Check Out The Names on Mayor-Elect's Stadium Task Force

Some interesting names on the task force Mayor-elect Sam Adams has put together to evaluate the merits of Merritt Paulson's proposal to renovate PGE Park for a Major League Soccer franchise and build a new stadium somewhere else in town for the baseball Beavers.

One sign that Adams is taking Paulson's proposal seriously: the counsel to the committee is heavyweight lawyer Steve Janik, who worked on both the development of the Rose Garden arena and the re-do of PGE Park.

Adams, who as chief of staff to Mayor Vera Katz, oversaw the $38.5 million renovation of PGE Park in 2001, is approaching Paulson's ask with a mixture of enthusiasm and caution. In addition to evaluating whether Paulson's idea is a good one for taxpayers, Adams also wants the committee to review options for any new stadium.

For more on the story, see tomorrow's WW.