Snarf Snarf. I had a taco tonight. It was this close to being awful. I saw the Squid and the Whale tonight. That was mildly entertaining.

I found this on the Soccer City USA message board tonight: http://www.soccercityusa.com/cgi-bin/yabb/…

From BlackedOut, our very own undercover agent provocateur:

---

I know nobody really likes these. I hate them too. If you're interested *ouchebag Davis has posted his interpretation of Randy's bit on the BFT the other day. I'll chime in because I'm a sucker. You're welcome to just make a mockery of his post...I kind of liked it the last time we did that. Just post inane crap that isn't relavent.

If you don't want to waste the clicks or drive up the traffic that's fine too. I have a feeling an egomanic like Davis gets more worked up about something he writes being ignored in something like a comments section than discussed in a rational fashion. Here it is. You've been warned though...it's a Matt Davis piece of crap and I think we should make fun of it. Do it or not.

---

Basically, the Timbers Army has a small cadre of village idiots that they deploy to all these comment sections to spread a bunch of misinformation. To them, this is a game. Or as Jeremy Wright (aka "Finnegan"), the leader of the political action committee MLS2PDX, gleefully stated in one of those threads, they are "working the refs". To the rest of us, this is a serious issue about spending the city's money and proper planning.

// "It's just as necessary as libraries and everything else." "I'm a sports fan," he says. "I want mine. Do something for me, now." //

We did. We built libraries. They're for sports fans, too, you know.

Matt Davis is driving his wife's truck loaded with public and private money from the O of U through that very same loophole right now.

Ever go to Javier's? I've been with Charlolastra and it's pretty bitchin'. Go with the tacos or torta, and of course get the pickles. Charlolastra recommended salt and lime, and I would have to agree.

Congrats Portland Lover. You learned how to read. Remember...the only thing we have against you and everyone that is against MLS2PDX is that we're more organized than you. Snarf Snarf.

@The One True b!x

Remember way back when we were neighbors at the Dominique and that girl drove her car into the wall of the crazy guy's apartment when she was learning how to drive? That was really funny.

BlackedOut, this is not a soccer game where you can "work the ref" or scream derogatory chants about a player's mother in hopes that the player is distracted.

Many Timbers fans are against the current deal because it is bad for the city. The Timbers Army is also turning off even more fans and potential fans with their tactics, which amount to a scorched-earth policy.

While arguing with some of my friends about the deal, we end up agreeing that it is bad, but then I have to defend soccer and the Timbers because people like you are such an embarrassment. These are people that have attended a few games in the past and were intrigued by an MLS team, but now they are so fed up from reading Timbers Army bile that they are wholly against anything soccer-related.

@Portland Lover

You're "friends" don't show up in the attendance records.

Icanhascheezburger

They write letters to city commissioners, you numbskull.

@Portland Lover

Clearly they're very effective letters considering this proposal has already passed once and is likely to pass again. Good thing our commissioners do more research than your "friends".

Snarf Snarf Icanhazcheezburger

Portland Lover.... four dweebs antagonizing each other at the witching hour does not a Sherman's March make... Regardless of your stance as far as USL/MLS goes, for you to continually back this parroting chumbucket from Eugene shows how "sheepish" you must be. Go back to Wilsonville and take Matt Davis with you. Victoria Taft and the ball gags await the return of your RSVP......

On my drive in to work today, I saw a roadside panhandler holding the following sign:

"How About A Foosball Stadium?"

So, "Finnegan" is oft-quoted Timbers fan Jeremy Wright? I had no idea...

Matt: Can you name the journalist who wrote this on Wednesday morning? "I have also recused myself from reporting on any aspect of this story that touches on the study itself or Eco's role in its production."

Which is a shame, because the hastily thrown together EcoNorthwest report raises a significant question: "How much taxpayer money was squandered on seven pages of superficial and ill-informed analysis?"

Matt: Can you name the journalist whose obvious conflict of interest forced him to write this on Wednesday morning? "I have also recused myself from reporting on any aspect of this story that touches on the study itself or Eco's role in its production."

Which is a shame, because the hastily thrown together EcoNorthwest report raises an interesting question: "How much taxpayer money was squandered on seven pages of superficial and ill-informed analysis?" That'd be a good story for someone.

