When the nimrods that be are done soccer and the Blazers will be the only sports shows within city limits. I've been to one Timbers game (I was invited to a Beavers game but the person getting the tickets just wanted to be at any game on the 4th of July that year). It was one soccer game too many.

Go by slapstick (and I don't mean slap shot)!

I guess if you are unwilling to pay off certain folks you get shoved out the door?
I guess the Winterhawks franchise doesn't have a house in the Hamptons.

Even if Sam wants to spend the money for remodeling, the money will be earmarked for energy saving projects. New seats and amenities will be trumpted by double glazing and a sod roof. Do sports fans really care how nice it is to look "out" of the coliseum?

Actually, the Winterhawks have been a stalking horse for the Blazers throughout most of the Coliseum/Rose Quarter process/fandango. The Hawks' owner, Bill Gallacher, may not have a home in the Hanmptons, but he has enormously deep pockets thanks to his oil holdings in Alberta. He just purchased the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars.

Sam Adams referred a week ago to the "negative economic impact" caused by the Marquam Bridge, citing that nobody sells views of the Marquam Bridge.

I wonder what the "negative economic impact" is of soccer - we're losing the Beavers and about to lose the Winter Hawks. We're still paying for the PGE Park improvements of a decade ago, that'll be ripped up - money completely wasted. I'm sure the lenders who bought those bonds aren't in Portland so the interest payments are flying out of town. Paul Allen doesn't seem to want to spend much of his own money in Portland, instead buying up lots of real estate in his hometown of Seattle; and he sold his radio broadcast business here in Portland as well.

"Sam Adams referred a week ago to the "negative economic impact" caused by the Marquam Bridge, citing that nobody sells views of the Marquam Bridge."

Out of curiousity do you have a source?

Usually everything they don't like (parking, cheap utilities, adequate police protection, good schools, decent sized yards, etc.) has a negative economic impact.

Meanwhile, throwing every last penny at streetcars and condo subsidies is a positive impact.

Unfortunately, Sammy wouldn't know good economics if he stepped in a pile of it.

I gather that the owner of the Winterhawks is not willing to share any of his accrued amenities, with the members of the city council, in exchange for favorable remodel terms at the Memorial Coliseum. Or maybe he just doesn't enjoy the company of the SamRand twins under any circumstances.

Steve--

Here's the quote that Erik H. was referring to:

"Referring to the concrete, anywhere-in-America I-5 crossing in downtown Portland, Adams said he didn't want 'another Marquam Bridge.'

'Its ugliness has a negative economic impact beyond its functionality," Adams said in an interview after the unanimous vote. 'You don't see very many people advertising their views of the Marquam Bridge.'"

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/columbia_river_crossing_will_b.html

What a ridiculous quote, IMO.

Samadumbs is a damn idiot. "Let's spend an extra billion on a bridge to make it bright and shiny and we can even hang balloons and streamers! I'm sure we would attract at least a billion back in tourist dollars!"

Yeah...because people come to Portland, not to visit the shops and the outdoors and the great neighborhoods, but to take an effing picture of a bridge. How'd that work out with the OHSU tram? When will that $45 million cost overrun be recouped?

Sam - get over it. This is PORTLAND, OREGON, not San Francisco, not Amsterdam, not NYC.