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I went up to Seattle yesterday to see a Mariner game with the bros. My observations in relation to Portland getting and supporting a MLB team:

I'm not seeing it. On a Wednesday afternoon game, the Mariners were able to draw over 37,000 people. People that either missed work or skipped their kids' first days of school. Everything about the experience screamed BIG CITY... something I just think Portland can't pull off.

As I've said in other posts, I think the people on here VASTLY overestimate the number of people in the Portland area that are even Sports Casual, let alone hardcores that would go to 82 games a year. Yeah, the Blazers can average 15000 and near sellouts in the middle of winter, when there's nothing else to do, 2-3 times a week. Less if the team sucks, more if they are doing well. The Timbers have a rabid fanbase and still only average around 22k a game, which average once a week. Both teams have also had 50+ years of building a loyal fanbase. I am just not seeing Portland long-term supporting a baseball team with 20-25k fans a night for 82 games in the spring and summer.

The last thing this city needs is another Vancouver Grizzlies. I wish I was and want to be wrong, because I personally would support the HELL out of a Portland-based MLB team. But I don't think there are enough of us to make it work.
 
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chris_in_pdx said:
I went up to Seattle yesterday to see a Mariner game with the bros. My observations in relation to Portland getting and supporting a MLB team:

I'm not seeing it. On a Wednesday afternoon game, the Mariners were able to draw over 37,000 people. People that either missed work or skipped their kids' first days of school. Everything about the experience screamed BIG CITY... something I just think Portland can't pull off.

As I've said in other posts, I think the people on here VASTLY overestimate the number of people in the Portland area that are even Sports Casual, let alone hardcores that would go to 82 games a year. Yeah, the Blazers can average 15000 and near sellouts in the middle of winter, when there's nothing else to do, 2-3 times a week. Less if the team sucks, more if they are doing well. The Timbers have a rabid fanbase and still only average around 22k a game, which average once a week. Both teams have also had 50+ years of building a loyal fanbase. I am just not seeing Portland long-term supporting a baseball team with 20-25k fans a night for 82 games in the spring and summer.

The last thing this city needs is another Vancouver Grizzlies. I wish I was and want to be wrong, because I personally would support the HELL out of a Portland-based MLB team. But I don't think there are enough of us to make it work.
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Very fair take.
 
chris_in_pdx said:
I went up to Seattle yesterday to see a Mariner game with the bros. My observations in relation to Portland getting and supporting a MLB team:

I'm not seeing it. On a Wednesday afternoon game, the Mariners were able to draw over 37,000 people. People that either missed work or skipped their kids' first days of school. Everything about the experience screamed BIG CITY... something I just think Portland can't pull off.

As I've said in other posts, I think the people on here VASTLY overestimate the number of people in the Portland area that are even Sports Casual, let alone hardcores that would go to 82 games a year. Yeah, the Blazers can average 15000 and near sellouts in the middle of winter, when there's nothing else to do, 2-3 times a week. Less if the team sucks, more if they are doing well. The Timbers have a rabid fanbase and still only average around 22k a game, which average once a week. Both teams have also had 50+ years of building a loyal fanbase. I am just not seeing Portland long-term supporting a baseball team with 20-25k fans a night for 82 games in the spring and summer.

The last thing this city needs is another Vancouver Grizzlies. I wish I was and want to be wrong, because I personally would support the HELL out of a Portland-based MLB team. But I don't think there are enough of us to make it work.
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I was at a Mariners game last year. Fun time, loved the DT. I just don't see how that crowd would work in the South Waterfront. Way too small and already overbuilt.
 
chris_in_pdx said:
I went up to Seattle yesterday to see a Mariner game with the bros. My observations in relation to Portland getting and supporting a MLB team:

I'm not seeing it. On a Wednesday afternoon game, the Mariners were able to draw over 37,000 people. People that either missed work or skipped their kids' first days of school. Everything about the experience screamed BIG CITY... something I just think Portland can't pull off.
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Why not? You act like Portland wouldn't have almost 2.5 million people to draw from.

Plus, what about the games where the Mariners barely drew 13K people?
As I've said in other posts, I think the people on here VASTLY overestimate the number of people in the Portland area that are even Sports Casual, let alone hardcores that would go to 82 games a year. Yeah, the Blazers can average 15000 and near sellouts in the middle of winter, when there's nothing else to do, 2-3 times a week. Less if the team sucks, more if they are doing well. The Timbers have a rabid fanbase and still only average around 22k a game, which average once a week.
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And if their owner wasn't a schmuck and they didn't almost constantly underperform, they'd probably draw more (if their stadium had more seats).

The WNBA team already had season ticket requests of like 12K.

Both teams have also had 50+ years of building a loyal fanbase. I am just not seeing Portland long-term supporting a baseball team with 20-25k fans a night for 82 games in the spring and summer.
The last thing this city needs is another Vancouver Grizzlies. I wish I was and want to be wrong, because I personally would support the HELL out of a Portland-based MLB team. But I don't think there are enough of us to make it work.
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There are fans that drive up to Seattle for Mariner games that live in Portland.