Leonard: "It sounds like he's already made up his mind and I've found that when you give an answer to a question like that, it doesn't really change anyone's mind"

Does he really not understand that he's describing himself to a T?

"some back-tracking about "urban renewal technically being public money.""

It IS public money. It's not technically public money. It's not kind of public money. It IS public money. In fact, in this case, it's public DEBT, to be repaid with interest. Guess what the interest paid on bonds is these days? Hint: It's going up.

Well Portland Lover, it seems that the post you found on SoccerCityUSA from BlackedOut (Garrett) is having its intended effect. We've got d-bags coming out of the woodwork here.

Don't worry Blackedout, you're still the biggest d-bag of them all.

Sweet Lou, I live in NE.

Are you going to join the rest of the Timbers Army village idiots to fuck up the house of that writer from The Oregonian? I can't believe you write this stuff publicly on your message board where anyone can read it. You guys truly are the stupidest of the stupid.

Really? Dude, post some links. I don't have time to slog through that garbage.

D.C. United completed months of difficult negotiation yesterday by finalizing an Aug. 9 match against Real Madrid, European soccer's most decorated club.

United officials chose the Landover venue, in part, because it can accommodate about twice as many spectators as RFK, a creaky, 48-year-old facility that holds 46,000. By selling enough tickets, the club would offset Real's appearance fee of an estimated $1 million and turn a profit.

Other factors were FedEx's private boxes and amenities and the Washington Redskins' involvement, including access to the NFL team's season ticket list.

Seats in the lower bowl begin at $50 for United and Redskins' season ticket holders. General-public seats, starting at $60, will go on sale June 17. Access to, and fees for, upper-deck seats will not be made available until most of the lower areas sell out.

TV coverage for the 3 p.m. game has yet to be finalized. Real plans to play Toronto FC two days before the Washington visit, sources said.

United welcomed English power Chelsea to FedEx in 2005, but in that case, the visitors didn't want to risk injury on an RFK field scarred by the Washington Nationals' baseball diamond. Although the 2-1 Chelsea victory drew 31,273, local organizers are anticipating a much larger turnout for Real Madrid, which is estimated to have the second-largest global following in all of sports behind Manchester United and is wildly popular in the Washington area's Latin American community.

The matchup will come exactly three years after the teams played to a 1-1 tie before more than 66,000 at Qwest Field in Seattle. That game, however, featured English superstar David Beckham, the sport's biggest draw in the United States. Real does not currently employ anyone with such mainstream fame, but it is planning to make several major acquisitions this summer. Candidates include Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) and Brazil's Kaka (AC Milan), the past two FIFA world players of the year.

Because of the Real match, United's league game against Kansas City, scheduled for Aug. 8 at RFK, has been moved to Sept. 9.

Wow. Portland Lover you shouldn't confuse the many voices in your head with "friends" or "many Timbers fans". They are different things.

We got 300 + people out to a rally to support MLS to PDX and over 50 testifying in front of City Council. If you wanna keep believing that only a handful of Timbers fans support this deal than by all means keep on believing.

You seem to resent the fact that we are an organized force who exercise our right to contact our elected officials and talk to the media and advocate for something. You may wish we weren't a political force in this town but again, you are free to operate in whatever reality you choose. We will continue to advocate for a proposal we think moves Portland forward.

As for continually "outing" me. Is this some lame attempt to intimidate me? To get me to shut up? How did you figure it out Einstein? The 30 times I have been quoted in the past two months or my oft stated representation of MLS to PDX in both this forum and many others. Or perhaps it was the 7 times I have appeared on KGW under my real name? Smart cookie you are. You belong on CSI. I'm comfortable using my real name. Are you?

Matt - I told you who I was at the very first Task Force meeting you attended. I thought you were recusing yourself from reporting on this from now on?

Jeremy Wright is a vagina.

Way to contribute, Blabby. Well played and always classy.

Go Everton.

I was at that rally. It is easy to support a concept, but once you realize the facts of the deal support begins to change to opposition. The derogatory and sexist chanting from the Timbers Army doesn't help, and neither does your empty boasting.

