Portland City Council Supports Portland Diamond Project’s MLB Stadium Bid
Portland, Ore. – The Portland City Council unanimously backed the Portland Diamond Project’s effort to bring Major League Baseball to Oregon with a resolution supporting a stadium in the South Waterfront. While no city funds are pledged, the resolution permits the city to explore assets that could strengthen its MLB proposal. Mayor Ted Wheeler emphasized the project’s significance: “The positive impact to our region would be tremendous. Now is the time to dream big for Portland, our region, and the state of Oregon.”
PDP recently announced plans to acquire 30.85 acres in Zidell Yards, a key development site between the Tilikum Crossing and Ross Island bridges. This step follows years of exploring other locations like the Lloyd Center and Terminal 2, making Zidell Yards the most promising option yet. “Bringing Major League Baseball to our central city represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, while Commissioner Carmen Rubio noted the potential to transform the area into a “world-class destination.”
The Council’s support helps advance PDP’s 120-day due diligence phase, with a 42-month period to complete the acquisition. Founder Craig Cheek celebrated the vote as a step toward building “a beautiful new baseball stadium on Portland’s South Waterfront,” as the city seeks to become a West Coast sports powerhouse with both MLB and WNBA aspirations.