http://portland.bizjournals.co.../03/23/tidbits1.html

Friday, March 20, 2009
Quick Hits
Play ball?
Portland Business Journal

Word that the Oakland Athletics could relocate their Major League Baseball franchise has rekindled the fire among Portland’s baseball enthusiasts.

Drew Mahalic, CEO of the Oregon Sports Authority, acknowledged that the group is “closely watching” the A’s’ situation, revealed last week when owner Lew Wolff announced he’ll move the team.

The Sports Authority, which seeks to bring big-time events to the state, and the Oregon Stadium Campaign were two groups that unsuccessfully sought to bring the Montreal Expos to Portland in 2004. The Oregon Stadium Campaign has not met since the Florida Marlins made overtures toward Portland in early 2006, said Wally Van Valkenburg, the group’s former chairman.

However, Portland Beavers and Timbers owner Merritt Paulson’s willingness to spend money on a Major League Soccer franchise could spur baseball advocates into action.

“If he can run a good strong minor league team and get the MLS franchise, our chances would be pretty good in the future” of landing big-league ball, said Van Valkenburg, who’s also a Stoel Rives LLP managing partner.

Supporters still hold a big trump card: The Oregon Legislature passed a 2003 bill calling for $150 million to be raised in stadium funds through taxes on player and executive salaries.

“That money is still sitting on the table” said Ryan Deckert, executive director of the Oregon Business Association and a former state senator whose parliamentary move helped save the bill. “That was the first effort of the (Oregon Stadium Campaign), to get that bill signed into law, and we did it.”

Portland officials made several steps to attract the Expos, even launching an exhaustive stadium site study. The Oregon Stadium Campaign estimated that building a new major league ballpark would produce more than 1,500 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs.

The $150 million legislative contribution would have funded one-third of the campaign’s original stadium cost estimates. The rest would have come from several sources, including ticket surcharges, seat licenses and hotel taxes.

— Andy Giegerich

This could mean that the OSA is pushing to get the Beavers' new stadium at Blanchard, but that's about it for the time being. The A's are still pushing for San Jose and I'm sure they will keep pushing for many, many years before considering other options (and I am one of the few who think we would have as good or better shot as Sacramento if it got to that point).

They' ve been pushing for a new stadium in the Bay Area for many, many years already, TCL; I'm not sure how many more years they'll keep trying, given the uncertain state of the economy. Of course, that same economy may make it harder for us to get things done here in Portland, too. Nevertheless, I believe we need to be ready if and when Wolff decides that the A's will always be "second fiddle" in the Bay and consider greener pastures. Somehow, I really believe Portland can and would support a team a whole lot better than the East Bay has for most of the time they have been in Oakland.

Any speculation how a move of the Sacramento Kings, if it should come about (although I'd hate to see it) might affect that city's willingness or desire to pursue major league baseball?

BC, first of all congrats to Scott Rueck and the mighty George Fox U. Bruins Womens Basketball team on their national championship...amazing stuff--32-0 on the year...as far as Sactown, I'm sure they'd fall over themselves trying to lure MLB to town, especially if the Kings leave...like you, I hope the Kings can stay in Cali's capital city--there simply hasn't been a better, more loyal NBA town than Sac over the past 10-20 years...as foolish as Stern was to allow the Hornets move and to a lesser extent, the Sonics move, a Kings move would trump all those as the stupidest franchise move in NBA history...you simply don't turn your back on what is arguably the NBA's most loyal/devoted market over the past decade or 2.