The Portland Diamond Project has been trying to get an MLB team in Portland since 2017, and this bill’s passage might make it happen.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A bill to help bring Major League Baseball to Portland is nearing home base, passing the House and heading to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk.
Senate Bill 110 passed the House, 46-6, and authorizes $800 million in state bonds to fund and build an MLB ballpark in Portland. It had passed the Senate in April. Kotek had previously signaled her support of the project, so it’s likely it will be signed.
Instead of Oregon residents picking up the tab, the bill proposes that the bonds be repaid over 30 years by a “jock tax” — an extra tax on the MLB team’s players and staff, as well as those of visiting teams — which goes toward paying off the stadium bonds.
The Portland Diamond Project has been trying to get an MLB team in Portland since 2017, with some significant ups and downs and multiple different sites proposed along the way. A new proposal of a 32,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof has reignited interest in that project.
The stadium would sit right on the western bank of the Willamette River near the South Waterfront, on the Zidell Yards property. The former shipyard plot covers 33 acres beneath the Ross Island Bridge, between Tilikum Crossing and the OHSU tram — making public transit a big part of the stadium concept.
Craig Cheek, founder and president of the Portland Diamond Project, called the bill’s passage an “exciting moment.”
“This is a perfect example of a public-private partnership,” he gushed. “It’s been a long road, but we are excited for the next phase of this project. Portland Diamond Project would like to thank legislators for believing in our vision. No rest until opening day!”
Several lawmakers across the aisle applauded the decision, highlighting the creation of Oregon-based jobs and the potential economic boom to Southwest Portland’s waterfront and the state itself.
“From the stadium design incorporating Oregon’s cross-laminated timber, to the site further activating Portland’s South Waterfront, to built-in labor protections for Oregon workers — this project is a grand slam for Oregon,” said Rep. Daniel Nguyen, D-Lake Oswego and Southwest Portland, who co-carried the bill on the floor.
“Bringing Major League baseball to Oregon would create an economic boom our state is desperately in need of,” said House Minority Leader and Rep. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, in a statement. “As Oregon’s anti-business climate continues to drive away valuable companies, an MLB stadium would create an opportunity to boost statewide revenue and also hold Portland leaders accountable for improving safety and quality of life.”
The previous Portland City Council, current Mayor Keith Wilson, state Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, Sen. Kate Lieber, the Portland Metro Chamber, Travel Portland and Sport Oregon have all supported the project.
“The passage of SB 110 is a milestone for Oregon, paving the way for economic growth, community development, and a vibrant future with a potential MLB stadium that will bring jobs and tourism to Portland,” Wilson said in a statement Tuesday evening. “Portland continues to make significant strides in public safety, including a decrease in crime and homicides downtown. We remain committed to building on this progress and ensuring a safe, thriving city for residents, businesses, and visitors.”
Nothing has been said officially on the MLB actually coming to Portland, but Wilson has expressed confidence that it would become a reality.
“We feel confident it’s down to us and one other city,” he told KGW’s “Straight Talk” last year.
KGW’s Alex Jensen contributed to the reporting of this story.