The minor league hockey team, ffs, averages almost 5K a night, and it's fucking minor league hockey.

Look at the ratings for Portland when it comes to MLB.

And if we're to go on the "they've had 50 years" to build a fan base, well then I guess there should never be another sports team here. Not NFL, not WNBA, not NHL, nothing. I mean, they've had 50 years to build up the Blazers and Timbers!

If you give Portlanders a reason to go to a game, they will go. This is just small town mentality.
 
I also have my doubts, but I'd love to give it a shot.

Watched the Battered Bastards Of Baseball the other day. Awesome story. I used to love the Portland Beavers. I didn't realize they were brought in to run off a more popular team.
 
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Btw, the whole "37K" thing is a weird barometer.

For starters, the Mariners have a seasonal average of 30K (which is worse than the last 2 years) and are middle of the road attendance wise. Almost half of the teams average under 30K this year anyways, so it's probably difficult for most cities (even ones with 50+ years of time to build a fan base) to get 37K on a Wednesday mid-day game.

There is zero chance the team would draw 37K on a wednesday, because the stadium they've talked about building won't have that big of a #. But if you have the Portland team competing for a division title vs another team competing for a division title, there'd be a lot of fans that would be there. Hell, I have family that flew up *from* San Diego to go to the series.
 
chris_in_pdx said:
I went up to Seattle yesterday to see a Mariner game with the bros. My observations in relation to Portland getting and supporting a MLB team:

I'm not seeing it. On a Wednesday afternoon game, the Mariners were able to draw over 37,000 people. People that either missed work or skipped their kids' first days of school. Everything about the experience screamed BIG CITY... something I just think Portland can't pull off.

As I've said in other posts, I think the people on here VASTLY overestimate the number of people in the Portland area that are even Sports Casual, let alone hardcores that would go to 82 games a year. Yeah, the Blazers can average 15000 and near sellouts in the middle of winter, when there's nothing else to do, 2-3 times a week. Less if the team sucks, more if they are doing well. The Timbers have a rabid fanbase and still only average around 22k a game, which average once a week. Both teams have also had 50+ years of building a loyal fanbase. I am just not seeing Portland long-term supporting a baseball team with 20-25k fans a night for 82 games in the spring and summer.

The last thing this city needs is another Vancouver Grizzlies. I wish I was and want to be wrong, because I personally would support the HELL out of a Portland-based MLB team. But I don't think there are enough of us to make it work.
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You can go see a mariners game in pretty good seats for $20 on a Wednesday afternoon. MLB much cheaper than NBA
 
Is anyone in here raising boys 10-18 years old who play baseball? The baseball (club and rec) scene in Oregon is much bigger than I think people realize.
 
GoZers said:
Is anyone in here raising boys 10-18 years old who play baseball? The baseball (club and rec) scene in Oregon is much bigger than I think people realize.
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I'm not raising boys or baseball or softball players, but yes it absolutely is.
 
chris_in_pdx said:
I went up to Seattle yesterday to see a Mariner game with the bros. My observations in relation to Portland getting and supporting a MLB team:

I'm not seeing it. On a Wednesday afternoon game, the Mariners were able to draw over 37,000 people. People that either missed work or skipped their kids' first days of school. Everything about the experience screamed BIG CITY... something I just think Portland can't pull off.

As I've said in other posts, I think the people on here VASTLY overestimate the number of people in the Portland area that are even Sports Casual, let alone hardcores that would go to 82 games a year. Yeah, the Blazers can average 15000 and near sellouts in the middle of winter, when there's nothing else to do, 2-3 times a week. Less if the team sucks, more if they are doing well. The Timbers have a rabid fanbase and still only average around 22k a game, which average once a week. Both teams have also had 50+ years of building a loyal fanbase. I am just not seeing Portland long-term supporting a baseball team with 20-25k fans a night for 82 games in the spring and summer.

The last thing this city needs is another Vancouver Grizzlies. I wish I was and want to be wrong, because I personally would support the HELL out of a Portland-based MLB team. But I don't think there are enough of us to make it work.
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Mehh mariners are finally good for the first time in I don’t know how many years lol.. what was their average attendance the last decade plus before this one?

besides is Salt Lake City with a smaller population going to do better than us with your argument?
 
SlyPokerDog said:
I was at a Mariners game last year. Fun time, loved the DT. I just don't see how that crowd would work in the South Waterfront. Way too small and already overbuilt.
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I think you gotta remember a lot of people will be coming from the east side using the Tilikum Crossing bridge. People forget that side of the river (east side) is pretty open and very walkable to cross over
 
GoZers said:
Is anyone in here raising boys 10-18 years old who play baseball? The baseball (club and rec) scene in Oregon is much bigger than I think people realize.
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I have grandsons playing u13 baseball, its a big business nowadays with traveling teams and parents forking out big bucks because thats the trend.
 
