MLS and the Blazers - Has the Steve Patterson era returned?

by The Cactus Leaguer on Mar 11, 2009 6:37 PM PDT Comment 34 comments

It would seem that way, especially to Merritt Paulson who is probably in the hospital right now recovering from the stab wounds in his back that were inflicted today from Blazer management

For those of you who don't know, there was a huge vote today over at city council today regarding approval of bonds to convert PGE Park into an MLS soccer (and football) only facility, and to build a new baseball stadium for the Portland Beavers at the site where Memorial Coliseum currently stands.

The vote ended up passing by a 3-2 margin, but not before some unbelievable testimony from JE Isaac of Blazer management. Merritt Paulson (Beavers/Timbers owner) had been negotiating in good faith with the Blazers and their developer on building at that site and helping to convert the Rose Quarter into a year round entertainment district (similar to the Arena District in Columbus, Ohio). Paulson thought he had an agreement in principle, but from out of the blue, Mr. Isaac came out and testified AGAINST the proposal, saying that this proposal would be bad for the Blazers and bad for their development plans at the Rose Quarter. Mr. Paulson along with several commissioners and dozens of Timbers fans at the hearing just sat there in complete shock.

Paulson is trying to say the right things publicly but inside he must be seething, and there a lot of extremely angry soccer fans in this city right now who are feeling like they were stabbed in the back. Someone at Blazer headquarters is going to have A LOT of explaining to do over the next few days.

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Nobody cares about soccer

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Mar 11, 2009 6:39 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

That’s not the point. You don’t negotiate with your future neighbor in good faith and then stab him in the back at the last second. Not cool, regardless of whatever you think about soccer or baseball.

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Mar 11, 2009 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it has nothing to do with soccer, baseball or basketball

This is nothing more than a Vulcan business decision. You can put the label “Blazers” on it, but it has nothing to do with the team. It’s the Vulcan’s, just like Miller’s email.

by tominrehab on Mar 11, 2009 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

a lot of people in Portland care about soccer

by jksnake99 on Mar 11, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I have never seen a Timbers or Portland Beavers game and am a die hard Blazer fan. I watched with great interest the council meeting yesterday. The Vulcan guy gave a very strange testimony. He threw out some numbers, but had a weak argument.

The big sticking point on the funding was the Urban Renewal funds . I think that the proposal has very little risk for the city, and I think if there are no UR dollars, there should be no controversy. Use of TIF and the SFF along with Paulson backstoppingn the deal make it a win-win for the city. No new taxes or fees, Paulson shoulders the risk and business throughout Portland increases.

by Bedhead on Mar 12, 2009 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously the team is

concerned with competition with other sports, which is why Portland should go after an MLB team, as they play after the nba regular season is over.

by santeesioux1 on Mar 11, 2009 7:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Especially in this economy

This is twofold.

If MLS (which, you have to admit sounds like a scary disease) comes here, there will be less money for the Blazers. Not in the stands. I fully expect the Blazers to sell out till the armageddon, but in some cheaper advertising that will go to the soccer team, as well as team gear.

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Mar 11, 2009 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So does the MLS

There may be some overlap at the end of the NBA season but it would be the same overlap as an MLB season.

"Do or Do not there is no Try"
Yoda

by Bakasama on Mar 12, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was a weird scene

That was a very strange bit of testimony from Isaac, both Paulson and Randy Leonard (who was the primary pro MLS mover on the council) were VERY surprised by what he had to say, based on conversations they had had with Blazer management. I’m pro MLS in Portland (we’re not getting another major sport as cool as MLB would be, and I’m not a fan of hockey, so my own bias says soccer) and I actually think this gives the Rose Quarter a shot at some viability during the basketball off season, so I was in favor if the price/risk were allocated properly.
As for the Blazers, I don’t think this is the bad old days back again, but it’s definitely a sign of how this regime deals with perceived threats. Like the Miles situation, the Blazers brass responded in a highly aggressive fashion to what it saw as a threat to their interests. I wasn’t in favor of the Miles response, nor did I like this. That said, I don’t think they’re even close to the Patterson era, but these guys are not your friendly local mom and pop either (which is to be expected from an NBA franchise, but somewhat counter to the “brand image” the Blazers like to portray).

