PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — During Monday’s House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade meeting, members of the Diamond Project, a project to bring a Major League Baseball team to Portland, made the case for state legislative support for the project.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson also advocated for the Diamond Project before the committee. He made it very clear that Portland is a major city, and that it needs to start acting like one.
“We need to provide the amenities found in most of our nation’s leading cities to not only attract five-person firms, but 500-person companies. With Major League Baseball in our town, it will help us attract and retain both,” said Wilson.
Organizers say it will create thousands of construction jobs and permanent jobs. Plus, Wilson says it could help local businesses. The proposed location of the ballpark is in Zidell Yards, which is just south of downtown and north of the South Waterfront. The Portland City Council approved a resolution to put the ballpark there last year.
“I envisioned thousands of Oregonians and tourists visiting the Rose City, eating at restaurants, staying at our hotels, shopping at local retail stores and watching a ball game along our beloved iconic Willamette River with a view of Tilikum Crossing and Mount hood on the skyline,” Wilson said.
But in order for the project to go forward, organizers say they need help from the Legislature.
The idea is a tax, but not on Oregonians.
“It is a tax on the players and the team, both the home team and the visiting players’ team,” said Craig Cheek, the president of the Diamond Project.
The state did pass a Senate bill over two decades ago to do just that. But it only authorized $150 million, when the reality today is that this project could cost $2 billion. The idea is that the Diamond Project would get funding from the tax on its employees that make more than $50,000 a year and through other public and private partnerships or donors.
During our sit-down with Gov. Tina Kotek in February, KATU anchor Steve Dunn asked her for her thoughts about new sports teams coming to Portland, such as the WNBA team, and potentially, an MLB team.
“Those kinds of sports franchises are really big for cities like the size of Portland. I think it’s an indicator that we are turning the corner on Portland,” said Kotek.
The goal is to get started on construction in 2027, but right now, Cheek says it’s not certain that Portland will be getting the new Major League team. He says it’s between Portland and a city in Utah. By all indications, it seems that city is Salt Lake City. Cheek says Utah has already put together a $900 million package in hopes of getting the new team.
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