Public service announcement: I suffered a stroke a week ago. Got lucky. My wife picked up on what was happening. Called the ambulance and thanks to great professionals along the way got the care I required, was back home a day later. Folks, know the signs of a stroke, even if you are wrong , you will be right.
PSU deserves a fair shake. I’m not informed enough to know this, but isn’t the stadium a municipal facility. If so, then find an advocate or two on the city council and get the Vikings a place at the table. Admittedly, I could care less about soccer. It would appear with the WNBA on the rise soccer will be relegated to sixth place in America’s sport hierarchy!
My 50 year old “healthy “ athletic son also had a stroke. Fortunately, his symptoms were recognized by an acquaintance and after spending 10 days in the ICU in Charlotte has recovered fully. Looks can be deceiving. His Mom, however, will never “fully” from the trauma.
In 1977, when Pele played at the old Multnomah Stadium, all the experts said soccer was on the rise. I prefer fotbal Americano. I was born in Portland, Oregon and will be 73 soon. I think soccer is a very mundane and boring sport, and if I want to get ripped off by trump supporter Paulson, I will tell him to get a covid shot before he passes it on. I know fotbal is the largest spectator sport in the whole world. I have seen soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina. If you think we Duck fans are rabid, you are mistaken. Even Montlake Monsters and Seahawk fans pale into comparison to fotbal in South America. In Rio, there is a huge moat around the playing field, and it is wide and deep. If I want to sit for 3.5 hours and see a 0-0 tie (before penalty kicks or OT or whatever they do) I would much rather go to Eugene and watch track and field in the world's finest facility called Hayward Field. I love women, and am so happy that our next President will be a female. Watching women play basketball is worse than soccer. Most cannot jump, run fast, or play defense. Some are born with a penis. Other are more queer than a 3 dollar peso. Many abhor men. To each his own, and I love watching them play tennis, or compete in track and field, or play beach volleyball. My passion is college and pro football, and I have done well betting on both since my first year in Nevada in 1984. I rode with Joe Montana, and the 49ers only covered the odds for the first 13 weeks of the season! At 2,000 american dollars per game, I was ahead 26,000 dollars with more games coming before the play-offs. I ended the year by taking the niners in the super bowl for just 10 thousand dollars. I made $46,000 and ran to my accountant to pay taxes on the winnings. I was able to deduct losing bets, and travel expenses. I am riding with the Chiefs again this year, and they play 18 games before the play-offs. Last year I did well by driving to either Spirit Mountain or Chinook Winds(or both) and wagering. I do not bet the point spreads, I wager on the odds. I picked KC and Phily before the season started last year, with KC winning it all. I am picking the same two teams to go to the championship for the 2024 season. kc has the best coach, and best qb, in the show, and a solid defense. My Ducks could have their best year ever. I predict they will compete for the BIG 10 title, and will likely make the 12 team college play-off They have the culture and facilities, and fan support, to make the final four. Cannot wait to beat up on the baby jv team in Corvallis in September, aka the Civil War. Ditto to see Chip kelly and Ohio State in Autzen. The pups from Seattle also visit Autzen, and we owe them three losses in a row. Coach Lanning has been the Huskies best friend in all those three losses. I will travel to the big house to see Michagan and U of O. Since I am a licensed travel agent, and Duck for just 61 years, I now want to go to some road games. Penn State only holds 107,000 people. Tickets are allegedly hard to get. You have to pay an arm and a leg for a hotel room, with a two night minimum, at around 800 per night. If the Ducks make the final fou,( Kirk Herbstreet picked them to win it all) I predict Autzen will be expanded to hold at least 75,000 people. To play with the BIG BOYS, you need to have a larger field than Autzen. Uncle Phil shares my passion for Duck football. I would rather see Autzen expanded than Phil buy the portland sub par minor league mens basketball team, coached by a convicted sex offender, and run by a lady and some vulcans from Mercer Island who know nothing about the NBA. Paul Allen never would have let Russel Wilson leave the Seahawks. He never would have let the trailblazers fall to being one of the worst train wrecks in NBA history. His sister never even went to blazer games when Paul was alive. She will not sell the basketball team, as she makes big money being owner of his trust. The Seahawks are in the toilet. The Sonics left Seattle, the Mariners finally made the baseball play-offs after a 20- year drought. The Kracken play hockey, and I would like to see them live. The Mariners get rained out very often when playing at home(the roof does not work now) Seattle sucks, and my native Portland, where I live, is unsafe to go downtown. Mayor Wheeler. thank God, is not running for mayor in November 2024. One republican I would vote for if I could is a lady who used to be mayor of Happy Valley, Or. She is a current member of the House of Reps in D.C. representing a certain district in Oregon. I cannot vote for her because I do not live in her district. I met her daughter, last week. Both quality ladies and very attractive. Ridin with Kamala Harris through 2032, and if you want to vote on Trump in November 2024, I know how you can wager legally on the dumpster trumpster. CASH ONLY and no crying. GO DUCKS!!!!!
