Huh? Your timeline is a little, well, wrong. The NBA didn't demand a new arena due to the Kingdome being closed, since the Sonics didn't play there anymore (hadn't, as a main tenant, since 85). The "NBA" demanded a new one well after it was demolished, and would have regardless of the Kingdomes fate. The city/owners of the Kingdome demolished the Kingdome because of the new stadium for the Mariners was already in place, and a new one was in the works for the Seahawks.
Baseball could easily work in Portland. You have a history going back to the Pacific Coast League and The Mavericks. I remember going to see the Beavers when I was a kid and they were the the Minnesota Twins Triple AAA affiliate. And the place was rocking. The reason that Paulson sold the Beavers was that it wasn't possible to keep them in Providence Park with The Timbers. And when it became clear that he was going to sell the franchise, the baseball trolls came out and tried to block the park improvements deal. There's the rub with Portland. The "anarchist syndicate commune" that runs this City salivates at the possibility of economic growth and extra revenue, but if it costs a penny, locals start froth at the mouth about the principle of spending THAT penny. That complete tool Canzano, has written articles about this issue several times, just to get those kind of responses out of locals. But the idea that this town couldn't support baseball is ludicrous.
I will never understand the NHL'S expansion "plans." Screw Seattle and Portland. Atlanta and Phoenix are great hockey markets! Oops. Atlanta moves back to Winnipeg and Phoenix loses there lease...... Quebec! (Because you know, they were able to keep their last franchise.) The should just send us a note saying "FU."
Baseball is the only top 5 sport I've never been able to muster up any interested for. I just don't get the appeal.
Yeah, for 85% of the season, baseball is hard to follow. The beginning of the season, the last month, and the playoffs are appealing though. It's a fantastic sport live at least.
Yeah. Baseball is kind of like soccer in that way. Both are spectators sport. A good quote about the way to play baseball is what Billy Martin said to his team. "You play the game hard for seven innings.... and then I take over."
