MLS solution for PGE Park
If American ingenuity can move 200 ton roofs back and forth over football baseball stadiums with a flick of a switch, I know Oregon engineers can design systems to move seating sections and baseball features to meet the demands of MLS soccer.
I’m confident that the east bleacher sections can be designed to mechanically ramp down to the edge of the soccer field and ramp back up for baseball. In the “up” position they would be resting on a set of rails and cantilever over the sidewalk. To place the seating in the “down position,” the second rail would extend the same way table supports extend when you add a leaf. They would connect to anchors hidden under the turf and then the seating sections would simply ride down the rails to the turf level!
Sweeping the “dirt under the rug” is even easier. A simple hydraulic system can raise and lower the bases and pitching mound from vaults below the playing surface. The replacement turf sections could be placed manually or designed to move into position automatically as the dirt sections are lowered. It would take a little TLC each time to “dress” the turf seams to make them invisible, but very doable given modern turf technology.
This is a “two birds with one stone” idea that I think is right for the times. One in which neither the City nor the team owner has to “fight” for additional funding AND baseball fans get additional seats in the sunshine!
Lewis Moller
Aurora
Where are Freed inmates going to work?
[Re: “Prisoners Dilemma, WW, April 15, 2009:] I think it would be forward-thinking to say if we release convicts and provide them with support services, perhaps counseling and education, then they can work to build new lives for themselves. Under normal circumstances I believe this would be very feasible and desirable.
However, with state unemployment over 12% (and that’s just the low official tally), where will these people work? I’m not into fear-mongering, but doesn’t it seem likely that this group of people, even more than others, might resort to crimes to financially support themselves? People with college education and long work histories are out applying to fast-food jobs.
As unfortunate as it is, releasing thousands of inmates will only serve to swell the numbers of the homeless, impoverished underclass.
“thatguy”
via wweek.com
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• Taxpayers struggling to meet everyday obligations will be expected to bear the burden (potential or real) of millions of dollars in additional debt to re-develop a stadium for an MLS team when
• MLS has a documented history of adding little if any appreciable economic benefit to any community and
• The proposed average ticket price of $31 (not including parking or transportation, food, beverage, and souvenirs) is hardly "family friendly" and
• The sustainable jobs created will be well below "family wage" and likely require continued supplements from additional taxpayer dollars and
• The additional "requirement" that the re-developed park be for soccer-only mandates building of a new stadium for a minor league baseball team that has been fun to watch but marginally profitable at best and
• Taxpayers (still) struggling to meet everyday obligations will be expected to bear the burden of even more millions of dollars in additional debt to develop a stadium for said minor league baseball team and
• The development of said stadium would require one or more major change(s) to existing URA(s) resulting in other current and/or pending projects being put on hold if not eliminated altogether for the sake of a further taxpayer subsidized, privately owned property that provide little if any economic benefit, no affordable housing, and even more below family-wage jobs and
• The subsequent average ticket prices (also not including parking or transportation, food, beverage, and souvenirs) to enter the new stadium to see a minor league team would likely be even more prohibitive that the "major league" soccer team and
• The siting of said stadium will require thousands if not millions in additional study (taxpayer?) dollars and
• The location of said stadium will require additional millions in modification and/or (re)development of infrastructure including parking, transportation, utilities, and relocation and
• There has been no meaningful public engagement around this issue much less the thoughtful presentation and careful consideration of a comprehensive and sustainable plan to finance, develop, market, and maintain these two new behemoths.
As a business person, community organizer, and engaged citizen; I just don't see it. I plead with you to provide me with some semblance of rationale that might convince me that this deal is anything but a bad one for Portland.