Portland Commissioner Threatens To Pull Support Of MLS Plan

Paulson's Plan For New Ballpark For Beavers In Lents, Oregon Lacking Support

Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard "threatened Friday to withdraw his support" for bringing an MLS franchise to the city unless USL Timbers and Triple-A PCL Portland Beavers Owner Merritt Paulson "recants a decision to withdraw plans" for a new ballpark in Lents, Oregon, according to the PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL. Paulson Friday said that his plan to build a new ballpark for the Beavers in Lents "lacked community support." Leonard in an e-mail to Paulson said that he "regretted how Paulson was treated during a Lents community meeting Thursday night and is worried Paulson was motivated by a 'mob on the verge of being out of control.'" Leonard urged Paulson to "allow the Lents Urban Renewal Advisory Committee to continue with its process before withdrawing from the plan." Leonard Friday added, "If you cannot do that, I cannot support the resolution next week agreeing to bring Major League Soccer to Portland" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/19). Leonard's vote against the MLS financing plan "could kill the whole deal" because City Commissioners Nick Fish and Amanda Fritz already have "voted against it once" (PORTLANDTRIBUNE.com, 6/19). The PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL noted Paulson's decision to withdraw the ballpark proposal "casts doubts as to whether Portland can keep" the Beavers in town. Paulson "made the move because issues regarding a Lents stadium could have threatened" the MLS franchise, scheduled to begin play in '11. Paulson has sought city aid on a $37M upgrade to PGE Park for the MLS club, and an estimated $48M for the new ballpark (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/19).

TAKE ME OUT OF THE BALLGAME? Clark County (OR) Commissioner Tom Mielke said that the Beavers last month contacted the county about "relocating to the Clark County Fairgrounds." In Portland, John Hunt noted the city could "conceivably promote land near Clark College as a potential new baseball home." The team also has "contacted the city of Vancouver." The Beavers have an affiliation agreement with the Padres through the '10 season, and Padres GM Kevin Towers said, "I certainly hope baseball stays in Portland. I like the affiliation a great deal. There's nothing that says we have to be downtown, but I like the Portland area" (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/20). Also in Portland, Anna Griffin wrote if the Beavers leave the city, do not "blame Merritt Paulson," who "came to the table with a decent idea and negotiated in good faith." Paulson and MLS officials earlier this year "began insisting that the city find a new home for minor league baseball before the 2011 soccer season -- far too fast to craft a smart plan for putting the Beavers in a reinvigorated Rose Quarter." But to "no one's surprise," Lents residents opted against using $42M of "urban renewal money destined for other projects to gobble up a good chunk of Lents Park, by far the best thing their community has going for it." Griffin noted when the "dust clears and the votes are tallied, Portland could easily lose" both MLS and an "owner committed to making baseball work" in the market (OREGONLIVE.com, 6/20).