Beaverton calls up Beavers

October 14, 9:18 AMPortland Sports ExaminerCliff Pfenning

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BEAVERTON - The civic leadership of Beaverton started the public process of bringing the Portland Beavers baseball team to its downtown core Tuesday when it presented its plan to the media at a lunchtime meeting.

Mayor Denny Doyle talked up the initial agreement to build a stadium, set at $59 million, as a chance to inspire the city and had numerous other officials behind him.

“We realize the city is trying to wake up from the economy and come together,” Doyle said to an audience of more than 75 reporters and concerned citizens, “and this can be a catalyst for that, a chance to develop a vibrant core for our downtown.

“This can be a defining moment of what Beaverton will be in the future.”

The stadium, which still does not have a home site, will be mixed use in nature, Doyle added, and will house more than 100 events per year when fully used.

“And, we’ll own it,” he said, “for the price of half a movie ticket per month.”

Each resident will pay roughly $50 per year to fund the stadium. Beavers owner Merritt Paulson will contribune 40 percent of the total.

A poll of residents conducted by the Oregon Sports Authority found 57 percent of respondents favored the city’s attempt to bring the Beavers to town.

“That’s a good figure,” Executive Director Drew Mahalic said. “If Beaverton can sieze this opportunity, this can be a huge step forward for the city.”

State Rep. Ryan Deckert said one of the best elements of the plan might be its ability to inspire future leaders.

“There’s a lack of bold thinking in general, and we need to address that,” Deckert said. “This is the time and this is the city. Timidity is not the calling card for Washington County, so that makes this a really important move for our community.”

The audience included several opponents of the plan, and Doyle addressed one of the primary concerns of the project - time. Paulson has a deadline, which has moved several times, with Major League Soccer to begin remodelling PGE Park in Portland for the Portland Timbers soccer team, and that process can’t begin until the Beavers find a new home.

“Time is a key issue here, and we realize that,” Doyle said. “But it’s something we’re going to have to deal with and work around as best we can.”

Several public meetings are planned to discuss the project.