MLS Team in Portland - Portland State to FBS??

[dbackjon]

Portland State football would reap the benefits of a renovated PGE Park

Should it come to pass, a bid to bring Major League Soccer to Portland has a significant upside for Portland State football with nil-to-no drawbacks. It's just that a lot of ifs, hows and whys are the in way.

On Wednesday, a 3-2 vote by the Portland City Council to approve a stadium funding proposal to help bring Major League Soccer to Portland is the first step toward a major renovation and expansion of PGE Park, where the Vikings play their home football games.

Under a proposal by Merritt Paulson of Shortstop, LLC., presented to the city council in November, Shortstop would cover the $40 million MLS franchise fee if the city would come up with $85 million to finance renovation of PGE Park and construct a new facility for the Portland Beavers baseball team. Shortstop is seeking one of two MLS expansion teams for the 2011 season.

If the deal comes to fruition, renovations to PGE Park could substantially upgrade the game-time atmosphere for Portland State football games and could act as a more enticing facility for potential recruits.

http://www.dailyvanguard.com/mls_team_i ... -1.1606912

[slycat]

I've been following the MLS expansion closely. I really hope Portland gets a team. They have great support up there. As far as the stadium goes it would be nice if the Vikings could play there but I'm not a fan of seeing football lines on a soccer field.

And its all but guaranteed at this point that Portland and Vancouver will get the two expansion slots.

[dgreco]

That would be great, it has helped FIU finish their stadium expansion. With the hope of a new Miami FC and the support of Barcelona they have played a role in the quick track the expansion and now new sponsorship FIU's new/renovated field is seeing.

[slycat]

That would be great, it has helped FIU finish their stadium expansion. With the hope of a new Miami FC and the support of Barcelona they have played a role in the quick track the expansion and now new sponsorship FIU's new/renovated field is seeing.

MLS isn't going to Miami anymore. Don't know how this will affect FIU.

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp ... &fext=.jsp

[dgreco]

I think that mostly has to do with the Florida Marlins stadium being put on hold. I think if that goes forward you will see part of that money continue to MLS and it will happen. I figure Miami to be an MLS candidate for 2012 season or 2013. So well after Vancouver, Portland, Calgary, St. Louis etc.. bid and get teams.

I have not been by FIU's stadium in about a month, but I will have to check and see how the expansion is going and if it is still going. I know they had a bunch of FC Barcelona stuff all around the field last time I was there.

[dbackjon]

They have trouble drawing many fans for home football games, but the Portland State Vikings say they are looking to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Thanks to an $88 million plan to renovate PGE Park to accommodate the Portland Timbers’ move to Major League Soccer in 2011, the Vikings have their eyes on the prize.


The following is a letter sent to the Portland City Council and signed by the entire coaching staff at Portland State. I obtained it from a source with a connection to the effort to bring an MLS team to Portland:

Tuesday, March 10 2009

To Portland City Council,

On behalf of the Portland State University Football Staff we would like to express our excitement regarding the upcoming discussions surrounding the renovation of PGE Park. PGE Park, previously named Civic Stadium, and before that Multnomah Stadium has been our home stadium for the past 41 years. To our alumni, season ticket holders, and the 26,000 students at Portland State University PGE Park is our home, and we are very proud to call it our home.


We intend to make it clear that we fully support bringing Major League Soccer to the City of Portland and support the renovation of PGE Park to accommodate a new MLS team. It is our opinion that the prospective expansion of PGE Park would greatly benefit both the University and our Football program. The City of Portland, we think, has both the market capacity and the hunger from its football fans to support a NCAA Division 1 BCS football team. This move would represent a step into the highest classification of NCAA athletics which is the overall goal of our football program and our athletic department. Currently one of the major limiting factors in making this jump is the seating capacity of PGE Park. The renovation of PGE Park and the increased seating capacity would allow us the opportunity to reach the BCS level.

A Major League Soccer team coupled with an NCAA Division 1 Football team will seriously increase Portland’s reputation as a sports town, and give all of our fans an opportunity to experience their favorite pastimes at the highest level. On behalf of our staff, our student athletes and the many alumni and supporters who have expressed excitement in this decision thank-you for your time and the consideration of our thoughts.

Sincerely,

http://www.billingsgazette.net/h/blogs/ ... #more-2220

[dgreco]

Do they mean FBS and used the term BCS? What BCS conference would they get in? That is interesting though.

[dbackjon]

Do they mean FBS and used the term BCS? What BCS conference would they get in? That is interesting though.

Yes, that is what they mean.

And who knows - WAC?

[BlackFalkin]

Do they mean FBS and used the term BCS? What BCS conference would they get in? That is interesting though.

Yes, that is what they mean.

And who knows - WAC?

