Portland Diamond Project (MLB) | Proposed

[PhillyPDX]

But I have to assume Vegas gets one too.

[subterranean]

As someone who has always been fond of baseball but whom has never followed with much consistency, I struggle with how many games there are. 162 regular season games is a marathon, and even if your team is tops, it’s really a big ask of almost any community to fill a stadium even half that often. The system is likely sacred and I assume there are some nuances and important aspects to the methodology that I’m not familiar with, but I think the sport would likely benefit from fewer, more important games. Dare I say even a little more drama somehow. That probably doesn’t align with the motives of owners or advertisers at all, may be sacrilegious among fans, but I think it’s true nonetheless.

[CorbinWarrick]

I told you guys this years ago. It’s not happening.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

But I have to assume Vegas gets one too.

I'll be shocked if Vegas isn't the next city to get an MLB team. By population alone, it's the 25th largest city in the U.S., and that's without accounting for tourists.

I wouldn't be surprised if a Vegas team could eventually build a national fanbase since so many people love going there.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

I'll be shocked if Vegas isn't the next city to get an MLB team. By population alone, it's the 25th largest city in the U.S., and that's without accounting for tourists.

I wouldn't be surprised if a Vegas team could eventually build a national fanbase since so many people love going there.

Well Vegas has been the A's bargaining chip for a couple years now and have expressed almost exclusive interest in relocating there, if they can't work out the stadium deal in Oakland... so I'd say Vegas being the next city to get a team is the highest likelihood... especially if it's from relocation.

[PhillyPDX]

Looks like Vegas it is:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36241520/oakland-agree-purchase-land-las-vegas-strip

Also, for the life of me I can't find this thread on the Portland developments board, I even did a word search (last time I posted in Lloyd). Am I missing it somewhere?

[NOPO]

I was hoping we’d get an MLB team so they could knock down Lloyd center for a medium sized stadium with no parking and a big dense housing neighborhood with ground-floor retail. Well, maybe someday we could just get the housing in place of Lloyd.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

Looks like Vegas it is:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36241520/oakland-agree-purchase-land-las-vegas-strip

Also, for the life of me I can't find this thread on the Portland developments board, I even did a word search (last time I posted in Lloyd). Am I missing it somewhere?

This actually is a good thing for helping Portland get a team. With the A's stadium deal locked in, MLB just need the Rays to nail down a stadium plan or relocate and Manfred will likely open up the discussion of league expansion to 32 teams. Portland is very high on the list for potential expansion.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

This actually is a good thing for helping Portland get a team. With the A's stadium deal locked in, MLB just need the Rays to nail down a stadium plan or relocate and Manfred will likely open up the discussion of league expansion to 32 teams. Portland is very high on the list for potential expansion.

Yeah, that has been the rumor a for a while now (especially since it's appear to be Vegas as heavy front runner for a while now). That SLC talk the other week is a real downer though, didn't realize they were in running. Probably depends on how badly MLB wants to place a team (or doesn't) near Seattle. The running assumption is 1 west coast expansion team and 1 east coast. So it's likely PDX vs SLC and Nashville vs Charlotte.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

This actually is a good thing for helping Portland get a team. With the A's stadium deal locked in, MLB just need the Rays to nail down a stadium plan or relocate and Manfred will likely open up the discussion of league expansion to 32 teams. Portland is very high on the list for potential expansion.

It looks like we might be closer to expansion than we realize. It is looking like the Rays will be getting a new stadium in St Pete, and staying where they are.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/rays-...etersburg-despite-threats-to-leave-town/

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

Yeah, that has been the rumor a for a while now (especially since it's appear to be Vegas as heavy front runner for a while now). That SLC talk the other week is a real downer though, didn't realize they were in running. Probably depends on how badly MLB wants to place a team (or doesn't) near Seattle. The running assumption is 1 west coast expansion team and 1 east coast. So it's likely PDX vs SLC and Nashville vs Charlotte.

