Seeing how successful the Timbers have been I think an MLB team would receive similar attention. Paulson could use this to lure a team to Portland in the future. This city is ready for more than one big pro-sports team. The Timbers army is something else. The place is wild every game. MLB, the avid fanbase is here waiting.
I disagree. A Timbers game is popular because it's an event, like an NFL game. An NFL team in Portland would be a godsend. Timbers Army on steroids. Baseball, however, no. 80+ games makes it cater to a completely different kind of sports fan, one that I don't think Portland has in enough numbers to make it work here. The Blazers make a 40+ game season work because they've been here forever as "the only game in town", and there are generations of fans that are invested in their success. A baseball team, especially one that would struggle early on, would not take hold and get the 40 to 50,000 paying fans on a daily basis that it would take to be an success in Portland. They would move before the generational toehold would take place.
MLB to Portland would be great. MLB is a different kind of event. It is a family event. Parks that do it right have all kinds of stuff for kids to do and I think more than any other sport creates great memories for families.
Awesome Location and Design. If baseball were to work here it would have to be a very special venue like that. Tend to agree here.
I think most families that would want to go to baseball games live in the suburbs. Being downtown, I think would hinder their ticket sales. With that said, I don't have an excuse for the Blazers in the same situation.
. I remember back in the day when we were teased by these photos. I hung them on my bedroom wall for years. It sucked when I finally tore them down because I knew it was all a dream and we never really had a chance. Sadly I don't think our chances are any better because the Timbers have a strong fanbase.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2011-misc.shtml Looks like the average attendance is about 30K a night. That's 80+ dates of 30K a night. Day after day. I don't think Portland has that type of Sports fan.
10,000 fans is a big difference. That average has to take into account venues like Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Wrigley, Dodger Stadium and Busch that our filled for every game. Its not the norm though.