THE WAC is not a bcs conf. they CANT mean BCS, Pac-10 is out, the next choice would be big 12! they cant even beat UM,MSU & EWU in the same season...what makes them think they can beat 8 Pac 10 teams in the same season? btw they just played weak ass WSU and got their ass handed to them... them being a bcs team would get them better recruit but C'MON

[dgreco]

if realignment comes in 2011 and the WAC drops some of those outliers I can see a Portland St. moving up. IDK if it will work for them, but it is not impossible to see that move.

[Fresno St. Alum]

dgreco go to collegesportsinfo.com in the forums we talk about all the changes that may come. I think you'll like it.

[travelinman67]

PG&E Park will need more than seating. The parking situation there is bad. The need to construct a multi-level parking structure within a couple blocks...but there is a huge political and local business coalition that has prevented it.
I can tell you from experience...parking in dtown Portland is treated like a privilege bestowed to Royalty.

[dgreco]

dgreco go to collegesportsinfo.com in the forums we talk about all the changes that may come. I think you'll like it.

Thanks for the link. I am cutting out some old websites/forums I read/post on so this might be a new good addition.

[kemajic]

Portland St. would be wise to focus on becoming competitive in FCS football before there is a lot of talk about moving up. After 11 years in the BSC, PSU is barely over .500, has never won a piece of a conference championship and has one whole playoff game appearance in which they were smoked. There have been years when the total home attendance was less than 30,000. The program has not been improving. This shows BCS or even FBS potential?

[dgreco]

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/

Portland was awarded a franchise, I would like to see what the next step is.

[BlackFalkin]

this is what the NEW pge park is gonna look like PERMANENTLY!
Check out this NICE panorama!!!
http://soccercityusa.com/oct2-pano2m.jpg



with new pressboxes & club suites in the distance ...

[dgreco]

thats impressive. It also looks very clean. I would love to see how they progress through.

[kemajic]

Before everyone gets so enamored about PSU playing on a pro soccor field, one needs to pay some attention to dimensions. While the lengths of a pro soccor field and a football field are similar enough, the widths are not. A football field measures 140' wide from sideline to sideline. A pro soccor field must be within a range of 210' - 240' wide. Additionally, a 20' free area is stipulated from sideline to stands. Even at the minimums, that leaves the stands at least 55' from the football sidelines. I do not know too many great football environments where the stands are that far from the sideline. Like a lot of things, the magnitude of the gametime experience is probably the inverse square of the distance to the field.

This does not sound so hot to me.

[dbackjon]

Before everyone gets so enamored about PSU playing on a pro soccor field, one needs to pay some attention to dimensions. While the lengths of a pro soccor field and a football field are similar enough, the widths are not. A football field measures 140' wide from sideline to sideline. A pro soccor field must be within a range of 210' - 240' wide. Additionally, a 20' free area is stipulated from sideline to stands. Even at the minimums, that leaves the stands at least 55' from the football sidelines. I do not know too many great football environments where the stands are that far from the sideline. Like a lot of things, the magnitude of the gametime experience is probably the inverse square of the distance to the field.

This does not sound so hot to me.

Probably the only way it would work is to off-center the football field - and have the main stands in one side/endzone.

[kemajic]

Before everyone gets so enamored about PSU playing on a pro soccor field, one needs to pay some attention to dimensions. While the lengths of a pro soccor field and a football field are similar enough, the widths are not. A football field measures 140' wide from sideline to sideline. A pro soccor field must be within a range of 210' - 240' wide. Additionally, a 20' free area is stipulated from sideline to stands. Even at the minimums, that leaves the stands at least 55' from the football sidelines. I do not know too many great football environments where the stands are that far from the sideline. Like a lot of things, the magnitude of the gametime experience is probably the inverse square of the distance to the field.

This does not sound so hot to me.

Probably the only way it would work is to off-center the football field - and have the main stands in one side/endzone.

That would easily accommodate the crowds that come to a PSU game.

[dbackjon]

Probably the only way it would work is to off-center the football field - and have the main stands in one side/endzone.

That would easily accommodate the crowds that come to a PSU game.

Except when they host Montana, then they can throw some portable stands up.




This would be a definate upgrade for Portland State, while not perfect, better than what they have.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

You're about 60 feet away from the game now when you go to a game there. The GD sideline on the Montana side anyway is very far away for football purposes. I like the physical location of the place and the fact that you can buy beer in the park but it is a terrible place to watch a game. They need to do something to fix that to help their gameday atmosphere.

[grizzaholic]

Well if PSU does infact leave the BSC then that would give the BSC a chance to pick up SUU or someone like them.

[dgreco]

straight trade idaho for portland st and then take in SUU. Or maybe SUU and UVU (if they bring in football)

[grizzaholic]

straight trade idaho for portland st and then take in SUU. Or maybe SUU and UVU (if they bring in football)

Idaho will never come back to FCS or the Big Sky for that matter. Personally I like SUU and have been, as BF says, riding their dick the past couple of years. SUU is going to be tough again this year and will be in the hunt. UVU??? What school is that?