You do know that they play most of their games indoors, right? Also, there is an NFL team there, and they host TONS of events that they have to host to pay off one of the most expensive stadiums in the world. Settle the ******** down.
They are also losing so much money because they play on turf....er wait...oopps...they are making more money than any professional soccer team in the history of the US. They have played all but 1 (not positive on this) of their games with the roof closed. MBS has a small retractable section (comparative to the size of the field and stadium) in the middle. This opening will never provide enough hours of sunlight for growing grass and would require growing lights. P.S. even with the roof section open I would never call it playing "outdoors."
On top of this, they are also forced to play extremely boring soccer, since turf makes a possession game impossible :-( Oh wait, no. They play some of the most attractive soccer in MLS history.
Good luck with that. Wanting a grass field in Portland than having the Timbers, T2, and Thorns put 50 or so games on it in Portland weather, and keeping it playable are two different things. We played the World Cup Qualifier in Barbados in 2000 on a grass field. I don't think anyone ever wants to see that again.
A bit too excited to settle down, since folks like you used arguments like these to shout down the idea of Portland converting to grass. Whether folks on this thread will admit it or not. As for the rest, you two setting up straw men and knocking them down seems pretty circle-jerky. We're all getting tumblr-banned soon.
BTW, Andy, wasn't referring to you there. I'd just love to take MP at his word. People with money and civic support can find solutions. Maybe everybody doesn't play at Civic. And there was a relatively high cost for these seats they're adding in Portland, so maybe scheduling around regular field replacement isn't so far-fetched.
Was that the place where "groundskeeping" consisted of someone's Uncle Desmond grazing his goats on the pitch? Or maybe I'm thinking of the cricket stadium in one of the other smaller Caribbean countries that had a huge bare rectangle in the middle. But at least they took out the wickets...
Grenada was at the cricket oval, but the national soccer stadium was next door. The soccer field was dirt, but most of the cricket field was grass. The U.S. insisted on grass. The slip was plugged with grass - then it poured rain throughout the game and the slip became a mud pit. Barbados is where the lines were well worn deep ruts that they just put paint in. A ball would've rolled better in a gravel parking lot than on that field. Now that I think of it, I think Antigua also used their cricket oval.
Wasn't there some Caribbean pitch that had gopher (or whatever their local varmint was) holes on it? Players were worried about stepping in one and breaking an ankle.
Saw the work progressing on the security cam, but here's video of the seating supports being lifted into place. #RCTID #GoodMorning Setting bleacher extensions (pre-fabricated). Trucked in and hung on the columns. Boom pump extended and concrete is pumped to upper deck screeted and troweled. pic.twitter.com/EF76yUREZa— BobMc (@bobthebuilder4u) December 12, 2018
Sorry, but soccer on turf still is inferior. It just is. No tackling. Ping ping ball bounces. Atlanta would look even better on a real pitch. However, that doesn't mean ATL/SEA/PORT/VAN cannot play enjoyable footy that is fun to watch in a fantastic atmosphere. They do. (OK, the Caps are not real exciting, but it ain't the turf's fault). I would love to ditch all the plastic pitches in MLS (NE being #5), but I do not think it is in the cards anytime soon.
I was wondering why they wouldn't have removed the turf for the construction. There are two cranes on it, I don't care that they put plywood on it, it's got to cause some kind of damage. Hopefully it means that grass will be installed. Portland is going to start the season on the road because of the construction. If grass is to be installed, what's the latest it could be installed to take in time for the season?
They have to get Portland State out of the building before they can go to turf. That is a to be continued situation, last I heard anyway.
There will not be grass (except maybe some weed) in the stadium for the 2019 season. They will be replacing the turf before the first home game, so it will be a fresh install, which is why they aren't worried about construction equipment on the field. There have been discussions about doing the renovations/changes necessary to allow for a grass field in 2020, but there is nothing other than speculative news articles on that at this point.
While true, it is just more accurate to say that there is nothing other than speculative comments from Paulson at this point.
This is where I thought it was. Ownership knows the fans want grass. And I think ownership does as well. Truly. So they make statements every so often. But I thought the # of tennants at the stadium and, IIRC, its configuration, made grass not viable at the present time. That has not changed to my knowledge. I would love to be wrong. I mean, Portland going grass would get us down to 4. NE needs their own place but Kraft won't spend. I thought originally VAN had targeted their own SSS and BC Place was temporary, but it is pretty silent on the stadium front there. And no way MLS messes with SEA/ATL at the moment. Nor is Blank building ANOTHER stadium.
Better soccer on turf than soccer on a chewed up lumpy mud pit. Not all grass is better than all turf.
Disagree, just for the record. Obviously you could take the point to a ridiculous extreme, but I even like the snow games more than most turf games.
Portland State only played a game or two at Providence Park this year and conplained about how hard it was to find dates for them to play at PP and that it was impacting their ability to schedule games. *shrug* It certainly seems that something is changing. The Whitecaps had planned a SSS on the Vancouver waterfront, but the land seap they wanted was rejected by the Canadian government, they then settled on playing in BC Place. I don’t believe that decision was temporary.
I love how you guys don't let the turf get worn out before replacing it. Not a fan of turf, but at least you guys keep it new as possible. How often do you guys replace the turf? I think Seattle replaces their turf after three season, seams like one year to late, that field looks horrible in the third season.