OT MLB to PDX: We're talking baseball to PDX

https://articles.oregonlive.com/spo...sf/2018/04/canzano_mlb_to_pdx_group_meets.amp


The ownership group focused on bringing Major League Baseball to Portland met privately with city officials to discuss downtown Portland stadium plans.

The ownership group focused on bringing Major League Baseball to Portland met privately with city officials to discuss downtown Portland stadium plans, The Oregonian/OregonLive has learned.

A city hall source confirmed that Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is in communication with representatives of the group. A second source indicated that the group is engaged in talks to secure two potential stadium sites.

I love the idea of baseball in Portland. A lot of you do, too. But the hang-up in our state and in the city of Portland has always been the notion of using public dollars to fund a stadium. The latest murmur is that the Portland-based group would use mostly private funds.

There's an expected news release coming this week from the group. I'd target mid-week for that if you're following this closely. But it feels like this is a real effort with some real possibilities.

Last September, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that Portland would be on a list of potential expansion cities. The potential stadium would include funding from a $150 million grant that was approved by the state of Oregon in 2003 when the Expos were exploring relocation.

In October, former Trail Blazers broadcaster Mike Barrett confirmed that he was part of the group. He said, "There is also a formally organized, sophisticated and seasoned management group running this initiative."

Relocating a current MLB franchise such as the Oakland A's or Tampa Rays is also a viable option in this sports columnist's opinion. Maybe the more likely option in fact. Neither franchise has a viable stadium plan. There's a lot of posturing but no real action. Both could move, with Montreal and Portland ending up as the merry beneficiaries.

The A's, who are seeking a new stadium, have emerged as a possible candidate for relocation to Portland in the last few months. It makes sense. They'd stay in the West. They've been forced to seek alternatives for a new stadium site after their initial choice in Oakland, a plot of land near downtown, became unavailable when talks broke down between the A's and the Peralta Community College District.

The latest plan in Oakland involves the possibility of using an aerial tram as a mode of transportation from downtown Oakland into a new stadium on the waterfront.

Aerial tram?

Portland already has one of those, yeah?

 

In terms of sporting events, it's hard to top going to a baseball game on a nice summer day/evening. I'm going to try not to get my hopes up on this one though even though by all accounts this group has their shit together. I think I'd prefer an expansion team over the A's especially if the current owners are just relocating and not selling the team to the Portland group.

Question for baseball fans:
Would you become a fan of the Portland team or keep your allegiances to your current team?

I've been a Cincinnati Reds fan since my childhood in the 80's. My favorite player was Eric Davis. I've been extremely loyal to my favorite teams and have never wavered on rooting for anyone else but this would be one of the few times that I think it would be acceptable to change your favorite team as an adult. I think rooting for both would be lame, even lamer if they were both in the NL since that would mean the Reds would play a couple series here every year. Maybe it will depend on what they are called because if they have a stupid name or logo or colors that could factor in. I don't know, I'm torn. Hopefully I will know what to do if it happens. Damn it! Here I go getting all excited again.

 

It would be nice to get another professional sport in town and MLB would be fun (I would prefer an NFL though) but this has been discussed so many times in the past that it is hard to get very much hope up.

 

I would support just about any pro team that comes here. NHL, NFL, MLB..... even the Seahawks, because it would be hilarious if we stole their team.

 

I think I'd stay with the Yankees and Mets since I didn't grow up watching baseball in Oregon. Although if Portland was in the World Series, I'd pull for Portland.

 

Just like when the Blazers came, my allegiance would be to our team. I was a huge Sixers fan growing up with Wilt, Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham etc.

 

We already have the perfect outdoor roller derby facility at Alpenrose Dairy. Imagine come flying off those banked curves.

 

Portland all the way if they get a franchise....!

 

I wish we could get a baseball team. I'm a Mariners fan who doesn't really enjoy watching games unless it's in the background but I know the sport and enjoy fomenting scores. A Portland MLB team would definitely have my fandom and itd be fun to go to games during the summer.

 

Nope. Hardcore SF Giants fan, now and always. And since this whole “MLB to Portland” thing is nothing more than a pipe dream (not to mention an obvious effort by the A’s to leverage a new stadium in Oakland), my hope is for a National League team so I can see the Giants play up here numerous times during each and every season. As it stands now, we (BG and I) either have to drive/fly to SF or wait for the Giants to play in Seattle very 3 years. But if we get a team I can promise to root heartily for Portland over the Mariners and Dodgers.....

 

I hope Paul Allen would consider buying a baseball team. With his money, we'd be set.

 

Portland over everything.

I'd become a Portland NFL fan over being a Niners fan.
I'd become a Portland MLB fan over being a Mariners fan.

 

What's the baseball thing you talk about? Is it a sport? When channel flipping, I occasionally watch it 'cause it puts me to sleep and I have a really good nap.

 

You're either with us or against us!

 

Definitely better than Kickball.

 

Cup, If baseball comes here with a stadium privately financed, then it would possible for an NFL team to look at Portland if the stadium could work for both. Just a thought.

 

Same.

I'm a Dodgers fan, because my dad grew up in LA. He loves the Dodgers and I grew up rooting for them. But, if Portland got a team, I would drop that LA thing in a heartbeat. And I would feel much better about myself...haha