The real numbers everyone should be focused on is $42 million from the Lents URA, $13-$29 million to replace stolen park land from Lents Park, taking money from from the affordable housing budget thus impacting poor and senior home owners in Lents, reducing the small business development budget. All this so that Merritt Paulson and Henry Paulson, who are worth half a billion dollars, can build a new baseball stadium in a public park. They are already making a profit at PGE Park, why do they have to build another stadium at the expense of the city?

Like I have said before, you are so stupid to think you can use the same tactics you use at a soccer game where you "work the ref" or yell obscenities about a player's mom or threaten to "shag" or rape the opposition's women. Yeah, nice one. The fact that you think I am trying to intimidate you is projection, as that is all you know. You are a thug who should not be involved in this political process. There are plenty of other soccer fans who could be the face of the Timbers. Instead, they are left to advocate on their own while people like you horde the banner of the Timbers all to yourself and tarnish our image.

As long as the conversation doesn't resort to name calling and kept civil, well, guess that part of it is out.

The TA is working hard to bring MLS to town, and many of us have wanted this for years, not just because the city up north has it. We follow our team with passion and energy, and care about them as much as we care about the long term health of the city.

The reality here is that if we do nothing about this and MLS goes away, we risk the potential of losing both teams in 2010 when the current lease is up, and the teams are free to look at other alternatives, especially from cities that might be looking to join USL or the PCL. We're not trying to spread misinformation or fear, we simply want to present our side of the discussion to bring MLS to town and get the ballpark issue resolved for the Beavers.

I'm missing the part Portland Lover where I, or anyone for that matter, have stopped you from talking to the media, city council or anyone for that matter and expressing your views on the matter. Did someone stop you from testifying? I'm not quite sure how your lack of action (other than stalking around message boards) is my fault?

I organized a rally (with a lot of help) and lots of people came because they shared our enthusiasm. We asked people to testify and get involved in the political process. Not sure how this is somehow a nefarious effort.

For the record I represent only MLS to PDX and have never spoken for or claimed to represent the Timbers organization or Merritt Paulson.

My position in regards to Lents has been consistent throughout this debate. It's really up to them how they choose to spend their URD money. I will not condescend to speak for the "poor people of Lents". I will wait for what their URAC recommends.

You can call me all the names you want. Doesn't matter. I have a long and proud record of accomplishment in the political process and have had haters far worse then you. I will continue to be active in my community long after this issue is done as I strongly believe that citizen engagement is the key to a vibrant and growing city. I may not agree with your views but I encourage you to do the same.

GK107, as I have been saying for weeks now, starting with the Memorial Coliseum disaster, these deals are not good for the city. It is fun to rally behind the team and feel part of something, but then I realize that my real team is the city of Portland. The Paulsons are going to hurt the city for what amounts to very little gain for the city. It might be a gain for people like us who enjoy going to a Timbers game to forget about the hardships of life, but it will actually just create more hardship for people around town. We need to be focused on what is important.

We shouldn't be taking away $42 million of Lents URA money that they could be using to directly help the residents of that neighborhood. We shouldn't build another stadium, when the Paulsons are already making a profit, and then PRAY that somehow this stadium will help the residents of Lents. That is nonsense. $42 million is a lot of money. Put that to direct use, to things we know will help the residents. Affordable housing, small business development, sidewalk repair, Lents Town Center, traffic lights, etc. These are projects that that will be cut because the Paulsons want to build a new baseball stadium in a public park. Do you support that? I don't.

Also, there is no danger that the Timbers will leave town or fold if we lose the MLS bid. And what is the real danger of losing the MLS bid, anyways? And is this so important that we must hurt the people of Portland to retain it? I don't think so. And if we lose the MLS bid ... We already traveled to Vancouver once this year. The rest of the schedule involves flying. Do you think when Vancouver leaves in 2011 that suddenly our travel budget will go through the roof because we lost one bus trip? No. We already have pretty good attendance. 8,000 people go to games, and the Paulsons make a profit. There is no danger of the team leaving or folding. And in the grand scheme of things, who cares if they do? It is not worth sacrificing our own people so that a rich family can have toys to dangle in front of us. Ultimately, that is what the MLS2PDX and the "hardcore" (read: easily gullible) Timbers Army people are advocating. The real truth is that the Timbers are in no danger of going anywhere. The Paulsons would have to be spiteful assholes to move the team when they are making money and have so many people coming to games.