Apologies, I have no idea if you are replying to me? You have a right to your opinion about soccer. It is an opinion not shared by a few billion people, but you do you. As for the rest of your post…ugh. I will choose not to pursue commentary.
if you do not like what i write; do not read it. go vote for trump again and eat ——— with a rusty spoon. i said ugh as I read your little high school narrative, as it is obvious you still did not pass your GED yet. Real hard to fix stupid.
(1) I read your post as it appeared it was addressed to me. (2) this is a sports discussion site, not a flamethrower politics and culture war site(3) it’s none of your business who I, or anyone else votes for. That stated, I am a lifetime democrat. Never voted for
Trump. (4) you seem to be taking on inflammatory positioning in your posting. I am not interested in that. (5) I probably will avoid your posts forward if that is the tone and intention.
" than buy the Portland sub par minor league mens basketball team". Cheap shot at the only big time professional sport team in the state of Oregon. Phil and Penny don't need your input on how to spend their money in my opinion.
another stupid trumpster loser, go get a GED, and I donate to my school, the U of O Ducks. no cheap shots; blazers suck and have for years. College football and NFL are great, NBA basketball is no good until play-offs!
The experts said in 1977 here in Portland with Pele and his NY Cosmos, that fotbol would be the next hit. They were spot on wrong. Give me American football and all you fotbol lumberjacks, here in PDX, keep giving Paulson your dollars. If you cannot touch the game ball with your hands, unless you are the goalie, it is a sport for LGBQTRSRVY and trumpsters. Football Americano is cool, soccer is for girls and boys who choose not to play a major American sport like football, basketball, track and field, or baseball. . Too many people play who are not willing to prove their birth gender. Do you want your daughter to play sports in high school against people who were born with a male sex organ? Kotex for sale in a men's restroom? If you were born with a penis, you are male. If you were born with a vagina, you are female. Fact check me. DUH Gender testing is needed in all sports, like they allegedly do in the Olympics . If you are like Bruce Jenner, and did the transition to be named Katlyn, and claim to be female now, you are beyond sick. Just because you had your penis cut off, claim to have "seen the light", means only you need to get a shrink, take more psych meds, or go back and try to get your GED. It also means you are way beyond queer or gay or lgbqtrssvd if you do not get it. DUMP TRUMP 2024.
I think a PSU game a season could work well at Providence Park with the right marketing and opponent. The first goal of PSU should be to sell all the lower sections first, then sell the uppers, just to make it feel like a more cohesive crowd.
I still think PSU and Portland Schools really missed out with not building a stadium together during the Lincoln HS rebuild…
PSU might consider dropping football and, instead, going D-1 in men’s soccer with a big infusion of money, including extra scholarships (now legal) and lots of NIL opportunities. A nationally ranked soccer program might catch on in Portland, kind of like John’s Hopkins lacrosse or University of Denver Hockey. No matter the amount of resources committed to soccer, the total would be less than the cost of football.
The first thing is to make tickets affordable. The Apple Cup this year is gouging fans and the attendance is going to reflect that and will be under 30,000 in a 70,000 seat stadium.
Price Tickets at $30 and $15 for students. Maybe a handful of premium seats on the club side if you can set up the benefits to go with it. In the end though you need another team that will draw and travel well. If you cant get an FBS team then bring in NDSU. Their team travels well and for a shared gate, Im sure they will do it. Not sure if you could get Army or Navy but that would be a big get as well. Also do it on a week Oregon and Oregon state are both away. Would love to see the stadium full for CFB.
