But even if it wouldn’t work, it sounds like a good way to lose Paulson and his minor sports dreams. We can find another tenant for a really nice minor league ball park in the center of one of the largest markets available. What’s the real benefit of a dozen soccer games a year, anyway?

All these logical gymnastics for the benefit of Paulson… I don’t get where you all are coming from. There’s obviously a lot not being said out loud; it just doesn’t pass the sniff test.

Nobody likes to talk about how Portland got screwed on the last stadium deal on behalf of Marshall Glickman’s PFE, and how Paulson’s helping save political face for City Hall by paying back rent.

Is this all just loyalty to Adams (and Katz) and their patrons?

Because seriously… y’all are sounding nuts trying to justify this crazy deal. I mean… damn.

Frankly, what other good choice is there? Without the MLS team the Timbers are dead, because their closest opponent is over the Rockies. When the Timbers go, the Beavers can’t support PGE by themselves. They leave, rent stops being paid, and then where are we?

Somebody was balking at the notion of putting it where the PPS administration building (BESC) sits north of the Rose Quarter… can’t remember if it was Paulson, the city, or the school district. I know the land is for sale if the price is right….

You may be right about the feasibility of renovating the Coliseum. I don’t know. It bears investigation, in my mind, as we have a need for a mid-sized spectator venue, and the place has good bones. I don’t see how it directly competes with the Rose Garden; seems like a complementary thing to me.

There’s nothing saying that MLS, LLC has to have bylaws (except maybe state rules).

There’s nothing saying that MLS can’t revoke the offer to Portland, nor anything saying they must have 18 teams in 2011.

With Vancouver also headed into the league, disrupting the plan at this point jeopardizes the whole operation at PGE Park- if Paulson decides the city duped him. There’s no operating agreement past 2010. Teams fold or die, then there’s less income to pay off the 2000 bonds and less revenue coming into the spectator fund, guaranteeing nothing will happen at Memorial Coliseum.

Cleveland was once announced as getting MLS, a plan fell through, the team was revoked. MLS almost got into bed with San Antonio, the conditions of Alamodome availability changed, the plan died.

The legal constructs in the WHL and minor league baseball might be somewhat different, but not much. The Winter Hawks can have their franchise pulled for certain reasons, I’d tend to believe. It’s all madness.

Frankly, I can’t see how the Coliseum can be FEASIBLY retrofitted… mostly from the sense that the city isn’t going to want to compete with the Rose Garden. At least not there. Maybe an arena shared with Portland State University?

I will admit, however, that this idea intrigues me… if financing can be married to it. http://chatterbox.typepad.com/.....iseum.html
After all, the existing Convention Center URA is the main reason for the Rose Quarter ballpark proposal.

I also think Paulson is being disingenuous when he says PGE Park is not good for watching baseball. It think the most recent renovation (that we’re still paying off) made it a great place to enjoy a ball game. I love the retro score board, and they managed to increase fan amenities while maintaining historic character.

Now we’re just supposed to throw that all away for a dozen soccer games a year?

Madness, I say!

Expensive? You bet. But look at the dollar figures that are being so casually tossed about on behalf of Merrit Paulson for a project that will include very little public benefit on a seasonal basis.

I’m talking about renovating the Coliseum to include significant, year-round public recreational and entertainment opportunities. It’s a pipe dream, I know, but I contend it’s more realistic, less expensive, and has more public benefit than the Paulson/Adams/Leonard plan.

And by the way, I don’t hate rich people (I like what Bill Gallacher has done with the Winter Hawks, and I like his plans to enhance youth hockey in Portland). What I resent is the arrogance and sense of entitlement Merrit Paulson brings to the table. He’s putting up less than half what the city will put up in financing the deal, and he’s trying to call the tune. It’s an insult to the citizens of Portland.

The Winter Hawks have stated a desire to play more games in the Rose Garden. http://www.oregonlive.com/hawk.....038;coll=7 I think that speaks volumes as to the Coliseum’s viability and to the level of work required to bring it up to standard.

Another friend mentioned how single pane glass would never be approved in modern construction code, due to energy lost. Essentially, the outer shell of the arena would have to be replaced. That itself may not cost a whole lot, but there’s a lot of those niggling requirements for the arena.

The costs of a renovation will add up quite high, given several of these requirements.