That's in the article. I'm assuming the changes to the Hillsboro stadium would have to begin soon if they hoped to have it ready for the team by the time the lease ran out.
The worst place to put a new stadium would be next to the Moda Center, an investment in a new stadium should be used as an anchor for new development in the city. The original baseball stadium in Portland was on NW Vaughn, the city should look to putting a new one on the river in industrial NW Portland. A lot of that land is sitting there undeveloped or underdeveloped because it is a super fund site much like the So What district was. A new stadium between the river and Forrest park would be amazing and help to spur new development.
I would like to see one in that NW area. At the same time, while there already is the Moda Center, there's nothing to draw people in the summer to the area. Big reason that one restaurant now Dr. Jacks or whatever has gone through like 20 different companies. Bringing a baseball stadium to that area would mean basically year round events in the area, making it easier for bars and restaurants to spring up in the area.
Nothing should go there until the city and state widen I-5 from 2 lanes in each direction to 3 or 4. That area is so fucked.
I'd like to see them make a few adjustments to exits and such, and make that little 5 and 405 loop into 1 way sections. 5 is north, 405 is south or vice versa.
Vaughn ST! Marvelous idea. Back when that park was in use all the Street Cars from all directions brought you near to that Ball Park. It was a fun thing to do.
Lashbrook is both being used and a user here. Being used by the Athletics to get themselves a better deal and using this situation to get his name back in circulation.
Because at one time it was my dream too, but you can only be tricked so many time before you just see everything as an elaborate con job.
This. The thought is exciting. But, baseball-to-Portland has been rumored for years. The A's leaving Oakland has been rumored for years. Portland is GREAT for MLB. But not in the sense that we're getting a team. We're a big enough city with only one major sports franchise (okay, soccer fans, I didn't forget you, but let's be honest, MLS is still growing, and at a nice pace - I'm not hating, as I like the Timbers, too). We're a city that could stand to have another major sports franchise, so it makes flirting with us, fake as it is, look a little bit legit, and maybe enough to scare the City of Oakland to step up (not quite to the same degree as Seattle in the Kings' fiasco, but in a similar manner). That being said, I know a ton of people that would step up and buy season tickets if we were to get a team. I am sure we'd be a hot ticket in town for the first 2-3 seasons. Beyond that, I'm curious how well a team would do here in Portland, financially.
The A's are a good team, i'm sure they would do well. Look at Okie town and the Blunder, they got blessed with a good team after only one year.
I was more referring to the attendance than the quality if team. I think they'll be a hot ticket initially, but I could see them not being a huge long-term draw here. If other believed they would be, we'd have a team by now.
