Vision revealed for MLB stadium in Portland

Portland Diamond Project (PDP), the organisation which is seeking to secure a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise for the Oregon city, has shed further light on its plans for a new stadium, stating work could commence as soon as 2027, if a team is awarded.

Craig Cheek, founder and president of PDP, was among a party that made a presentation to Oregon’s House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade seeking state legislative support for the venture.

This presentation included the release of new renderings drawn up by Populous of a 32,000-seat stadium featuring a translucent, retractable roof.

Portland City Council in October unanimously approved a resolution to support PDP’s plans and the latest presentation was made in an effort to convince state lawmakers to update Senate Bill 5, a 2003 bill that could allocate $150m (£117m/€140.5m) for a stadium in income taxes paid by a team’s players and executives.

With its appeal to modernise, PDP hopes that number would be increased significantly. The original $150m figure was based on the average payroll of players in 2003 with state officials working to adjust the bonding capacity to account for increases in team salaries and construction costs over the past 22 years.

The bonds are paid back by tax revenue generated from the income of home and visiting MLB personnel earning over $50,000 annually. PDP has maintained it does not represent a new tax or a tax on Oregonians.

Cheek said: “We believe the state’s support is critical for this project’s success. We asked legislators to revisit SB5, originally passed in 2003, and update the law to better reflect the current revenue generated by players’ salaries and the rising costs to build a world-class stadium in downtown Portland.

“This would not be a new tax on Oregonians. We look forward to working with the legislature to make Oregon Better with Baseball.”

PDP launched in May 2018, revealing the names of its charter investors in January 2019. In September last year, PDP said it had signed a letter of intent with ZRZ Real Estate, a Zidell family business, to acquire the Zidell Yards property that sits on Portland’s South Waterfront.

The purchase sale agreement was signed last month, with PDP believing its chosen site could provide one of the best backdrops for MLB action in the country.