Proposed Portland Ballpark Development Could Feature Historic Carousel

Restore Oregon, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving Oregon’s historic places, and the Portland Diamond Project announced Tuesday that the Jantzen Beach Carousel could be incorporated into plans for a Major League Baseball development along the Willamette River in northwest Portland.  Read more here.  View photos and renderings here.

Can PDP Succeed in Bringing MLB to Portland?

While it may be difficult to envision it, Terminal 2 could, in a little more than three years, be completely transformed.  The Portland Diamond Project (PDP) has chosen this riverfront expanse for a 32,000-seat stadium that would be home to Portland’s first Major League Baseball team.  Read more here.

Rumors Fly About Another Potential Ballpark Site in Portland

The Portland Diamond Project says it’s pushing ahead on a plan for a baseball stadium at a Northwest Portland cargo terminal, but rumors are flying over another potential site: the Lloyd Center mall.  Read more and view renderings here.

Portland Diamond Project Signs Labor Agreement

Despite not having a Major League Baseball team yet, the Portland Diamond Project signed a labor agreement with the Oregon Arm of the American Federation of Labor.  That means future employees in concessions, retail, maintenance, media and more could organize and join a union.  Read more and watch news report here.

Portland Diamond Project Gets Six More Months

The Portland Diamond Project will get up to six more months to study a Northwest Portland marine cargo terminal as a potential baseball stadium site before it has to commit.  Read more here.

Portland Diamond Project to Shift Summer Gears

The plan to bring Major League Baseball to Portland (OR) is rounding the bases, and its founder believes this summer is going to be a grand slam.  Read more here.

Pickles In First-Ever Cannabidiol Sponsorship

In case you missed it, the Portland Pickles (Summer Collegiate, West Coast League) announced last week the first-ever Cannabidiol (CBD) sponsorship deal in baseball, when it inked a two-year partnership with Lazarus Naturals, a CBD brand headquartered in Portland (OR).  CBD is a compound that is part of the cannabis plant that is minus the THC compound that is known to get individuals intoxicated.  Read more here.

Portland Diamond Project Faces Deadline

The clock is ticking for the Portland Diamond Project to start paying real money to reserve a marine cargo terminal for its billion-dollar baseball park — or give up on building at the site.  Read more and view new renderings gallery here.

Talking Portland Ballpark Site, Investors

There’s a six-foot cyclone fence surrounding the waterfront parcel located at 3556 NW Front Ave. in Portland.  On top of that fence, three strands of barbed wire stretch the length of the property, keeping people like me out.  Read more here.

Potential Bonding for Proposed Portland Ballpark in Jeopardy?

Those who understand the legislative process know that there is a big difference between introducing a bill and actually getting one passed into law.  That said, two bills “introduced” in the Oregon Legislature would repeal laws passed by the Legislature in 2003 that allowed for up to $150 million in state-issued bonds to help pay for the construction of a major-league stadium in Portland (OR).  Under the 2003 law, the bonds would be paid back with an income tax on the salaries of players and team managers.  Read more and view renderings here.

 

Portland Diamond Project Announces Land Deal

The group seeking to lure a MLB baseball team to Portland is expected to announce Today that it’s reached a tentative deal to buy land for a new stadium. The leading candidate appears to be the Port of Portland’s Terminal 2, a marine cargo terminal in Northwest Portland. Read more and view photos here.

We are thrilled to announce that the Portland Diamond Project has signed an agreement in principle with the Port of Portland to develop the Port’s 45-acre Terminal 2 property. Release: https://t.co/Ddi79kP4i7 #MLBtoPDX pic.twitter.com/B7PvImtXvB

— Portland Diamond Project (@PDXDiamondProj) November 29, 2018

Portland Baseball Project Withdraws Offer for Potential Ballpark Site

The Portland Diamond Project has reportedly withdrawn its offer on the Portland Public Schools site on which to build a proposed new Major League Baseball ballpark.  The chosen site will apparently be announced in the next three weeks.  Read more here.

Site for Proposed MLB Ballpark in Portland Could be Revealed Soon

During a radio appearance Monday, Portland Diamond Project managing director Mike Barrett said if all goes well, the acquisition of a property for a new baseball stadium could be announced in four to six weeks.  Read more here.

Land Eyed for Portland Ballpark No Longer Available

A large Northwest Portland industrial site eyed for a potential Major League Baseball stadium has been sold to a group of longtime real-estate investors and developers.  Read more here.

Third Site Surfaces for Proposed Portland Ballpark

The group looking to bring a Major League Baseball team to Portland (OR) has inquired about a third site for a potential stadium.  Read more and watch news report here.

Renderings of Proposed MLB Ballpark in Portland

Photographs of architectural renderings of a proposed Major League Baseball stadium show backers of the pro-ball effort envision their team playing in a sleek, open stadium near the Willamette River.  Read more and view renderings here.

Portland Group Makes Offer on Two Properties for MLB Ballpark

On Tuesday, a group in Portland (OR) that has been working quietly for months on a plan to develop a ballpark that would host a Major League Baseball team announced that they had made an offer for two properties where the ballpark could potentially be built.  Read more here.

