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“Soooo …” you might be saying to yourself. “My niece plays soccer. I’ve heard about
the Timbers. But what’s the big deal about an MLS franchise? “
There are many ways to answer that question. Here’s a few for starters:
1. Major League Soccer is the premier professional soccer league in North America.
You knew that already. But what you may not realize is that Portland already has the
infrastructure in place for a successful franchise.
That’s what makes Portland's MLS efforts different than previous attempts to land a major-
league baseball franchise. This time, Portland has an ownership group in place, headed by
Merritt Paulson, owner of the Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers.
We’ve also got the place to play – PGE Park. Though it would need some alterations,
Portland’s historic stadium fits perfectly into the current spectrum of MLS stadia, which
ranges from the 27,000-seat Home Depot Center in Los Angeles to the 18,500-seat Dick’s
Sporting Goods Park where the Colorado Rapids play.
2. Portland is ripe for another big-time sports franchise.
Of the top 25 television Designated Market Areas – Portland ranks 23rd – only three
markets have just one major-league franchise. (See sidebar.)
Moreover, there is an untapped appetite for top-level competition in this city. You can prove
that passively: Despite not having a major-league baseball team, Portland’s TV ratings for
MLB telecasts have historically been very high.
Or, more relevantly, you can prove it at the box office: Portland has provided exceptional –
even legendary – support for its sole major-league team, the Trail Blazers. Beginning in the
late 1970s, the Blazers played to 810 consecutive sellouts – a streak that ultimately led to
the construction of the Rose Garden Arena. Even after the new arena opened with 50
percent more seating capacity, the Trail Blazers drew capacity crowds while charging ticket
prices that were the highest in the National Basketball Association for three consecutive
years.
Though they range from $10-$130, the average ticket price for the Trail Blazers last year
was $45. By contrast, the average ticket for a Major League Soccer game in 2008 is exactly
half that – $22.47. (OK, not exactly half. Keep the change …)
3. Major League Soccer is the big-league sport that’s attainable and affordable.
The economics of big-time sports almost always include an involuntary contribution from
taxpayers. Just look up the road to Seattle, where two downtown stadiums have been built
in the past decade. Safeco Field, which opened in 1999, was funded largely by $340 million
derived from a food tax. Qwest Field, where the Seahawks play, required $250 million in
taxpayer cash.
Major League Soccer, though, operates on a different (read: “smaller”) scale. With the
exception of the expansion franchise in Seattle, the trend in MLS has been toward soccer-
specific stadiums. In the past few years, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas have moved into
suburban stadiums seating between 20,000 and 30,000 fans. These stadiums have been
built for one-third of the costs of the Seattle stadiums.
Portland’s PGE Park, then, combines the best of both worlds: A retrofitted PGE Park,
capable of seating perhaps 22,000 fans, would become a summertime hub of activity in the
Downtown District’s revitalizing West End. In addition, the stadium could house Portland
State University’s football and soccer teams,
In November 2007, after meetings between Timbers’ Owner Merritt Paulson and MLS
Commissioner Don Garber, Garber guesstimated that it would cost approximately $20 million
to bring PGE Park up to MLS standards.
So what’s the bottom line? No one ever knows until the deal is done. But here’s one less-
than-perfect scenario:
• Let’s assume the City of Portland finances the entire amount by issuing bonds.
• Let’s further assume that the costs will be 50 percent over Garber’s estimate.
• Even so, you get a per-household assessment of approximately $10 annually.
At prices like that, the Sonics would still be in Seattle.
the Timbers. But what’s the big deal about an MLS franchise? “
There are many ways to answer that question. Here’s a few for starters:
1. Major League Soccer is the premier professional soccer league in North America.
You knew that already. But what you may not realize is that Portland already has the
infrastructure in place for a successful franchise.
That’s what makes Portland's MLS efforts different than previous attempts to land a major-
league baseball franchise. This time, Portland has an ownership group in place, headed by
Merritt Paulson, owner of the Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers.
We’ve also got the place to play – PGE Park. Though it would need some alterations,
Portland’s historic stadium fits perfectly into the current spectrum of MLS stadia, which
ranges from the 27,000-seat Home Depot Center in Los Angeles to the 18,500-seat Dick’s
Sporting Goods Park where the Colorado Rapids play.
2. Portland is ripe for another big-time sports franchise.
Of the top 25 television Designated Market Areas – Portland ranks 23rd – only three
markets have just one major-league franchise. (See sidebar.)
Moreover, there is an untapped appetite for top-level competition in this city. You can prove
that passively: Despite not having a major-league baseball team, Portland’s TV ratings for
MLB telecasts have historically been very high.
Or, more relevantly, you can prove it at the box office: Portland has provided exceptional –
even legendary – support for its sole major-league team, the Trail Blazers. Beginning in the
late 1970s, the Blazers played to 810 consecutive sellouts – a streak that ultimately led to
the construction of the Rose Garden Arena. Even after the new arena opened with 50
percent more seating capacity, the Trail Blazers drew capacity crowds while charging ticket
prices that were the highest in the National Basketball Association for three consecutive
years.
Though they range from $10-$130, the average ticket price for the Trail Blazers last year
was $45. By contrast, the average ticket for a Major League Soccer game in 2008 is exactly
half that – $22.47. (OK, not exactly half. Keep the change …)
3. Major League Soccer is the big-league sport that’s attainable and affordable.
The economics of big-time sports almost always include an involuntary contribution from
taxpayers. Just look up the road to Seattle, where two downtown stadiums have been built
in the past decade. Safeco Field, which opened in 1999, was funded largely by $340 million
derived from a food tax. Qwest Field, where the Seahawks play, required $250 million in
taxpayer cash.
