”
Let’s start driving public opinion toward building a soccer stadium - across the street from the Rose Garden.
There’s strong logic in this strategy, the kind that can attract the general public.“Let’s get to MLS as fast as possible,” is not filled with the kind of logic that will sway the public to support using public funds to build or renovate anything.
It would be great if the people who own and manage the Timbers/Beavers came up with this strategy. Building a stadium – for any sport - anywhere outside of downtown Portland isn’t going to happen, especially with $4 gas. And, putting a stadium next to the Rose Garden is a pretty easy sell to the public because of the parking issue and mass transit and the access to land that can be turned into housing such as exists in the Pearl District.Maybe, a headquarters hotel goes into that area as well.And, the owners of the Bullpen can open another Bullpen there, too. That’s the kind of strategy that might be supported by, say, Barack Obama. Remember him?Short term vs. long term.You all need to get behind the long-term strategy … unless you want the soccer stadium to be built in soccer-luvin’ Beaverton – it's not that far away.
Welcome to MLS to PDX
Eleven.
A meaningful number in soccer, it’s even more so for soccer in Portland because 2011 is when a new Major League Soccer (MLS) version of the Portland Timbers could begin play in PGE Park.
But a nod from MLS could mean much more than soccer in the Rose City. As a result of upgrades to PGE Park as part of the plan, it’s likely Portland State Football fans will have already been able to enjoy improved concessions, more sideline seating, and a larger replay screen, all before the close of the 2010 football season. By spring of 2011, Baseball fans would surely be keeping tabs on the development of a brand new minor league ballpark. Even the sports agnostics among us might benefit from the economic development, jobs and increased international visibility that could result from the effort. Of course all of this hinges on the city’s support of Merrit Paulson’s plan. That’s where we come in.
MLStoPDX is an effort by Portlanders – all of us independent of the city or the plan sponsors – to educate, discuss and even influence details of the plan. Our initial contributors include locals who live and breathe soccer as well as those who are more bent against the sport than Jim Rome. We’ve also featured contributors that are generally skeptical about public investment. Each was given free rein on their respective topics, so you’ll already notice a difference in opinion.
But as the face of a grassroots effort that had already emerged years ago, this site is bigger than its founders. We believe our only charter is to provide a website framework for the MLS movement in Portland, around which the stakeholders – the people of Portland – will provide the content. Because of this, don’t be surprised to see plenty of differing opinions. We expect the same from you.We want essay contributions, comments and artwork. We also want to arm the public with tools to make our collective voices heard. Whether you prefer to express your thoughts by writing letters to key decision makers, making and selling your own MLStoPDX gear, or just by putting a sticker on your car, we are here to help make MLS work for you.
A meaningful number in soccer, it’s even more so for soccer in Portland because 2011 is when a new Major League Soccer (MLS) version of the Portland Timbers could begin play in PGE Park.
But a nod from MLS could mean much more than soccer in the Rose City. As a result of upgrades to PGE Park as part of the plan, it’s likely Portland State Football fans will have already been able to enjoy improved concessions, more sideline seating, and a larger replay screen, all before the close of the 2010 football season. By spring of 2011, Baseball fans would surely be keeping tabs on the development of a brand new minor league ballpark. Even the sports agnostics among us might benefit from the economic development, jobs and increased international visibility that could result from the effort. Of course all of this hinges on the city’s support of Merrit Paulson’s plan. That’s where we come in.
MLStoPDX is an effort by Portlanders – all of us independent of the city or the plan sponsors – to educate, discuss and even influence details of the plan. Our initial contributors include locals who live and breathe soccer as well as those who are more bent against the sport than Jim Rome. We’ve also featured contributors that are generally skeptical about public investment. Each was given free rein on their respective topics, so you’ll already notice a difference in opinion.
But as the face of a grassroots effort that had already emerged years ago, this site is bigger than its founders. We believe our only charter is to provide a website framework for the MLS movement in Portland, around which the stakeholders – the people of Portland – will provide the content. Because of this, don’t be surprised to see plenty of differing opinions. We expect the same from you.We want essay contributions, comments and artwork. We also want to arm the public with tools to make our collective voices heard. Whether you prefer to express your thoughts by writing letters to key decision makers, making and selling your own MLStoPDX gear, or just by putting a sticker on your car, we are here to help make MLS work for you.
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