Portland Family Entertainment, headed by former Trail
Blazers President Marshall Glickman, "intends to compete in
the city's unusual public search" for a Civic Stadium
operator/team owner, according to Jeff Manning of the
Portland OREGONIAN. Glickman said that the company hopes to
bring an MLS team to the city, "perhaps in time for the 2000
season, as well as possibly other athletic teams."
Financial consultant Mark Gardiner and local entrepreneur
Andrew Wiederhorn are partners with Glickman in his bid.
Portland Mayor Vera Katz has said that the city would issue
RFPs from the private sector to redevelop the stadium and
possibly attract new sports franchises. The city "hopes to
issue the RFP this week." Glickman said that it is "too
soon" to say whether his team would attempt to buy or simply
manage Civic Stadium. MLS is looking at Charlotte, Houston,
Rochester and a second team in L.A., in addition to Portland
(OREGONIAN, 8/23). In Portland, Dwight Jaynes wrote that
"before the city hands the keys to its stadium over to
Glickman, several concerns would have to be addressed. His
tenure at the helm of the business side of the Trail Blazers
... was riddled with controversy" (OREGONIAN, 8/23).