Effort to Bring MLB to Portland the Real Deal this Time?

The ownership group focused on bringing Major League Baseball to Portland has reportedly met privately with city officials to discuss downtown Portland stadium plans.  The report also indicates that the group is engaged in talks to secure two potential stadium sites.  Read more here.

Pickles Hire New Voice

PRESS RELEASE – The Portland Pickles announced today that they have hired former Ivy League Pitcher Jamie Flynn as the 2018 Voice of the Pickles.

Portland Back in the MLB Game?

Former Portland Trail Blazers broadcaster Mike Barrett is part of a management group leading the charge to secure financing for a stadium and bring Major League Baseball to Portland (OR).   Read more here.  Where might a stadium be built?

A Wooden MLB Ballpark for Portland?

Lynn Lashbrook, founder and president of Sports Management Worldwide, has relentlessly pushed for more than 20 years the idea of bringing Major League Baseball to Portland (OR).  Now he has a new, game-changing idea — the construction of a wooden stadium.  Read more here.

Seattle Seahawks Punter Adds Kick to Portland Pickles Operations

When Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan purchased a minority stake in the Portland Pickles baseball club back in April, he stated his intention to be involved in the operations of the team, while helping to craft an eccentric atmosphere at the ballpark.  As of July 3, the team is averaging 1,642 fans per game.  Read more here.  Read about the Pickles’ 2017 home opener here.  View home opener photos here.

Pickles Make Home Debut

The Portland Pickles (Summer Collegiate, Great West League) slid into town for the first home game of their inaugural season at Lents Park’s Walker Stadium Friday night.  The rainy weather took a pause and gave way to a perfect night for baseball as throngs of enthusiastic fans came out to see the wonderfully silly spectacle.  Read more and view photos here.  Watch news report here.  View outfield signage here.

Dillion vs. Dillion:

Great West League Begins Inaugural Season

The summer collegiate Great West League kicked off its inaugural 2016 season on Friday.  The Marysville Gold Sox opened at home against the Chico Heat in front of 1,384 fans.  Read more here.  The Medford Rogues hosted the Portland Pickles in front of a crowd of 1,142.  Read more here.  The Lodi Crushers hosted the Sacramento Stealth  in front of a approximately 150 fans.  Read more here.

Pickles Name Broadcaster

PRESS RELEASE – Spenser Smith, a Pacific Northwest native, is the Portland Pickles first play-by-play broadcaster. Smith, born and raised in Walla Walla, Washington, will be the “Voice of the Pickles” for the team’s inaugural 2016 season.

Pickles Unveil Branding, Mascot

PRESS RELEASE – The Portland Pickles are excited to introduce their team branding package, as they get ready for their inaugural 2016 season. The team’s primary colors are navy, green and gray, with the team mascot figuring prominently in the branding.

Work Continues on Pickles Pad

A City of Portland (OR) crew has been working to upgrade the field at 59-year-old Walker Stadium since early July, and hydroseeding of the new rye turf is scheduled for Friday.  Work on other parts of the ballpark will follow, including expanding the capacity of the grandstand to about 1,500, with 1,000 permanent seats with backs.  The new Portland Pickles (Summer Collegiate, Great West League) will begin play at Walker in 2016.  Read more here.

Making the MLB Case for Portland

With Commissioner Rob Manfred hinting a possible Major League Baseball expansion, Portland Tribune sports reporter Kerry Eggers takes a look at Portland (OR) as a potential relocation or expansion market.  Read more here.

GWL’s Portland Franchise to Announce Name Tuesday

PRESS RELEASE – Portland’s Baseball Team will reveal the team nickname tomorrow (Tuesday, April 21) at noon in the gymnasium at Woodstock Elementary School at 5601 S.E. 50th Avenue (just north of SE Woodstock Road).

Team Portland Announces Name-the-Team Contest

PRESS RELEASE – It’s time to name Portland’s new baseball team. Since the team really belongs to the fans, it seems right to let the fans name the team.

Baseball Returning to Portland (UPDATED)

A press conference is scheduled for today at noon (Pacific) to announce that Rose City Baseball, LLC is bringing a summer collegiate Great West League franchise to  Walker Stadium in Lents Park in 2016, when the league begins play.  The move will include $650,000 worth of upgrades to the ballpark.

A’s to Hillsboro? Highly Unlikely

Lynn Lashbrook, sports agent and long-time promoter of bringing MLB to Portland (OR), is suggesting that the home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) could serve as a temporary home for the Oakland A’s, while a new MLB ballpark is built in the Rose City.  Read more here.  Rather than blabber on here about the many obstacles, we’ll let Portland-based MLB business analyst

Backers Want MLB in Portland

Backers of bringing a MLB franchise to Portland (OR) have the blueprint for a state-of-the-art baseball-only stadium, which would have a retractable roof and seat 35,000.  They have community support, including that of the current city administration.  A site endorsed by mayor Charlie Hales has been chosen.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the Link.