Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber faced “skeptical questioning” Tuesday at the first meeting of a city task force set up to examine Paulson’s idea of using $85 million in city-backed bonds to upgrade PGE Park to an MLS-grade venue and build a new baseball stadium.
Group member Mark Williams wanted to know if the Paulson family would “personally guarantee” payment if any future deal collapses, reports James Mayer. When a private company last renovated PGE Park seven years ago, it went bust and the city ended up paying the $35 million costs. Paulson “didn’t answer the question directly,” but stressed his confidence that MLS will work in Portland. He argued that soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with particular appeal to young people and the growing Latino population in Portland.
Garber told the group that the league is “bullish” on Portland becoming one of two expansion teams in 2011, because it has strong ownership and the “experience, passion and history” to be a strong market for soccer. But, “without a renovation, we simply can’t come here,” Garber said. The task force will continue to work through February and is scheduled to make a recommendation about both projects to the council in early March.