quote:

Originally posted by CEDAR MILL MADNESS:

In regards to the SMART Tower though, Derek Hanna has stated publicly that he wishes to finance it himself. I'm not one of these folks who's obsessed with the green movement. But I do think the tower is cool, would be a great tourist attraction, would bring people to the area and greatly increase the chances of resurecting that moribund part of town that sits desolate when the Blazers aren't playing.

Just keeping it real.

I didn't not know anything about this SMART tower until your post, I guess that comes from being at OSU and never watching the news. But, I love the idea and think it would be awesome for Portland. I always look at Seattle and other cities that have "that" building that represents that city to the world, a la the Space Needle. This would finally be ours and it would gain attention.

However, I don't think it would be a good idea to have it at the Rose Quarter. This is something I think needs to be downtown, and with it being around 650 feet tall, it would drastically change our skyline for the better. It would finally allow the city to let up on the max for a building height and get some bigger buildings in the city.

I think this would be a great move for the city and I hope it happens. Hannah sounds like a really motivated guy and that he truly intends to get this project done.

Yeah, I like the tower too. According to Hanna though, the tower needs to be in the open to receive the wind gusts necessary for the turbines to work. They initially suggested the waterfront, but the city chose to go with the old retro bike shop concept. I still think the tower would be a good idea and would be that signature building for us.

Paul: I respect your feelings for the city named after Chief Sealth up north, and they would obviously be a team I will love to hate when they and Timbers hook up, MLS style...however, are you not at least a tad impressed by their 22K season tickets? They've capped it at that figure I believe--if they opened it up for more season tix (maybe even opening up the upper reaches of Qwest Field?), I wonder how many more they might sell...I totally understand, and I'm sure I will come to share your hatred for Seattle soccer (and the Sounders' choice of colors--I guess Sprite will be their official soft drink?), but the NW is surely the soccer capital of N. America (do you think MLS will make it a NW trifecta, having PDX, SEA and YVR in MLS?)...and it goes w/o saying PDX is the best soccer city in the NW!...I'm glad Seattle has a team in MLS--PDX's stadium will be MLS' Fenway, and Seattle's is the Yankee Stadium of MLS; further, PDX's franchise will be like the BoSox of MLS (lovable, quirky) and Seattle's will remind many of the Yankees (somewhat corporate, cold, efficient)...finally: to echo the sentiments of someone intimately involved in PDX's MLS bid, soccer fans across N. America are going to be shocked by the level of support, enthusiasm, and fanaticism of MLS in PDX.

quote:

Originally posted by CEDAR MILL MADNESS:
Yeah, I like the tower too. According to Hanna though, the tower needs to be in the open to receive the wind gusts necessary for the turbines to work. They initially suggested the waterfront, but the city chose to go with the old retro bike shop concept. I still think the tower would be a good idea and would be that signature building for us.

The water front is a huge area. There are more than one location on the front for it to go. What about the Steel bridgehead development? I just hope this actually happens and doesn't fall off.

An observation from perusing the Timbers' MLS2PDX board:

Finngegan (more or less the point man in soccercityusa.com's drive to bring MLS2PDX): smart, approachable, friendly, inclusive, productive, inspiring, winning...

Maury (more or less the point man in oregonstadiumcampaign.com's drive to bring MLB2PDX): smart but aloof, condescending, abrasive...

quote:

Originally posted by James Stock:
Finngegan (more or less the point man in soccercityusa.com's drive to bring MLS2PDX): smart, approachable, friendly, inclusive, productive, inspiring, winning...

I can destroy all that in one video shot at a karaoke bar.

The correct phrase is from an Oregonian article 5 years ago... something like "raspy voice with a charming gap-toothed smile."

That's all beside the point. We got this far by having a group without structure, sharing ideas, letting stuff fly to either succeed or fail, and not generally succumbing to suits not doing the work we felt needed to be done. The reactions I've received wearing the Timbers Army scarf around town is one testimony to that- that's advertising easily understood in town.

BTW- to be honest, given a choice between That Town Which Shall Not Be Named and cities like Dallas, St. Louis, many others with more pro sports offerings and swank accomodations, I'd go north... but for purposes of this discussion, if any of you go spouting that to people, I'd have to kill whomever dares say it.

quote:

Originally posted by James Stock:
An observation from perusing the Timbers' MLS2PDX board:

Finngegan (more or less the point man in soccercityusa.com's drive to bring MLS2PDX): smart, approachable, friendly, inclusive, productive, inspiring, winning...

