http://bikeportland.org/2009/07/07/velodrome-backer-sees-perfect-opportunity-in-memorial-coliseum/ Grrrreat idea. A money-sucking venture that will bring more of the middle-aged baggy-bodied set decked out in their spandex body-suits to the Rose Quarter. I'd rather have a giant Home Depot there.
I'd rather they put an indoor dirt track in there. Now that would be cool. Soccer field in the middle is very cool though.
After the Blazers killed the minor league baseball deal, I would be shocked if this was their backup plan for the MC.
Yes, because we don't have enough @#$#@$ soccer fields. Which is the reason this whole situation started...
I don't understand the soccer field in the middle. I honestly don't think that would be part of the final design, nor do I think they'd even have any use for it. Nobody is going to pay to watch some crappy indoor soccer game sunken below a sloped bike track. Awesome.
I hope the city doesn't agree to this. It seems to be no better than tearing it down and building a new stadium there.
It's a figure of speech relating to how it bothers me that we seem to bypass smart business decisions in lieu of entertaining uniquely "Portland" things (like the city's bike culture). Don't be surprised if this idea gains traction at City Hall.
So they can have a kick ass place for Roller Derby? If that's what they want to turn the arena into, how is that better than a new baseball stadium? Oh yeah...it's not.
a baseball stadium costs a whole hell of a lot more than putting a velodrome inside an existing structure. But yeah, same thing.
It also costs a lot more to build a restaurant than it does to have a lemonade stand on your corner. But which one is going to make more money? Not to mention the baseball stadium already has a willing owner, a willing tenant, and a willing facility manager. What is this? The Velodrome of Dreams? If we build it, they will come?
I think a lot of people don't want to let the city grow up as a big league (potential) town. Building a AAA stadium is cheaper than building a soccer stadium. And as much as I don't necessarily want the Beavers to leave, a AAA stadium is hopefully a stepping off point for MLB team. And whats the point in playing in a HUGE AAA stadium (PGE Park) if they don't draw near the crowds? Chances are good they'll draw the crowds at MLS much easier, and it can be fixed up a bit too (and make Viking games much more crowd friendly). Yes, you run the risk of the MLS team leaving, but sitting down and doing nothing about anything is exactly why some 40 years *after* we got the Blazers, we still only HAVE the Blazers. Plus, if they do it right, a AAA stadium (with decent parking, etc) can attract concerts or events. I wouldn't go to PGE to a concert because parking sucks crap.
Agree with almost everything you said. I am a HUGE proponent of the MLS renovation for 2011 at PGE Park, and I have been promoting a beautiful new park for the Beavs within striking distance of downtown. The one point of contention is that there is no way we are getting a MLB team in the near future. Bring a couple more Fortune 500 companies to the area, sprinkle in some other companies that employ around 1000 people, and that's a start. Otherwise we don't have nearly the corporate support to make the numbers pencil out.
