New 'Couv mayor gives Paulson a "come hither" look
The latest round of dithering over where to blow $60 million for a new home for Little Lord Paulson's minor league baseball team has officially begun: The mayor of Vancouver, Washington wants to give it a go. Wasn't that guy running for mayor on a platform of fiscal restraint? That was quick.
Meanwhile, as noted here over the summer, the "minor" soccer league in which Paulson's Portland Timbers team plays is literally falling apart. A sobering thought as the City of Portland plunges eight figures into another goofy remodel of PGE Park for a "major" soccer league that's equally risky, only with much larger stakes.
And in other news, an alert reader points out that over here, the building permit application for the PGE Park renovation has a "cancel permit... pending" notation on it. Anybody know what that's all about?
| Posted at 10:12 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (14)
Wow. In office for a week and already stepped in a steaming pile.
Posted by none | November 11, 2009 11:00 AM
He will support tolls on the I5 bridge to pay for stadium.
Posted by Bark Munster | November 11, 2009 11:14 AM
MLS "equally risky" as USL-1? On what basis do you make that assertion, Jack?
Posted by jj | November 11, 2009 11:42 AM
Let's see... most franchises in the league seeing substantial attendance declines... TV audience laughable... uncertainty of whether a winter season and domed stadiums will be necessary... I'd say there's plenty of risk there.
BTW, your scarf is showing.
Posted by Jack Bog | November 11, 2009 11:45 AM
And lets not forget that so far only three of the fifteen MLS teams have been able to show a profit since they started.
I would call that "risky".
Posted by Jon | November 11, 2009 12:20 PM
Paulson's scam is getting a little worn. Beaverton came to their senses after enough PDXers enlightened them. Now, Vancouver has Portland and Beaverton to show them the light.
Posted by RANZ | November 11, 2009 12:32 PM
Oh yeah, and I'm waiting for the headline announcing Don Mazzioti's appointment (after a thorough search of course) to be Vancouver's "Development Director" or some such sham position....
Posted by RANZ | November 11, 2009 12:34 PM
Sure, the long term survival of MLS isn't certain, but arguing that MLS and USL-1 are equally risky is a bit much.
Posted by Ben L. | November 11, 2009 12:43 PM
Chin Up! Even with the defections, we'll still have our historic rivals Puerto Rico, Rochester and Austin [for the "Keep it Weird" Cup] in the Rump League!
Posted by Morbius | November 11, 2009 12:49 PM
I don't wish this infestation on the 'Couv, but at least it's outside Portland / Multnomah / Metro, so I won't be billed.
Can we get the MLS to go to Clark County too?
Posted by MachineShedFred | November 11, 2009 1:13 PM
And lets not forget that so far only three of the fifteen MLS teams have been able to show a profit since they started.
A quick lesson in Sports Management 101:
1) If the team loses money, fire the coach.
2. If the team makes money, fire the accountant.
Posted by Roger | November 11, 2009 1:33 PM
I love the way that Roger's observation is widely taken as a truism by informed observers -- who then tell you that Government should be happy and never hesitate to jump into bed with these Playa shysters and parasites in the Sportz Biz.
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | November 11, 2009 10:30 PM
"uncertainty of whether a winter season and domed stadiums will be necessary"
A winter season for soccer in North America? Really Jack? What exactly have you been smoking. And domed stadiums? You are having a laugh. They are just building summer stadiums now.
Posted by Jesse V. | November 12, 2009 6:45 PM
The "commissioner" of MLS has told FIFA on several occasions that he's working on moving the season to accommodate the international stars. It's been in all the papers. Here -- put down your beer, take off your scarf, and read a little.
http://www.lunch.com/reviews/UserReview-Major_League_Soccer-1429914-14579-MLS_to_Winter_Schedule_.html
http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2009/10/13/major-league-soccer-in-the-winter/
http://whitecapsfan.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/mls-should-resist-winter-schedule/
Posted by Jack Bog | November 12, 2009 8:28 PM