Read the entire article here on the Oregonian website.

Portland tweaks Expos bid for key baseball meetings

By JOHN HUNT
The Oregonian
Wednesday, May 19, 2004

NEW YORK -- The major league owners meetings begin today at Major League Baseball headquarters as Portland officials wait for word on their latest finance plan.

After making some final tweaks during a special 8 a.m. session Friday, the city sent a new stadium finance plan to Major League Baseball that has major changes from the original presentation it made in March 2003.

Portland's update could be crucial, because the relocation committee might narrow its list of possible new homes for the Montreal Expos during the two days of meetings.

"We realize this is a little bit of a dance," said Scott Farris, a spokesman for Mayor Vera Katz.

Changes to Portland's stadium finance plan included: A drop in estimates for the state share from the passage of Senate Bill 5 from $150 million to $124 million; a rise in ticket tax revenue from $49 million to $75 million; an $80 million stadium district revenue component; addition of a new concessions and merchandise tax ($25 million).

The plan also included some wording that is more direct. Katz extended an invitation to the committee to visit Portland again "to discuss how we might be awarded the Expos" or another team.

"We would love for them to be as explicit as they are willing to be," Farris said of the relocation committee. The committee is expected to report its findings to the owners and to commissioner Bud Selig this week.

Portland is trying to stay in the hunt for the Expos -- along with Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, Norfolk, Va., Las Vegas and Monterrey, Mexico -- and keep its options open for another relocating team. (Baseball's chief operating officer, Bob DuPuy told www.mlb.com that San Juan, Puerto Rico, has been eliminated from consideration as a permanent home for the Expos.)

Portland's revised finance plan also spelled out its $25 million charter seat license program in more detail. The 20 best seats in the new ballpark, directly behind home plate, would have a one-time, up-front fee of $20,000 apiece. The 80 seats in the next three rows behind home plate would cost $15,000 apiece. The rest of the seats in the first 10 rows would have one-time fees between $9,000 and $9,500.

An additional 1,000 box seats among the first 10 rows in the lower bowl featuring extra legroom and drink holders would carry license fees between $3,000 and $7,000.

Proceeds from the seat license program would directly finance the ballpark, and they would be in effect for the life of the ballpark, as long as the license holder buys season tickets. The license would be transferable.

John Hunt: 503-294-7643; johnhunt@news.oregonian.com