The Latest on MLS to Portland

By: Bob Kellett | June 26th, 2008

It seems like just about every week a little more information is released regarding Merritt Paulson’s efforts to bring a Major League Soccer expansion franchise to Portland, which from my vantage point tells me this is all part of a calculated plan leading up to the unveiling of Paulson’s plan later this summer. Today the Trib adds to the build up with a lengthy piece that includes this nugget:

Dan Courtemanche, MLS senior vice president for marketing and communications, says Portland is in a group of nine North American cities identified as candidates to procure the league’s 17th and 18th franchises as early as 2010. The other candidates are Atlanta, Las Vegas, San Diego, St. Louis, Miami, Montreal, Vancouver, British Columbia, and a second team in New York City.

“We’ve been speaking often with Merritt and his group,” Courtemanche says. “Portland is a market we believe could be very successful in our league. There is a tremendous history of support there for not just soccer but other sporting events.

“There is a first-class ownership group and a booming Hispanic population in the area, and the demographics are what we call ‘New America’ — young, diverse and digital.”

Ok, nothing really new there, my fellow New Americans. MLS is in the business of pumping up cities only to award teams to other places later. What is new is that we get the thoughts of City Commissioner Randy Leonard, who is enthusiastically on board. It isn’t much of a surprise to learn that he wants the new minor league baseball stadium in his hood.

“After hearing from many (Lents Park residents), I’m convinced it would be a phenomenal shot in the arm to a community that needs it,” Leonard says. “It would take downtown Lents and completely transform it into a destination place for people all over the region, to have dinner and recreate before and after a game. The potential it creates is almost incalculable compared to what exists there now.”

And

“I would competently assist Merritt in locating a baseball stadium at whatever appropriate site,” Leonard says. “I can’t control my enthusiasm level, however, if it’s Lents.”

And

“Merritt has a group of people over here who would like to assist him and make an MLS franchise happen. It’s one of those projects that’s good for the community and just makes a lot of sense. But we have to cross the T’s and dot the I’s as we go forward.”

There’s a lot of work to be done, but if you believe what is being said by all the right parties, and I do believe it, this is all heading in the right direction even if that direction includes politics and money.