Jeremy Wright, you are a liar. You boast on your message board all the time about your relationship with Merritt Paulson. I have never once seen you say a negative thing about the man or ever question any of these plans. You are always on the forefront of advocating anything that Merritt Paulson wants to do. And you do it forcefully enough to attract impressionable and gullible fans who don't know better.

Jeremy Wright, you are a liar. You boast on your message board all the time about your relationship with Merritt Paulson. I have never once seen you say a negative thing about the man or ever question any of these plans. You are always on the forefront of advocating anything that Merritt Paulson wants to do. And you do it forcefully enough to attract impressionable and gullible fans who don't know better.

The Beavers aren't worth a $42 million public investment, and I've never seen any MLS supporter here ever make the argument that they are.

This is because there is no such argument to be made.

Portlandlover: MLS is coming to Portland. It's a fait accompli, because it will (in the medium term) mean more money for both the Paulsons and the city than the status quo. Get over it.

What isn't a fait accompli is the Beavers getting a new stadium. The choice is between Beavers-in-new-stadium or Beavers-gone. Simple as that. Whether someone supports or opposes the Beavers stadium is independent of whether they support a Timbers MLS team, in everyone's case except your own.

You constantly talk about the MLS bid as being contingent on what happens to the baseball stadium. When you start seeing beyond that fallacy to the issues that are actually under consideration, people might start taking you a bit more seriously.

So, what's the solution then, Portland Lover? Or Matt? Or Blabby? The one given so far is that the city, owner, private businesses, and MLS have already committed to bringing a MLS team to a renovated PGE Park. So the big question remaining is: what to do with the Beavers? Paul Allen already got everyone to do his dirty work and shoot down the Coliseum site, and now those same people have jumped on the bus to Lents. So where's the next option? Or is the ultimate end game here just to save the money from constructing a baseball stadium, ditch the Beavers entirely, sell them off, and let them relocate to another city? Or are you simply advocating an attempt to tank the entire MLS agreement already in place and giving the finger to Paulson and his financial investment? I don’t agree with everything Paulson, Leonard, or Finnegan say, and I don’t agree with every aspect and argument in favor of the plan. But I do agree that getting a MLS team in PGE Park will be a positive development for the city, and I think it’s in the best interest to find a solution for all the moving parts.

Jack, my goal is to not spend $42 million, or anything close to that, on a new facility for someone's private business, which in this case is a AAA ball club, so not even a very good private business.

If the Beavers have to leave, I will truly be disappointed by that, but this type of sports facility extortion is unacceptable. I laud Seattle for drawing the line and letting the Sonics leave town. At some point, someone has to be responsible for taxpayer money and say "No, we won't spend that much. It's foolish."

Similarly, I'm not crazy about spending any more money on PGE either. But if it comes to it, yeah, I'd give Paulson the finger. You think every time someone comes to the city with a proposition, we have to say "yes" so that we don't hurt their feelings?

Your last post really exposes the poor reasoning among some supporters: "But we HAVE to spend the money! We have no choice!" Sure we do.

Blabby, I didn't mean to give the impression I think there are no choices. I do not in any way believe that. Of course there are many choices.

I think bonds for PGE Park renovations to get an MLS team, where the owner is paying for the team, is backing all the bonds, and is covering the construction cost overruns, is a smart and sound investment for the city. And I think the city will make money out of it. You and I disagree there.

On the other hand, I don't believe the expense for a baseball stadium in Lents is a good investment. The Coliseum site could've been positive for the city, but I don't see Lents being as strong, and I don't support the plan there as it currently exists. You and I agree on that one.

So given the plan as is, that means the Beavers go homeless in my worldview. Choices.

By the way: Seattle taxpayers spent over $1 billion to build Safeco and Qwest fields while we're talking tens of millions here. Still a lot of coin, of course, but only a tiny fraction of their public investment, so go easy on the lauding of Seattle. Just sayin'.

The Beavers can easily continue to share with the Timbers. We are being offered a false choice of "Beavers must leave PGE Park for their own stadium, or Beavers must leave Portland". The only people who are spewing this nonsense are Timbers Army and Merritt Paulson. It is a fear tactic that we must resist.

There was also a well-written op-ed in The Oregonian a couple days ago that proved Merritt Paulson can build a brand new soccer stadium for much less money than he was claiming. So another solution is that Merritt Paulson builds a new soccer stadium and the Beavers stay at PGE Park. PGE Park already underwent renovations to bring the Beavers back to town, why should be make the Beavers leave now?

There are so many different and better solutions than the one we are being offered. We do not have to blackmail the soccer and baseball fans, and we do not have to waste $42 million from the Lents URA. I find this whole process to be highly immoral and disgusting. I am also upset that this will taint the legacy of the Timbers. Many people are turning against us, and even I did not go to the last game because it nauseates me so much when I think about what is happening.

Jack Acid: "Paulson is backing all the bonds"

Can one of you please explain to me:
A) Where you're getting this, and
B) What precisely you think it means

Portland Lover, you're exactly right. How could a AAA ballfield, built on land we already own, possible cost $42 million? The fact is, we have no idea how much it costs, because the figures we're using are the wild-ass guesses provided months ago BY PAULSON HIMSELF.

We get no end of conjecture, assertion and general BS on this deal, but what we can't get is a real third-party study with any real numbers.

Seattle is in a City in a State where Urban Renewal is illegal. Seattle is in a state that also has a sales tax and a more stable and solid public financing structure.

I believe the use of public URA funds for both of these projects is risky and a very unproven way to A) recoup costs B) create economic development in the neighborhoods or the city as a whole. I believe this given the small amount of solid research that has been released around these proposed projects.

I am also extremely disheartened by the lack of rational analysis or well managed guidance by Adams and Leonard on this project. Impulsive, bullying, half-baked pretty much sums it up. Commission a one day study? Pathetic. In addition, I believe it is wrong for a city council person to champion one pet cause so strongly over using good facts to make a decision about large amounts of public funding. The role of Council is to carefully weigh the risks, costs, and trade-offs of projects proposed using public funds to look at the good for the whole city, not just one business owner/developer or small neighborhood development. As it currently stands, I have not seen once compelling argument, using solid analysis, for either of these projects.

Council is not in office to act as cheerleaders for specialized business interests for one businessman. Council is in office to act as good stewards of the public trust. Leonard and Adams are out of bounds here.

I find this especially disgusting given higher priorities in the city including an 8.8 million dollar budget shortage, several URA tif funded projects that are currently defaulting on their loans back to the city (the Nines and Heritage Building on MLK, examples), and the existing URA funding in Lents that will be negatively impacted for things like senior housing and small business development. That's a sin.

Leonard and Adams you are so out of line here that you have pissed off a very powerful contingent of groups and individual citizens alike, as well as your own staff in your own bureaus. I can no longer morally support you given your continuing lack of professional actions, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that you are stopped.

Oh, unless you can simply provide me with some sort of clear analysis that shows the numbers, benefits and trade-offs to these proposals. It's standard procedure dudes, it's good government practice and both of you are blowing it.

Finally, although I was a season ticket holder to the Timbers, given the vitriol spewed by Timbers Fans (not you Portland Lover) on this site and others and the way Paulson has conducted himself, I quit. It's the arrogance and bullying from Paulson, the Timbers Fans (not all of them), and Leonard and Adams that I simply can't swallow.

The MLS/Beavers/Lents whatever-the-F this cluster-F proposal has become and as it stands now it is a bad deal for the city.

@Blabby

Being called a d-bag by you is the highlight of my day you little Jack Bog sycophant you (I still harbor thoughts you actually are Jack Bog himself).

The funniest things about you praising Seattle for letting the Sonics leave are

a: They already dropped close to a billion dollars building Qwest Field and Safeco Field for private businesses

b: The mayor of Seattle is most likely going to lose the next election to a councilwoman who is running her entire campaign on the fact the mayor let the Sonics walk and didn't press the Washington legislature to fund a remodel of Key Arena or an entirely new publically funded basketball stadium.

@Portland Lover

Yeah the only people that say the Beavers have to go are the Timbers Army and Merritt we're totally snowing you over on that one...

Oh wait...AND DON GARBER THE HEAD OF MLS SAID IT. So you're now just making things up now right? Way to back yourself up with actual sources or you know...facts.

http://media.wweek.com/attach/2009/05/29/M…

Blackedout, I didn't praise Seattle for spending a billion on stadiums. I praised them for finally drawing the line.

Hey, blackedout, do you support a detailed third-party study of both stadium deals looking at the costs and benefits?

Is Don Garber a resident of Portland? Does he vote here? Does the city council represent Don Garber? NO!

Actually, Merritt Paulson doesn't live in Portland, either. He lives in Lake Oswego.

Furthermore, we can simply tell Don Garber that the Beavers will not move. What is he going to do? Take away our MLS bid? He would become the laughing stock of sports if he did that. We are already in MLS, and the Paulsons have paid the expansion fee.

Here is a picture of PGE Park during the Women's WORLD CUP! Notice anything interesting? I see dugouts, and I see portable bleachers. It can be done. It already has been done!

http://soccercityusa.com/oct2-pano2m.jpg

I stand by my statement. The only people who are advocating this false choice that the Beavers either get their own stadium or they will leave town are the Timbers Army and the Paulsons. Don Garber has absolutely no say in the matter. We get to decide.

The city of Portland does not have to steal $42 million from the Lents URA, thereby putting poor and senior homeowners at risk and potentially increasing the number of homeless. The city of Portland does not have to slash the small business development budget thus hurting the business community of Lents and preventing projects such as Lents Town Center from going forward. The city of Portland does not need to place a new baseball stadium in a public park requiring $13-$29 million to replace the lost park land.

Don Garber, are you reading this?

Jack Acid: "Paulson is backing all the bonds"

Can one of you please explain to me:
A) Where you're getting this, and
B) What precisely you think it means

Blackedout, do you support a detailed third-party study of both stadium deals looking at the costs and benefits?

@Portland Lover

You really don't get it do you. It wouldn't make Don Garber or the MLS a laughing stock. They've done it before in Cleveland. It's been done in other sports as well. I love how you think the city of Portland gets to negotiate on this. I get it now though. You're delusional.

@Blabby

I wouldn't mind a decent third party study. I would encourage it. Especially if they factor how this deal compares to other deals in other cities (i.e. are we getting a good deal or not). I imagine most of the detractors wouldn't want that it in the study but I'll let you respond to that.

I'd also like to know how they're going to measure the intangibles associated with these deals (I'll call it the Blazer effect. Strangers high fiving on the street, neighbors coming together and spending hours talking Blazers, communities getting together in the city's living room to cheer their team on in the playoffs).

Without those two things factored in I don't know that a study is really necessary.

BlackedOut, we already have the Timbers. They have played here for nine seasons. They weren't going anywhere before MLS came calling, and they aren't going anywhere if MLS makes the foolish decision to revoke our expansion team considering the Paulsons have already paid for it.

*IF* the Timbers leave, and it's a big *IF*, it will be because the Paulsons are spiteful assholes. Like I said, the team wasn't going anywhere before MLS came calling. The team makes money as it is. And we have a good following. We are here to stay, whether it is USL or MLS. Stop trying to scare Timbers fans. We aren't stupid.

"Especially if they factor how this deal compares to other deals in other cities (i.e. are we getting a good deal or not)."

I kind of get your point, but the fact that some other city got EXTRAORDINARILY ripped off, doesn't mean it's a good deal for us to be merely ripped off.

"I'd also like to know how they're going to measure the intangibles. Strangers high fiving on the street, neighbors coming together." (Join hands! Form a love train, love train!)

In all seriousness, these intangibles can't be measured (as you well now). They're what we weigh in the final analysis. A study would find that that this must involve some public cost. (No, it won't "make the city money" no matter how much people repeat that).

Therefore you figure out what that cost is ($X million) and you say, "Is bringing the love train to town worth $X million to the taxpayers?"

This is precisely why I've been asking you guys where you'd draw the line. How much would be too much? I personally don't value the love train at $65 million, or $88 million, or whatever the total is these days.

From the City of Portland...

"Alan Beard Consulting is a local architectural firm. Alan Beard was the City’s owner’s representative during the 2000-2001 remodeling of PGE Park. Alan’s firm has a unique understanding of PGE Park, the improvements made in 00-01, the planning and scheduling dynamics for remodels of stadiums. Peregrine intends to hire Ellerbe Becket architects and Turner Construction for this project. These were the same firms used by PFE for the 00-01 remodel. Alan worked directly with these firms during the earlier PGE Park and is uniquely qualified to be the City’s representative. Alan has all the skills and experience to fulfill the role of owner’s representative as outlined in the Scope of Work detailed above. Alan Beard also worked on the re-purpose of Memorial Coliseum a few years back and has detailed working knowledge of that facility which may be a part of the overall project.
This project is on a very fast track as directed by Council and there is not time for the City representative to gain the working knowledge of PGE Park and the dynamics of a private-public partnership process for a design/build project of this magnitude. Therefore, Alan Beard is the only consultant that can immediately fulfill this role due to his earlier work for the City on PGE Park.
Major renovations to City owned sports facilities do not occur often. Alan Beard was used for the last renovation project at PGE Park.
Should the project gain final approval and full funding the City will need a similar package of services for the construction phase of this project. This determination will not be known for several months. Office of Management and Finance (OMF) will collaborate with the Purchasing Agent to determine how to proceed should the project move forward to construction.

Contract Duration
Services must be delivered and invoiced within one year of contract execution.
Any firm with questions regarding this procurement may contact OMF Facilities Division." $100,000

Also

"Authorize sole source acquisition and execution of a contract with Peregrine Sports LLC for Predevelopment Agreement and Operating Agreement to partly finance, develop, construct and operate: (i) renovations to PGE Park to convert PGE Park to a Major League Soccer stadium; and (ii) a new Triple-A baseball stadium, potentially on the site of Memorial Coliseum."

I seem to remember the economic analysis bid coming through but for some reason I can't find it. Given the turn around and the likelihood of the project being <$100,000, it too was probably a sole source... Who knows where the bid went. The link is buried in my email.

@Portland Lover

If you knew as much about the Timbers organization or the USL as you claim you do you'd know exactly why your claims are completely misinformed. I'll write it down in case anyone is actually buying your bogus claims.

The USL is built upon a shaky business model. They rely on new teams entering the league and their franchise fees pay for the league to keep running. That can't last forever. The rest of the league isn't anything like Portland. The rest of the USL doesn't draw like we do with the exception of Montreal who "sells out" every game. It's pretty clear from pictures of games in Montreal that they aren't "sold out".

Temporarily it will be OK for the Timbers and Vancouver to operate on the West Coast. Due to the economic crisis you're already seeing teams come out here to play 2 games as opposed to the more normal model where a team would fly out here and then fly home. At the very least they can fly out here and get in a bus, go up to Vancouver and then fly home from there. A 2 fer if you will. Most of Portland's east coast trips are like this. It's sustainable on a short term basis but not long term. It most definitely won't be sustainable if Portland remains the lone west coast team in 2011.

Why does it matter that other teams aren't like Portland? They don't get anywhere near the attendance that Portland does. While Portland MIGHT be able to afford to fly to Rochester NY, Atlanta, Miami (they'll probably fold at the end of the year), New York in a year or two, etc... Portland can't afford to fly all those teams out here to play us. Their owners rely on their attendance dollars, which aren't that good.

Not only would a USL Timbers franchise be bleeding money post 2011 we would be forcing other teams to bleed money spending money on flying a team out here and putting them up in a hotel for a day or two.

So no. It wouldn't be because the Paulson's are spiteful assholes like you assert. It would be because it's too expensive for everyone involved to operate the lone USL franchise on the West Coast.

Would the MLS yank the franchise? Yep...they did it before in Cleveland when they couldn't figure out their stadium dilemma.

C, if you find any mention of an economic study, I'd love to see it. Thanks

Thank you, C. It looks like the deal is fast-tracked at such a pace (and they are counting on it passing), that they are forced to go with this consultant because he has prior working knowledge? Isn't that illegal? Shouldn't there be a public bidding process?

I also love how Shortstop, LLC, became Peregrine, LLC. It might be too much to read into a name, but "Peregrine" means "to wander". Seems like Merritt Paulson is telling us he is just a carpetbagger wandering into town.