There is a possibility that the MLB realigns the teams if it comes to wanting two west coast teams...though I think Nashville or Charlotte would be more likely.

My money is on Portland and Charlotte getting a team.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

Yeah, that has been the rumor a for a while now (especially since it's appear to be Vegas as heavy front runner for a while now). That SLC talk the other week is a real downer though, didn't realize they were in running. Probably depends on how badly MLB wants to place a team (or doesn't) near Seattle. The running assumption is 1 west coast expansion team and 1 east coast. So it's likely PDX vs SLC and Nashville vs Charlotte.

I feel Portland certainly has an edge over SLC here. Portland is ranked 22nd in DMA and SLC is 29th. The MSA for Portland's population is 2.5 million while SLC is 1.2 million. If Portland continues to push and comes to the table with a smart realistic plan to land a team, I don't think it's even a question who MLB would pick between the two.

[PhillyPDX]

Recent image hurts though. Will need to convince mlb recent pop loss (both urban and state) and other very public QOL issues are being improved upon. Utah is booming.

Joint push by pdx team and local government would going a very long way I would think. Government indifference, or even animosity (see Oakland), might doom pdx. Needs to be a concerted effort.

MLB team, Lloyd stadium and mixed use development. What a great thing that would be for Portland right now. Much needed sense of community pride.

[downtownpdx]

Yes to all of that.

[uncommon.name]

I just have to say, for anyone who doesn't think Portland could support an MLB team or that there won't be enough fans, watch "The Battered Bastards of Baseball", on Netflix. This is a city rich with baseball history and we all know Portland has the best sports fans in the country (don't @ me). I think it would be amazing if Kurt Russell joined the Portland Diamond Project since his own baseball roots (and family) run deep in Portland baseball history.

[CorbinWarrick]

If the Portland Thorns can sell out every game, MLB would be just fine

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by CorbinWarrick

If the Portland Thorns can sell out every game, MLB would be just fine

Interestingly, the Portland Thorns average roughly the same attendance as the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2,000 more than the Miami Marlins, and 4,000 more than the Oakland A's (which helps to explain why they're moving to Vegas).

Granted, those are the bottom three MLB teams in terms of attendance, and it should be noted that MLWS only has 11 home games per year whereas MLB typically has 81. For context, 15,500 tickets sold for each of 11 home games is 170,500 tickets sold per year for the Thorns vs 1,255,500 tickets sold per year for the Pirates...

...so, it isn't really a fair comparison, but still, it's interesting.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

I just have to say, for anyone who doesn't think Portland could support an MLB team or that there won't be enough fans, watch "The Battered Bastards of Baseball", on Netflix.

Seriously! Anyone here who hasn't watched The Battered Bastards of Baseball, stop what you're doing right now and make a note to watch it, even if you have no interest in baseball. It's FANTASTIC.

[CorbinWarrick]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

Interestingly, the Portland Thorns average roughly the same attendance as the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2,000 more than the Miami Marlins, and 4,000 more than the Oakland A's (which helps to explain why they're moving to Vegas).

Granted, those are the bottom three MLB teams in terms of attendance, and it should be noted that MLWS only has 11 home games per year whereas MLB typically has 81. For context, 15,500 tickets sold for each of 11 home games is 170,500 tickets sold per year for the Thorns vs 1,255,500 tickets sold per year for the Pirates...

...so, it isn't really a fair comparison, but still, it's interesting.

Had no idea pirates were so low I thought that city loves their team

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

Seriously! Anyone here who hasn't watched The Battered Bastards of Baseball, stop what you're doing right now and make a note to watch it, even if you have no interest in baseball. It's FANTASTIC.

It really is fantastic! Unfortunately it was before my time but man I would have loved to watch a Maverick's game if I had been alive yet. Also... Big League Chew. If you don't get that reference, WATCH IT!