Ummmm, OK.

quote:

Maury (more or less the point man in oregonstadiumcampaign.com's drive to bring MLB2PDX): smart but aloof, condescending, abrasive...

James - get over it. Whatever Maury said to **** you off is nothing compared to flagrant flame throwing that goes on over at soccercityusa.com

quote:

Originally posted by CEDAR MILL MADNESS:
Mr Jones, I'm fully aware of our economic reality. By definition, my list was a wish list, not a request for immediate action on any of the above.

In regards to the economy here, we will eventually rebound. (If the federal government will stop underwriting greed and incompetence). Oregon's economy is far more diverse than in the early '80's, when unemployment in the state reached 12.5%, and people were leaving in droves.

People are hurting everywhere and at a time like this, I would never approve of or condone general funds going to any of these things.

In regards to the SMART Tower though, Derek Hanna has stated publicly that he wishes to finance it himself. I'm not one of these folks who's obsessed with the green movement. But I do think the tower is cool, would be a great tourist attraction, would bring people to the area and greatly increase the chances of resurecting that moribund part of town that sits desolate when the Blazers aren't playing.

Just keeping it real.

Agree with you about the Feds. As for economic diversity in Oregon, well, it's my opinion that it isn't nearly diverse enough. Businesses have left the state and may continue to do so. Oregon has killed it's natural resource economy (fish and timber). Oregon's unemployment level is already at 10%. I suspect the state will exceed the 12.5% you cite. Wouldn't be surprised to see it hit 15% in about 2 quarters or so.

The City of Portland is talking about cutting it's abandoned car program, for example. How can the city be involved in a stadium deal during dire economic times for the city and state? Doesn't compute with me. Sorry. Also, I suspect that if Portland does this deal, it will kill off any chance of a stadium deal for MLB for at least a generation, if not permanently. Have you guys discussed the impact of this soccer project on your MLB ambitions? Have you thrown in the towel long-term on getting MLB here?

Just wondering.

Sorry to ruffle your feathers, TCL--I probably shouldn't have put it that way (i.e. it's great to salute the leader of the [online] MLS bid, but no need to compare him to the leader of the [online] MLB bid)...I had a thought/feeling, and that thought knee-jerked itself into finding its way onto this forum--again, apologies if I hurt your (or anyone else's) feelings, or anything of that sort.

Regarding the MLS/Beavers proposal - the deal is being structured using private funds with a private guarantor, with public bonds. Similar to the deal for the new UO basketball arena. Yeah the economy sucks right now but I see no problem with it, the way it is being structured. And besides, if Portland sucks so bad and can't afford this as you saying, then I guess MLB is out of the question regardless.

I have thrown in the towel on getting MLB anytime in the next 5-7 years for sure. The way things are going right now, it is more likely that MLB will contract the A's and The Marlins, rather than relocating and/or expanding. If MLB were to come here, or to San Antonio or Charlotte or Orlando or Vegas or wherever, they would just create another Kansas City or Pittsburgh situation, and that's the last thing they need right now the way the league is structured.

I think that the best thing the state can hope for right now on the sports front is:

1. MLS
2. Better ballpark for the AAA team
3. Portland State moves to the WAC
4. Oregon/Oregon State continue to build in football, basketball, and baseball
5. Local hoops programs at UP and/or PSU continue to grow (towards Gonzaga level)
6. NHL (but not for at least 3-5 years, and only if the Canucks and Sharks stay put and Seattle does not try to move to the NHL)

I know that everyone is focused on MLS (and rightfully so from a sports standpoint), but I still believe that the transformation of the Rose Quarter (including a new AAA stadium) will ultimately be a much bigger deal for the city from an entertainment, development, and economic standpoint.

quote:

Originally posted by James Stock:
Sorry to ruffle your feathers, TCL--I probably shouldn't have put it that way (i.e. it's great to salute the leader of the [online] MLS bid, but no need to compare him to the leader of the [online] MLB bid)...I had a thought/feeling, and that thought knee-jerked itself into finding its way onto this forum--again, apologies if I hurt your (or anyone else's) feelings, or anything of that sort.

No worries at all. I've just seen a lot of stuff over at soccercityusa that contradicts what you are saying (which I won't go into here, especially right now when they are so close to doing something great for the city). Finnegan is a great advocate and it helps that he is very well connected politically.

