mtl-supporter23 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 As they announced Vancouver's acceptance into MLS, there was also mention that Garber would be soon announcing(as early as Friday) that Portland will be the next city to be awarded an MLS franchise for 2011. I guess all the $$$ is on the west coast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 apparently all that $$$$$ is worth 5 million dollars less on the west coast <I guess this should be moved under the proper heading> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtl-supporter23 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 just realized i posted it in the wrong sub-forum.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Boy Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 http://portlandmls2011.com/ looks official now.. how come they are able to have the Timbers logo up there where as the Whitecaps do not? Is there not the same issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawel Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Danny Boy http://portlandmls2011.com/ looks official now.. how come they are able to have the Timbers logo up there where as the Whitecaps do not? Is there not the same issue? I believe there are issues surrounding the academy in Vancouver. The Whitecaps name is tied to multiple sports teams in youth and women's and academy. They haven't sorted all that out yet so that can't use that name in MLS, but I think it will all work itself out. And to those who think vancouver or portland got some really special deal, make no mistake, the 35 million that they are paying is much more then whatever saputo was offering so don't even try to compare the bids, saputo's was just a slap in the face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squizz1402635577 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Danny Boy http://portlandmls2011.com/ looks official now.. how come they are able to have the Timbers logo up there where as the Whitecaps do not? Is there not the same issue? The Portland team will be called the Timbers, as confirmed by Merritt Paulson earlier today. The Vancouver team has not picked a name yet (presumably having something to do with the academy issue, as mentioned by Pawel). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison A Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Here are some photos from the MLS to Portland announcement press conference today: http://soccercityusa.com/timbers/mls2pdx032009.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bob Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Good news for Whitecaps fans, since they have a rival even before they've played an MLS game. Bad news for Portland taxpayers, mind you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison A Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Lord Bob Good news for Whitecaps fans, since they have a rival even before they've played an MLS game. Bad news for Portland taxpayers, mind you. Taxpayer liability is very small, compared to just about any other deal that involves a public bond measure. Paulson has personally guaranteed the bonds. On the other hand, if the City Council had said no and Paulson had left town after 2010 (and he could have), the $25 million left from the 2001 renovation (which was the previous owners who defaulted on) would have gone back to the taxpayers immediately. In this deal, it's paid off by Paulson's group. So in honesty, this is a better deal than the alternative. Paulson is roughly paying half of everything, the other half is public bonds he is guaranteeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancouversoccerman Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Conrgrats Allison! Cascadia is back on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison A Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I hope MLS follows suit and the opener of the 2011 season will be Timbers/Whitecaps. No matter what the venue, would be an epic night. I'm really happy we are both joining in the same year. Just don't let them change the name, no matter what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Schaad Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Allison A I hope MLS follows suit and the opener of the 2011 season will be Timbers/Whitecaps. No matter what the venue, would be an epic night. I'm really happy we are both joining in the same year. Just don't let them change the name, no matter what. You know what might also be cool, so that both teams get their own glory: Thursday night March whatever: Portland v Seattle on Friday night Vancouver v Toronto FC. I think each team deserves a curtain raiser at home! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison A Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I would also agree with that arrangement. I am very happy that both Portland and Vancouver got the nod because I've felt for quite awhile that they were the strongest bids by far, and having all three Cascadia teams in MLS will help lift the rest of the league, I hope, as it will be a significant injection of passion and tradition into a league that needs more of both. This has been a very good week for Cascadia, and it's only going to get better. Congratulations again to Vancouver on their 2011 nod, and hopefully both of our teams can use that to build our fanbases over the next two seasons as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKottonmouthed1555362307 Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Portlands in Its official http://www.whitecapsfc.com/archive/feature03200903.aspx This great news for the pacific northwest and the MLS. The Cascadia cup will live on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmcmurph Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Allison A I hope MLS follows suit and the opener of the 2011 season will be Timbers/Whitecaps. No matter what the venue, would be an epic night. I'm really happy we are both joining in the same year. Just don't let them change the name, no matter what. Agree on the second one but not the first. We would not want you getting clobbered on your opening night by the Caps I'm sure the MLS will get you somebody to beat on like LA Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpetzz Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 i read that garber said ottawa still had a chance to be their in the future as either the 19th or 20th team if they get the stadium thign sorted out but let's be honest it is more like 20 and 21 because 19 has to go to montreal if the league has any brains...if vancouver becomes a success and then montreal enters, mls will then turn to ottawa for some of eugene's money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Congrats Portland. Another a good soccer town in the league is very welcome. let the speculation begin for the next 2 cities to be added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Congrats Portland. Another a good soccer town in the league is very welcome. let the speculation begin for the next 2 cities to be added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottawaguy2009 Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090320&content_id=228534&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp This is incredible. Everything is falling into place. All the West Coasters who for so long, had to be patient and watch MLS from the sidelines, are now going to be living in one of the hottest soccer zones on the continent! Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. This is amazing. Congratulations Vancouver and Portland. I cannot wait for 2011. Man oh man it's good be alive in this decade! On to other matters then: PGE Park. The last I checked it had one side completely open? http://api.ning.com/files/KX9S6nkHRtWYjLqjGCT6pMzkDsJMPUFziQn0IqYwbkU_/8302006006.jpg Sort of a former ball field turned football pitch. The stands that do exist look okay: http://www.ballparkreviews.com/portor/pge2.jpg I'm not quite sure how they are going to renovate this. I'm curious as to what this will look like once renovations are complete. I would certainly hope they would close the open end and make it a full loop. Anyone been to this park? How is it for viewing? Apparently it holds just under 20,000 for soccer games. This might just be alright. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PGE_Park With added seating it could hold another 5 - 10,000. That wouldn't cost very much either. A nice way to build on an existing stadium. I admire cities who manage to retrofit and renovate out dated stadia. It's a shame to have to knock them down completely as many of North America's stadia happen to be in the historic, older quarters of cities. Prime locations for soccer matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison A Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Here is the rendering we have seen on the PGE Park renovation: The new grandstand will be built along the current open side (right side of image), and the upper half of the north end (in the center of the image) will have the seats removed and turned into a restaurant. The lower half of that section is where the Timbers Army sits and will remain so, though those tickets could definitely become prized seats since they fill 3-4 sections already. I have heard the new stadium will have a capacity around 21,000 but the south end of the stadium has an open area (though a small one) in front of a big athletic club where some more grandstands can be added, though I don't think that is finalized yet. That would add a bit more capacity. The setup for the Women's World Cup (taken from the north end) is pretty close to how it will look when finished, though the grandstand at the left side will likely have a roof over it to match the other grandstands, and possibly a new press box or more suites: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SthMelbRed Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 It looks like it may be a very nice venue. It's a shame they can't do something to bring the crowd in the existing stands a bit closer to the pitch (as they are going to be doing at BC Place), though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison A Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 My understanding is the pitch will be moved closer to the main grandstand, so that would be to the right and down in the image just above (from WWC 2003), and that will also allow more room for the new grandstand to be built on the left, and more room for a grandstand at the far end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtl-supporter23 Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 It looks as if it'll seem nicer than the ball park in KC. Yikes was that brutal to watch tonight. After watching such a spectacle in Seattle, there was an evident lack of proffesionalism, stadium wise that is in KC. Didn't feel as if you were watch a quality footy match (no pun intended) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 I gather KC is playing in a temporary stadium while their own is under construction so this is not a permanent situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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