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City Council approves $31 million PGE Park soccer deal

Stadium to be renovated for soccer; Portland Beavers still without a home

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Feb 3, 2010, Updated Feb 3, 2010 (7 Reader comments)

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Portland’s City Council approved a $31 million deal with businessman Merritt Paulson Wednesday morning to renovate PGE Park for Major League Soccer.

The 4-1 vote, with only Commissioner Amanda Fritz opposing the deal, was scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2011 MLS season.

Voting in favor of the proposal were Mayor Sam Adams and commissioners Nick Fish, Randy Leonard and Dan Saltzman.

Paulson owns the Portland Timbers, which will become an MLS team. The deal calls for him to put up $8 million in cash toward the project. He will also pay $11.1 million in rent for the stadium.

The city will contribute $11.9 million in bonds backed by its Spectator Fund, which comes from people attending sports and other spectator events, including ticket taxes and Rose Garden parking fees.

“These are the best possible terms for our city under the circumstances, but I still have concerns about the costs, the source of the funds and the uses of the funds,” Fritz said prior to the vote.

Leonard strongly disagreed, arguing that the deal was a bargain for the city. “Kansas City is paying $150 million for its soccer stadium,” Leonard said.

Paulson was awarded the MLS franchise earlier this year, dependent on he and the city being able to reach agreement on a stadium for the team. Paulson also owns the Portland Beavers Triple-A baseball team, which plays its home games at PGE Park. The renovations will require Paulson to find a new home for the Beavers. Three attempts to site one elsewhere in the Portland area — including Beaverton — have to far fallen through.

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Reader comments

Re: City Council approves $31 million PGE Park soccer deal

Money for stupid projects at 665 million for bikes and balls..this city will not write a check that will not bounce, it's a matter of time."

" Jack Peek"

(email verified)

Wed, Feb 03, 2010 at 03:04 PM

Re: City Council approves $31 million PGE Park soccer deal

Starting with Sam, Randy and Saltzman should be ashamed of themselves. But with their own egos writing checks that their bodies cant cash, they cant see how they are running this great city into the pits of hell.

This soccer thing is a failure before it starts. Look at what happened to the old Timbers back in the late 70's. Went down the drain after 3 years. This will too. A nitch sport that will fold and then keep portland wondering what to do with the field after the team collapses.

And oh by the way. Who is still paying for the loan renovation of the last stadium remodel?....citizens maybe?

They are giving absolutely no though as to what will happen to PSU football, local high school football, and yes our own Portland Beavers. If they even gave 2 cents worth of thought they would have dumped this project long ago. But again, they are serving their own egos here. If the Timbers ar enow only drawing 4-5K people a match, do they honestly think they will fill the stadium for the next level? not a chance. look around the rest of the league and see how many and who attend these matches.

If these people have any clue as to what they really have in mind, how about filling the citizens in on some of it. The comissioners dont give a rip about the feelings of the people that elected them. This whole thing disgusts me. I love seeing events held in the VETERANS MEMORIAL COLESIUM and the Rose garden. But from now on Im driving my CAR, parking on the streets and walking. I wont give you a penny of my parking money to funnel to the stadium project.

And where on Gods green earth did they come up with this 650 million price tags for more bike lanes? I forgot, it's $10 million for the paint, 640 Million for city employee labor.

sam, I still dont understand how you skated on lying to the citizens to get elected. Nothing short of Official misconduct, punishable by decertification, and possible jail time. But this city is as limp as you are and feel there is nothing wrong in lying. Just pathetic Sam.

"B.G. of Clackamas"

(email verified)

Wed, Feb 03, 2010 at 04:19 PM

Re: City Council approves $31 million PGE Park soccer deal

From the time I tried to recall Vera Katz, I could see this coming.

When SAM came in, I knew what he would do before he did it, he has a mean streak in him that makes Leonard look like a sick cat.

Cross his \"Veravisions\" she passed to him, and he will just get worse...he isn't writing the checks YOU ARE!

We are broke...the country is broke, important world people say so, in no uncertain terms, we are not what we once were.

If you don't fight back, SAM, will break us, he is blind now with power.

No responses from us in a pointed way, we just threw gas on a fire, that Fireman Randy in his best days couldn't beat down,and his best was in the kitchen I've been told.

So..do nothing, and SAM,while break this city...mark my words"

" Jack Peek"

(

" Jack Peek"

(email verified)

Wed, Feb 03, 2010 at 08:11 PM

Re: City Council approves $31 million PGE Park soccer deal

Nothin like a project done with no real public input at all is there? When will the voters in Portland wake up and see that their city is being run by fiscal illiterates?

And don't be surprised when this so-called "major league soccer" league goes bankrupt. They are alreasy living off francise fees and that can only last for so long.

"PDX Soccer Is For LOSERS"

(email verified)

Thu, Feb 04, 2010 at 01:09 PM

Re: City Council approves $31 million PGE Park soccer deal

Harrisburg PA....maybe filing bancruptcy,there debt is nothing compared to the stuff going down here.

WHEN WILL THIS CITY WAKE UP?

" Jack Peek"

(email verified)

Fri, Feb 05, 2010 at 02:34 PM

Re: City Council approves $31 million PGE Park soccer deal

Who is paying for the last remodeling of PGE park to turn it in to the state of the art baseball stadium that everyone bragged about under the leadership of Vera Katz?

""

(email verified)

Fri, Feb 05, 2010 at 05:55 PM

Re: City Council approves $31 million PGE Park soccer deal

Soccer is a nitch sport. A sport loved by a few Americans, loved by thousands of illegals waving foreign flags. It will never compare to American sports. Look at what happend in the late 70's when the first Portland Timber team folded after 3 seasons. Right now the Timbers draw maybe 5 thousand to a match. You really think that they will sell out every game, 20+ K to make money to pay these silver spooned athletes? Dont count on it. sooner or later, Portland will be without baseball and soccer. Where will that leave us? looks like the Blazers own the city. I was born and raised here in portland. Id spend the money to see MLB, NFL, or NHL before id sit and watch something dissapear in 3 years. I dont think the leaders in this city gives a tinkers damn about what tax dollars are wasted on. I sure do. Wake up Portland.