The group looking to bring an MLB team to Portland said that it has "submitted formal proposals to purchase one of two potential ballpark sites close to downtown," according to a front-page piece by Gordon Friedman of the Portland OREGONIAN. One of the potential sites is "located in the Rose Quarter just north of the Moda Center complex and valued" at more than $100M. The backers, operating as the Portland Diamond Project, said that the other location is an "industrial site in Northwest Portland." They "declined to say how much they offered for each site." However, their offers suggest they are "serious about their ambitious plans to lure a pro baseball team to the Rose City." Portland Diamond Project spokesperson John McIssac said that the group hopes to "build a 32,000 seat stadium as part of a 'vibrant, walkable' multi-use complex that could contain as many as 8,000 apartments." The company also said that it has hired K.C.-based Populous, which has designed many MLB ballparks, to design a ballpark "in partnership with Portland-based TVA Architects." McIssac said that the company "does not intend to ask the Legislature or city to 'create any new programs' to fund ballpark construction." Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said that he would "not entertain a request for public funding" of an MLB ballpark (Portland OREGONIAN, 4/18). NBCSPORTSNORTHWEST.com's Dwight Jaynes noted O'Melveny & Meyers Partner Irwin Raij has been "retained as a legal advisor" for the process (NBCSPORTSNORTHWEST.com, 4/17).
WILLING & ABLE: In Portland, John Canzano writes the city will "support whatever MLB team plays in whatever stadium that is built." Canzano: "This city will love the team. It will buy tickets to watch it. It will defend it, support it, and embrace it. Blindly, sometimes." The Timbers have "sold out every home game since they began MLS play," while the NWSL Thorns "drew 16,000" to a match over the weekend. The Trail Blazers 195-game sellout streak that ended in '12 was "remarkable by any other city's standards." But it "doesn't compare to the 814 consecutive NBA games" the team sold out in the 18 years that started in '77. That is the "standard across all sports" (Portland OREGONIAN, 4/18). Canzano notes there are "only two ways" to get a MLB team: "relocation and expansion." MLB has talked about "possibly expanding, but relocation would be the quicker path." That "brings to mind" the A's, who on Monday night "drew fewer than 10,000 fans for the fourth time in nine home games." Canzano: "I'm not sure there's a viable stadium solution anywhere given the financial issues facing that city" (Portland OREGONIAN, 4/18).