I believe in Greg Oden. To all the haters - get down with the program or stay off the wagon for all time. #52

by blazeraddict on Mar 11, 2009 7:31 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

by Bedhead on Mar 12, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh the horror!

by Nick Van Excellent on Mar 11, 2009 8:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

MLS is not a major sport

This would be a complete waste of money, maybe Issac of the Blazers was just telling the truth. Did you ever think of that?

If Portland wants another major sport they should save up there money and lure a baseball team to Portland, or even football instead of wasteing it on MLS and a minor league baseball stadium.

by ggassen85 on Mar 11, 2009 9:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It may not be a major sport,

but Portland is a big soccer city. It will succeed; unlike the triple ‘a’ team we have.

by wepto on Mar 11, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The majorness of the MLS, or lack thereof, means nothing to the Blazers

They are concerned with the Rose Quarter being torn up for two years, permanent changes to the access of the Rose Garden that they don’t control, plus a chance to shake down the people who need something that the Blazers have (access to the Rose Quarter).

The word for this practice is “business”. The Blazers are entitled to defend their interests, and in this case, some of those interests are completely legitimate.

by chnews on Mar 11, 2009 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you have any corroboration for this story?

Just because Isaac testified against this doesn’t mean the Blazers deceived anyone.

And I doubt that anyone involved thinks that one instance of public testimony is going to change the outcome in a complex deal like this.

The testimony may have been an attempt to formally signal the Blazers desire for a better proposal from their perspective, but I doubt that Paulson and his people were surprised or bothered. And the Blazers are least of anyone’s concerns in this deal.

by chnews on Mar 11, 2009 9:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Randy Leonard

gave an interview where he said he was pretty stunned by the Blazers’ stance based on conversations he’d had with them. Of course, when the source is Randy Leonard, some healthy skepticism is in order…

I believe in Greg Oden. To all the haters - get down with the program or stay off the wagon for all time. #52

by blazeraddict on Mar 11, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you have any corroboration for this story?

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=123613576400476600

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/03/blazers_reveal_more_details_on.html

It has been widely reported today that Paulson, Adams, and Leonard were completely blindsided by Isaac’s testimony. Paulson was interviewed on Canzano’s show at 5pm and was diplomatic about it, but he said that he was surprised, and he was meeting with Cordish (the RQ developer) and their plans included a AAA stadium at Memorial Coliseum.

That’s fine that the Blazers want to get the best deal that they can, but the way they went about it by surprising everyone at a city council meeting was completely wrong. If you can’t take your Blazer goggles off long enough to acknowledge this, then I really have nothing more to say.

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Mar 11, 2009 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the citations

Now…switch to decaf. You may be right, but your post asked readers to swallow your story with blind faith.

by chnews on Mar 11, 2009 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's cute

“Switch to decaf”? That’s the best retort you can come up with?

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Mar 12, 2009 8:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's a retort

It’s a Blazer board. We don’t care about boring sports involving a bunch of white guys who couldn’t carry the Blazers’ worst players athletic supporter. Go bug another board.

Oh, and the Blazers are entitled to want what’s best for the team and its interests, even if it does not align with what Merritt Paulson thinks is best for his. Unless they had an agreement to support the proposal in the hearing, which it sounds like they had not yet come to, Merritt and some of the council members’ THINKING they were going to speak in favor of it is proof of nothing.

GO BLAZERS!!!

by blazer91 on Mar 12, 2009 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know which group of “white guys” you are referring to, but I’m talking about a baseball stadium in the Rose Quarter, not soccer.

Yeah, “Go Blazers” – negotiate with your neighbor in good faith, and then stab them in the back at the last second. “Yay, team”. I have been cheering for them since 1975, but this was one of their lower moments.

Even this guy who collects a check from the Blazers says they were wrong:

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2009/03/blazers_are_offside_on_mls_bid.html

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Mar 13, 2009 12:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The MLS could be a very big deal in a couple of years

Hasn’t been so far, but it’s starting to heat up. Seattle is going bananas over its new team, and the rivalry could be ferocious.

This is a very forward thinking proposal and if it doesn’t touch the general fund, it’s good for the city to support it.

by chnews on Mar 11, 2009 9:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

JIsaac's a great guy

Whatever he decides to say, I’ll tend to agree with.

by Garces on Mar 11, 2009 10:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If not even David Beckham (who sucks at soccer compared to the superstars, but is iconic) can make MLS relevant...

by Norsktroll on Mar 11, 2009 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I care about soccer

by StuckeyDuck on Mar 11, 2009 10:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Its all Political

The upper brass of the Blazers, like any other company, only cares about the bottom line. Their job is make money. Bottom line. The could care less who is actually playing the games or buying tickets to them, as long as people are buying the Trail Blazer product. Be it tickets, jerseys, or even McDonalds cups.

