Portland Commissioner Threatens To Pull Support Of MLS Plan

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

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).

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