My grand daughter plays U13 softball and she's a very good pitcher for her age. She's been recruited heavily by other traveling teams which is fine I guess. The thing I just learned though that bothers me is she is being told not top play for her high school which is a couple years away. Coaching isnt good and playing club is better for scholarship potential. Things have really changed since my playing days.
 
chris_in_pdx said:
I went up to Seattle yesterday to see a Mariner game with the bros. My observations in relation to Portland getting and supporting a MLB team:

I'm not seeing it. On a Wednesday afternoon game, the Mariners were able to draw over 37,000 people. People that either missed work or skipped their kids' first days of school. Everything about the experience screamed BIG CITY... something I just think Portland can't pull off.

As I've said in other posts, I think the people on here VASTLY overestimate the number of people in the Portland area that are even Sports Casual, let alone hardcores that would go to 82 games a year. Yeah, the Blazers can average 15000 and near sellouts in the middle of winter, when there's nothing else to do, 2-3 times a week. Less if the team sucks, more if they are doing well. The Timbers have a rabid fanbase and still only average around 22k a game, which average once a week. Both teams have also had 50+ years of building a loyal fanbase. I am just not seeing Portland long-term supporting a baseball team with 20-25k fans a night for 82 games in the spring and summer.

The last thing this city needs is another Vancouver Grizzlies. I wish I was and want to be wrong, because I personally would support the HELL out of a Portland-based MLB team. But I don't think there are enough of us to make it work.
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We use to take the Amtrak up to the games. It was always packed from Portland. I am guessing all those people will stop taking the train and will start going to portland games. I think the Mariners would feel a loss in attendance if Portland picked up a team.
 
twobullz said:
We use to take the Amtrak up to the games. It was always packed from Portland. I am guessing all those people will stop taking the train and will start going to portland games. I think the Mariners would feel a loss in attendance if Portland picked up a team.
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If parking is decent and the park easy to access that would make a significant difference.
 
Hoopguru said:
I have grandsons playing u13 baseball, its a big business nowadays with traveling teams and parents forking out big bucks because thats the trend.
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I would never ever let my kids play baseball. Bye bye summer free time.
 
HailBlazers said:
I would never ever let my kids play baseball. Bye bye summer free time.
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Sacrifice's in all things. Team sports for kids, regardless when, can be beneficial to a young person. TEAM - TogetherEveryoneAccomplishe'sMore
 
Hoopguru said:
My grand daughter plays U13 softball and she's a very good pitcher for her age. She's been recruited heavily by other traveling teams which is fine I guess. The thing I just learned though that bothers me is she is being told not top play for her high school which is a couple years away. Coaching isnt good and playing club is better for scholarship potential. Things have really changed since my playing days.
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I've seen the same thing at basketball. High school coaches can have favorites based on non-basketball-related issues. Then they try to handicap other kids who are better players for non-basketball related reasons that that kid had no control over.

But I've seen the same thing at the club level as well... To a lesser extent.
 
HailBlazers said:
I would never ever let my kids play baseball. Bye bye summer free time.
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We just took our first non-basketball summer vacation after my eldest child's freshman year in college.

Sports are year-round if you want to be competitive. At least, if you aren't a naturally gifted athletic freak.
 
Phatguysrule said:
We just took our first non-basketball summer vacation after my eldest child's freshman year in college.

Sports are year-round if you want to be competitive. At least, if you aren't a naturally gifted athletic freak.
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Yeah my kids play club soccer year round. Summer baseball is a whole other level of commitment.
 
In my day we played seasonal sports through high school. No soccer at that time.
Fall - Football / CC
Winter - Basketball/Wrestling
Spring - Baseball/Track
Summer - Baseball/American Legion teams
 
SlyPokerDog said:
And you played them all uphill... in the snow!
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Nah-Football and Baseball only - just mentioned the sports that were offered seasonally.
Not to many athletes back then that focused on 1 sport until maybe HS/College
Most jock types played several sports, back then, because of natural talent in various sports.
 
During his high school career at Jefferson High in Portland, Oregon, Terry Baker was a three-sport star who led the football team to two consecutive undefeated state championships and two state titles, earning him induction into the National High School Hall of Fame. He also excelled in basketball, winning a city title in 1959, and in baseball, pitching the team to a state title in the same year.
 
Hoopguru said:
My grand daughter plays U13 softball and she's a very good pitcher for her age. She's been recruited heavily by other traveling teams which is fine I guess. The thing I just learned though that bothers me is she is being told not top play for her high school which is a couple years away. Coaching isnt good and playing club is better for scholarship potential. Things have really changed since my playing days.
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That’s terrible. I would make her play HS. If she’s good they’ll find her. Tell club to pound sand. That’s for offseason.
 
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