The Portland City Council voted unanimously Wednesday in favor of a resolution declaring support for the Portland Diamond Project and its efforts to bring Major League Baseball to Oregon.
The resolution means Portland will allocate city resources and potentially properties into the wider effort to attract a professional baseball franchise.
Zidell Yards, on Portland’s South Waterfront, as seen in this satellite image from May 2024. The Portland Diamond Project announced Tuesday it signed a letter of intent to purchase the area, aiming to transform the former shipyard into a ballpark that would meet Major League Baseball requirements.
Map data: ©2024 Google
Mayor Ted Wheeler said the resolution will show MLB leaders that Portland is committed to attracting a team.
“It will send a signal to Major League Baseball, to the baseball commissioner, and indeed to the rest of the country that the city of Portland is very serious about this,” Wheeler said. “We’re ready to step up, we’re ready to make commitments.”
The resolution comes a month after the Diamond Project announced it would make an offer on the 33-acre Zidell Yards property in the city’s South Waterfront area.
It also provides a more formal relationship with the Portland Diamond Project, a group of investors that have worked for years to bring baseball to Portland.
Craig Cheek, a former Nike executive, is the group’s founder and president. He has to date declined to announce the members of the proposed ownership group.
Cheek said Wednesday that the resolution is an early but important step in the process.
“We know we’re still in the early stages still,” Cheek said. “It’s still like a marathon to us, but it’s now time to send the message that we are aligned.”
Earlier this year, the relationship between city officials and the Diamond Project appeared to be more rocky. The Diamond Project had plans on purchasing the RedTail Golf Center in Beaverton, while the city preferred a location in Portland’s urban core.
The new Zidell Yards location appears to have bridged the gap. The city will now work to put together “a competitive package” for MLB officials to consider.
Portland is in fierce competition with other cities — especially Nashville, Salt Lake City and Charlotte — for one of two coveted expansion team spots. This year, the Utah Legislature approved funding for a potential new stadium, turning the heat up on competing markets.
“We must boldly and loudly proclaim that Portland wants to be selected for an expansion team and that it supports the Portland diamond projects efforts,” Sport Oregon CEO Jim Etzel said to commissioners.
But it could be many more years until Portland, or any city, receives its own team. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said earlier this year he wants expansion plans finalized by 2029, and that a new team won’t play ball until the 2031 season.