The Politics of Stadiums

While the final decision remains in the hands of Major League Baseball, there is notable political momentum building signaling Portland is serious about securing a baseball team.  

If baseball returns to Portland, it will be to the credit of a small group of political and business leaders who stuck to their vision – and a belief this will fundamentally transform downtown, the waterfront district, and our regional sports economy.

Building a new stadium is enormously complicated for any major metro region. It’s certainly more complicated in a hyper-inclusive political ecosystem like Portland. The process of siting, designing, approving, and building stadiums is arduous. It involves input and buy-in from a chaotic network of public and private decisionmakers.

In this episode, we unpack how Portland has navigated these roadblocks. And how the city is sending a clear signal to stakeholders that we are ready to play ball to make it happen.  

Listen as we talk with the political and business leaders working to promote Portland as a sports destination, site and build a new stadium, and sell a bold new vision of the South Waterfront district to voters and community groups.

Featured throughout are conversations with Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, Andrew Hoan, President and CEO, Portland Metro Chamber, Jim Etzel, CEO, Sport Oregon, Monique Claiborne, President and CEO, Greater Portland, Inc., and Demi Lawrence, Sports Business Reporter, Portland Business Journal.