TCL, thanks for the note, and I don't want to get into something here, but I have never once seen Finnegan condescend to anyone on that board, or flame in any way, shape, or form anyone on that board--if that's happened, I have honestly never seen it...I've seen him (understandably) become frustrated and perhaps make fun of a certain politician who has chosen to stick her (oops) head in the sand and shout "Blah blah blah" so as not to hear the voices of reason/evidence as to why MLS in PDX works, and is a worthy goal...but that's it--never once seen Finnegan condescend to/flame another person who's posted on that site...others on that board may have, of course flamed, etc., but just for the record, I was speaking only to the leaders of the MLS/MLB message boards.

So the vote is this Wednesday. Adams and Leonard are voting yes, Fritz is voting no, Saltzman and Fish aren't saying. They restructured the deal over the weekend and now Paulson's family is personally guaranteeing ALL of the bond repayment.

If you haven't done so already, email the commissioners, especially Saltzman and Fish, and let them know where you stand. Personally I'd request that you also email them and let them know where you want the new AAA stadium for the Beavers to be located (and why), but that's up to you (I know some of you don't care about Lents vs. MC, but it is very important to others).

So I see the city council vote passed 3-2. What does this mean now? Also, I was following this on the Oregonian blog and it was stated during that bringing MLS would not hurt a future bid for MLB.

It means this is the end of the beginning, as Sam Adams said; a great step, but not the slam dunk many of us were craving, in bringing MLS here (kudos to Saltzman for voting Yay, but blast the $15 million funding hole he's largely reponsible for)...PDX is a very good bet to at least be awarded a conditional franchise within a week or 3, but too many in PDX (the Fritz/Fish types [fingernails slashing a chalkboard when Fish dared to say "No one is a bigger soccer fan than I..." Ugh.] don't see the great deal Paulson is bringing to the table (great for PDX)...I don't think the politicos in PDX are above screwing this up for soccer/sports fans in the Rose City...OTOH, are we closer to bringing MLS2PDX than we were 24 hrs. ago? Oui.

Addendum: I will always be a fan of the PORTLAND Trail Blazers, but the truth is the Blazers' ownership is despicable and creepy. When they're not threatening to move the team outta town, they're throwing Merritt Paulson under the bus (as J. Isaac did yesterday), even when they'd been slapping his back and basically insinuating they would be partnering w/him on the minor league baseball park project...Merritt Paulson called J. Isaac's testimony yesterday 'surreal' on 95.5 radio, basically saying it was 180 degrees from what the Blazers had said previously...in the dictionary under the word "creepy", there's a pic of Paul Allen; under the word "weaselly" (OK, that's not really a Webster Dictionary word), there's a pic of J. Isaac and his weaselly weasels at 1 Center Court...Yeesh....p.s. it is incredibly transparent and laughable that the Blazers have some grand scheme planned for the Rose Quarter. Where have you been for the last 14 years, Blazers? You had 14 yrs. where you did next to nothing to develop the prime real estate around the RQ (the failed Cucina Cucina restaurant is at least something, but not much in the long run), why now?...I tell you what, I love the Blazers, but I would take a 40-122 MLB team, or 0-16 NFL team, over them any day...Um, Go Ducks!

Our dreams from 2002 and 2003 have been moved forward. Some people on this board thought the US Postal site was the prime location but that was not going to happen for multiple reasons.

I have been at location forums for architecture pointing people to this site again so lets enjoy the tension while we wait for the MLS decision.

And yes CL, the flaming at Soccer City USA is in another league. Thanks for your work on that board!

Years ago I called this process "baby steps". So maybe PDX is now into our pre-teens now. Maturity would be having year round major league sports in PDX, if you were wondering.

Keep the dream alive folks! I still think MLB is something that could be in PDX's future at a Rose Quarter stadium. Thought so from day one.

Maybe a meet up is in order to celebrate once we know when PDX gets a MLS team. It is good to feel good about stuff like this with people who have similar ideas.

BB

I think bringing any major league team to Portland is a success. Plus, if the AAA stadium is built at the RQ that would only help down toe road to lure an MLB team. I would be down for a meet up if we land the MLS franchise.

Looks like a MLS2PDX rally/celebration's (the one we've been wating for) been scheduled for this Friday at the downtown Hilton at 930am...come one, come all...the PDX/Seattle/Vancouver MLS rivalries are going to be sweet, and I'm sure Amtrak will see an uptick in sales along that Eugene-B.C. corridor...this...is....awesome!!

So wait, it is going to be official this Friday? Where did you hear this at. I just saw on ESPN that Vancouver was awarded a franchise, but nothing about the second city.