Bringing in MLS is a perceived threat to the revenue the Blazers are now starting to see more of, thanks to a product they have been working hard at. Now it may or may not be a significant threat, but it is still there. From a business stand point, I can see why the Blazer brass went the way they did.

Is it right? Not necessarily. I think MLS should be given a chance here in Portland if people see that it could survive here. Regardless of if it may hurt another corporation here in town. We live in a free country that allows for free enterprise. If it were another basketball team trying to come into town, yeah, vote them out. But its not. It is another sports team. A sports that has nothing to do with our beloved Blazers.

I really like the idea about revamping the Rose Quarter. The proposal would make that area a really great sports venue with more to do then just going to Blazer games and a concert or two. I have to admit, the Rose Quarter isnt exactly a grand spectacle by any stretch of the imagination.

Bring on MLS. Its not going to prevent me from enjoying the Blazers in any way.

"OK, it's going to rain tomorrow. And there is going to be a Greenpeace meeting and hippies are going to be protesting" ~ The Buffet of Goodness on Portland

by Blazer on Mar 11, 2009 11:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

MLS averaged 16,459 specators per game in 2008

not bad

by water on Mar 12, 2009 12:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Portland TB don't want competion

For those of you who can remember back to the early days of Portland sports. Portland was known as Soccer City USA before Rip City. The Timbers when to the finals before the Trail Blazers . Another reason this is good for Portland and Oregon is the average ticket price for a MLS game is $24.50 far below any NBA team. Seattle has already sold 22,000 season tickets for this year and over 35,000 for their home opener. In tough economic times the Trail Blazers don’t want to share the sports dollars in Portland. In a word GREED

"The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot." - Bill Russell

by NOWINE on Mar 12, 2009 7:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Blazers aren't doing this cause they see MLS as competition.

The main reason for the switch in support has to do with the location of the new proposed baseball stadium for the Portland Beavers. At first, it looked like that stadium was going to be built in the Lents Park area. The Blazers know that the MLS is a league that plays during the summer months, and would not affect their bottom line at all. So they said they supported this at first.

However, recent events have changed the location of the new baseball park from Lents to the Memorial Coliseum site. The Blazers have done some preliminary work on considering what they would like to do with that space, and they feel that this new baseball park will cut in on their agenda.

So is this a greedy stance by the Blazers? A little bit. I get their concerns, but I think a compromise can be made between the two sides, and this will end up working out well for everyone.

Yes! Yes! In the face!

by LeafHawk on Mar 12, 2009 9:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This is most accurate

Currently the Blazers (or more appropriately Vulcan) uses Memorial Coliseum as an extra revenue stream. They host a TON of corporate events and meetings there. It would make little sense to simply donate that revenue stream to another organization. I’m sure that the crux of the issue behind closed doors is who would be able to profit from the new stadium. And while this means nothing to you as a fan- it is an extremely important business consideration.

by TPfor3 on Mar 12, 2009 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Portland's a big soccer town, sure

Not big enough though…
I’d rather Portland get a WNBA team again.

-Shad

"If a doctor ever gives me six months to live, I want it in basketball time." - Marc Acito

by NBAstard on Mar 12, 2009 9:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow.....you must REALLY like basketball

Do you watch 3BA games too? :) Just messing with ya.

But Portland is a very big soccer town, possibly the biggest in the US. They got 9,000 fans a game for A-League soccer. 15,000 should not be at all difficult for an MLS team to average here. I know I’ll be going to at least a few games.

Yes! Yes! In the face!

by LeafHawk on Mar 12, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a non soccer fan, I feel stabbed in the back that I have to pay for your stadium

So I guess we’re even

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Mar 12, 2009 10:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not much of a soccer fan

but I think the whole point is that it appears the Blazers (Vulcans) were not up front and honest with Paulson. They did a Vulcan mind meld, then broke the connection at the meeting. Not cool….

There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)

My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315, with my sons

by johnv59 on Mar 12, 2009 6:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs