PGE Park Renovation...

[RMJB]

Hello, Timbers Army!

I know this may be a bit early... But I can't help but start to think about the renovation of PGE Park! What is needed (by league standards) to upgrade the existing stadium? What is on everybodies wish list for stadium improvements? When will construction start? Will the Timbers be able to play their 2010 USL season in PGE while the needed renovations for the big 2011 season takes place? How about the Beavers (AAA Baseball)...will they continue to play in PGE until 2011?

If anybody has any insider information, I'm dying to know any details!

[theSouthFace]

Hello, Timbers Army!

I know this may be a bit early... But I can't help but start to think about the renovation of PGE Park! What is needed (by league standards) to upgrade the existing stadium? What is on everybodies wish list for stadium improvements? When will construction start? Will the Timbers be able to play their 2010 USL season in PGE while the needed renovations for the big 2011 season takes place? How about the Beavers (AAA Baseball)...will they continue to play in PGE until 2011?

If anybody has any insider information, I'm dying to know any details!

Some of it may be here I believe, but just may take a bunch of internet searching.

http://www.mlstoportland.com/templates/template6/?page=31

[Orlando Rays]

So they're giving the Beavers a new park, and modifying PGE Park into an SSS?

Why couldn't they keep PGE the way it is, and give the Timbers a new SSS?

[gothamite]

I think the stand layout lends itself better to football than it does to baseball. It's a better beginning of a football ground.

[bright]

So they're giving the Beavers a new park, and modifying PGE Park into an SSS?

Why couldn't they keep PGE the way it is, and give the Timbers a new SSS?

It's cheaper this way, and the resulting stadiums will be better for both sports.

[Chowda]

Why couldn't they keep PGE the way it is, and give the Timbers a new SSS?
Also, it divides up the "interests" getting benefits from taxpayers. Sure, it's mostly going to the same parties, but soccer and baseball is getting a boost mitigating the anti-soccer effect.

[gothamite]

"anti-soccer effect"?

[The Marquis]

PGE is downtown... that's just one of the reasons for keeping it as the Timbers stadium. Of course that it's on transit (several bus and 2 light rail lines) and the price of course. It's really just perfect with a renno. Otherwise we would likely not end up in such a good spot.

[SabreKhan]

PGE currently holds 19,000+. I presume that the concessions and restroom facilities are adequate for that number of people. If they could build another set of stands on the "outfield" side of the stadium, with concessions and restrooms for those people, and with luxury boxes on top (or in the middle of a double-decker), that would put capacity at plus or minus 25,000. Convert the first-base dugout into a regular soccer tunnel for the players to enter/exit the locker rooms (it's not midfield, but it's close enough). You wouldn't even need a roof on the new stands, and you'd have one of the best venues in the league. The full roof over the existing baseball stadium and the tall existing stands look great and sound great during USL-1 games. There wouldn't even need to be more stands behind the outfield goal; they could save that area for expansion if necessary.

[kevmatwill]

I was talking to one of the ticket reps at the Red Bulls/Timbers game and he said PGE would be complete before the 2011 season .

[austinwetherby]

So they're giving the Beavers a new park, and modifying PGE Park into an SSS?

Why couldn't they keep PGE the way it is, and give the Timbers a new SSS?



exactly god, this shows me they care more about their baseball team then MLS, they deserve a beautiful new home, not pge park

[evangel]

exactly god, this shows me they care more about their baseball team then MLS, they deserve a beautiful new home, not pge park

Have you actually looked at PGE's design? It looks more like a partially completed soccer field than a baseball field. It will be properly expanded and renovated. I see no problems with it.

Besides, would you prefer that the Timbers be the ones to move into the suburbs?

[savier]

exactly god, this shows me they care more about their baseball team then MLS, they deserve a beautiful new home, not pge park

when you see pge park in 2011, you will not be saying this mate. trust me. also, pge park is our home, it just is. it wouldn't be the same not going to the bitter end pub across the street and seeing the park through the window.

[Rowdies1965]

Ha Ha Ha!! You will still be playing in that dump till the end of the MLS!! Look at San Jose, Houston, DC United! Please, Garber and the goons could care less about SSS. Just put up a temporary goal and some porta-potties and they would be happy. Make sure the foul lines are still visible like the yard lines are still visable in Seattle.

What an insult to the worlds game!! I just came back from Ecuador and they at least have SSS in what would be considered 3rd world country!! They do love their futbol!!

[Scadzz]

when you see pge park in 2011, you will not be saying this mate. trust me. also, pge park is our home, it just is. it wouldn't be the same not going to the bitter end pub across the street and seeing the park through the window.

As some Portlanders have mentioned, and even though I'm not there I agree, they don't need something new...they need something nicer.

And if you can get something nicer for the new fans and MLS, while maintaining the tradition and feeling of the old location that Timber Army loves...well then it is win-win.

[evangel]

Ha Ha Ha!! You will still be playing in that dump till the end of the MLS!! Look at San Jose, Houston, DC United! Please, Garber and the goons could care less about SSS. Just put up a temporary goal and some porta-potties and they would be happy. Make sure the foul lines are still visible like the yard lines are still visable in Seattle.

What an insult to the worlds game!! I just came back from Ecuador and they at least have SSS in what would be considered 3rd world country!! They do love their futbol!!

Go back to your watering hole, newb.

Or at least bother to do some research.

[footballer7883]

Go back to your watering hole, newb.

Or at least bother to do some research.

Well said.

[RMJB]

Will the pitch get some quality sod with the renovation, or will the Timbers continue to play on plastic?

Will the scoreboard/video board get an update?

Will any "green" elements get added to the stadium....i.e. solar panels, iridescent lights.

Will the Timbers practice in their new stadium, or will a new/existing practice facility be used?

[ChicagoFC (FireClub)]

They do love their futbol!!

and people like you make it difficult for me to recruit new fans to love our soccer

please back off on the antipathy for other sports
THIS is a free country, I happen to like baseball and american football

{edit}
also RMJB
I thought iridescent light was just a filter of light, while LED's, fluorescent tubes, and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL's) were more energy efficient

[austinwetherby]

i hope they release a rendering, or did they, idk, but it could be very nice