Major League Soccer, though, operates on a different (read: “smaller”) scale. With the
exception of the expansion franchise in Seattle, the trend in MLS has been toward soccer-
specific stadiums. In the past few years, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas have moved into
suburban stadiums seating between 20,000 and 30,000 fans. These stadiums have been
built for one-third of the costs of the Seattle stadiums.
Portland’s PGE Park, then, combines the best of both worlds: A retrofitted PGE Park,
capable of seating perhaps 22,000 fans, would become a summertime hub of activity in the
Downtown District’s revitalizing West End. In addition, the stadium could house Portland
State University’s football and soccer teams,
In November 2007, after meetings between Timbers’ Owner Merritt Paulson and MLS
Commissioner Don Garber, Garber guesstimated that it would cost approximately $20 million
to bring PGE Park up to MLS standards.
So what’s the bottom line? No one ever knows until the deal is done. But here’s one less-
than-perfect scenario:
• Let’s assume the City of Portland finances the entire amount by issuing bonds.
• Let’s further assume that the costs will be 50 percent over Garber’s estimate.
• Even so, you get a per-household assessment of approximately $10 annually.
At prices like that, the Sonics would still be in Seattle.
Why Should Portland Care About MLS?
4. MLS is the gateway to the world.
Like no other sport, soccer brings the world’s attention. In
August, for example, a group of Japanese tourists will be
spending several days in Portland … seeing the sights,
sampling the beers, strolling on the Esplanade.
Nothing unusual about that, but the attraction for this
particular tourist group is neither Tram nor Trolley.
Instead, it’s Taka – Takayuki Suzuki, a member of Japan’s
2002 World Cup team who is finishing up his first season
with the Timbers.
Soccer stirs that kind of passion. Fans don’t watch … they
take part. They sing, they chant, they stand in the cheap
seats.
A home video of Suzuki’s first goal with the Timbers has
been posted on YouTube. That makes in one of about 80
million other home videos on YouTube. But Suzuki’s first
goal in Portland has had more 48,000 views – many of
them from outside the United States.
Yes, that kind of passion.
What is soccer? It’s chess on grass. It’s ballet with
cleats. It’s fast. It’s tough. It’s played without pads,
without helmets. It’s Spain against Russia. It’s
Manchester United against Real Madrid.
It’s Portland against Seattle; Portland against Los
Angeles; Portland against New York. It’s 20,000 people
waiting for lightning to happen and magic to strike.
It’s Portland’s turn. And it’s Portland’s time.
Like no other sport, soccer brings the world’s attention. In
August, for example, a group of Japanese tourists will be
spending several days in Portland … seeing the sights,
sampling the beers, strolling on the Esplanade.
Nothing unusual about that, but the attraction for this
particular tourist group is neither Tram nor Trolley.
Instead, it’s Taka – Takayuki Suzuki, a member of Japan’s
2002 World Cup team who is finishing up his first season
with the Timbers.
Soccer stirs that kind of passion. Fans don’t watch … they
take part. They sing, they chant, they stand in the cheap
seats.
A home video of Suzuki’s first goal with the Timbers has
been posted on YouTube. That makes in one of about 80
million other home videos on YouTube. But Suzuki’s first
goal in Portland has had more 48,000 views – many of
them from outside the United States.
Yes, that kind of passion.
What is soccer? It’s chess on grass. It’s ballet with
cleats. It’s fast. It’s tough. It’s played without pads,
without helmets. It’s Spain against Russia. It’s
Manchester United against Real Madrid.
It’s Portland against Seattle; Portland against Los
Angeles; Portland against New York. It’s 20,000 people
waiting for lightning to happen and magic to strike.
It’s Portland’s turn. And it’s Portland’s time.
This section features editorial contributions from our users on why Portlanders should be interested
in bringing a MLS expansion franchise to town. Submit your own.
in bringing a MLS expansion franchise to town. Submit your own.
FACT!
You often hear that Portland is
the only city in the top 25
television markets with just one
major-league sports franchise.
Actually, that’s not precisely true.
Both Sacramento (19th) and
Orlando (20th) have just one big-
league pro team – in both cases,
as with Portland, a National
Basketball Association franchise.
But neither Sacramento nor
Orlando is nearly as isolated,
sportswise, as Portland.
• Orlando is surrounded by eight
other Florida-based major league
teams; it is located less than 90
miles from the Tampa-St.
Petersburg region, which has
professional football, baseball and
hockey.
• Sacramento, likewise, is less
than 90 miles from the San
Francisco Bay area, with its seven
professional sports franchises.
The Portland-to-Seattle commute
is nearly twice as far; Google
Maps says it’s 174 miles from
downtown Portland to downtown
Seattle.
You often hear that Portland is
the only city in the top 25
television markets with just one
major-league sports franchise.
Actually, that’s not precisely true.
Both Sacramento (19th) and
Orlando (20th) have just one big-
league pro team – in both cases,
as with Portland, a National
Basketball Association franchise.
But neither Sacramento nor
Orlando is nearly as isolated,
sportswise, as Portland.
• Orlando is surrounded by eight
other Florida-based major league
teams; it is located less than 90
miles from the Tampa-St.
Petersburg region, which has
professional football, baseball and
hockey.
• Sacramento, likewise, is less
than 90 miles from the San
Francisco Bay area, with its seven
professional sports franchises.
The Portland-to-Seattle commute
is nearly twice as far; Google
Maps says it’s 174 miles from
downtown Portland to downtown
Seattle.
Roger Anthony is a local writer living in
Portland's Woodstock Neighborhood
Portland's Woodstock Neighborhood