According to their website, about 40 percent of PSU students are part-time. About 20 percent are Latino. A big chunk of enrollment is grad school classes. Not sure attending football games is a "good fit" at PSU? So, how do you get older adults and peripheral fans to attend? Gimmick offense? Opponent reputation? Sponsor theme/giveaway days? Answers hard to come by.
Yeah, I remember the days when the Timbers were putting 20,000 a game in the stadium and didn't get a dime of the concessions. It all went to baseball -- Class A baseball, mind you. The changeover of the park to full-time soccer has been good for the franchise, which sells out every game and has become one of the hardest places for visiting teams to play. The only real knock against Providence Park is that it has artificial turf -- the only "soccer specific" stadium in Major League Soccer that doesn't have natural grass. The other few that have artificial surfaces (Seattle and Vancouver included) are football or multipurpose facilities. With grass, the stadium could be hosting some big international games including World Cup qualifying matches, Gold Cup and other big competitions. The fact that both Portland and Seattle, two of the hottest areas for professional soccer, year-in and year-out, can't host international games without putting natural grass down over their artificial surfaces is a crime. Fans in those cities, who have supported the sport since the early 70s, deserve to see big games once in a while. The fact that Portland has one of the top women's franchises in the USA (and a player who arguably is one of the biggest stars on the women's national team) is another reason to put down grass. As for Portland State, I'll risk what I hope is good standing with my colleagues in here by saying I find it difficult to understand why the school has kept on with football all these years. The money spent on a team no one wants to watch -- quite a sum I would imagine -- must be hard to justify.
Largely in agreement. Soccer has been a huge boon to Portlands economy and reputation. When people bemoan the loss of baseball in PDX and tie it to the Timbers, I just shake my head. Merritt is a businessman. If baseball pencilled out, it would still be here. Probably in its own ballpark, separate from providence at this point. But the fact is…PDX was the largest metro area with triple A and it had the leagues WORST attendance. Minor league baseball is gone from Portland for one simple reason…no butts in the seats.
As for Portland State…it’s tricky. I wish they could position themselves better. I get that a stadium in Hillsboro does not help. But PSU usually filled about 20% of Providence on any given game day. The attendance would raise when they would play Montana or Montana State, but that was solely due to the heavy alumni base and rabid traveling support. Basically an opposing team takeover of the stadium. PSU not only lacks funding, it lacks connection to the city. Vikings? What is Vikings about Portland? Identity? Barnum is a fun interview, but PSU is a bottom dweller in a second tier league. Unfortunate. If I was an AD there I would work on a complete rebrand as a start. Figure out how to get the NIL funds for a top tier Big Sky football program second. And see if it’s salvageable. I hope it is! Would love to see good things for the university, student athletes, students, alumni, and city at large as a result.
Soccer is not my cup of tea. However, to each his own. Our daughter - in - law was a small college All-American two years running for UPS. Her father was a well regarded coach. Our grandkids play. It’s becoming ever popular. Most likely it will grow. Good for all you soccer enthusiasts. If someone pays my freight, I will most assuredly attend. But then, if someone has a ticket to NASCAR I’m on board. As long as the date is open. No football, basketball, baseball, hockey, or now the WNBA.
I have been to State College a couple times on business. It is not too far from Harrisburg, which is big enough to have a lot of hotels and so will not be sold out. It is less than 2 hours, no worse than Portland to Eugene. There is apparently an Amtrak between Harrisburg and State College. $20 each way and no stress. Maybe check that out. Or, there is Williamsport (a lot smaller than Harrisburg). It is even closer, about one hour, and you can stop and check out the site of the Little League World Series
Just because I love your efforts every time, both the reporting and the writing, doesn't mean I understand everything covered (probably not alone?).
a) Why does Portland State, year after year to no avail, keep running full speed into the brick wall of varsity football? Not being a wise ass here, I truly don't get it I don't get tattoos either, and yes, I am of the "get off my lawn!" vintage.
b). Why, (just deleted, it was about going to the Penn State game and I got carried away. When I started foaming at the mouth I decided nobody needed that share!). Just sayin', Charlie
I watched highlights of Bo’s play and I’m excited to see the success and excitement he’s generating. While I don’t bet on sports, I might have to give a friend that goes to the casinos a little money to place $20 for Bo to win :-)
Seems to me the city of PDX sold its sole for the Timbers and Thorns. Having the Foos and Green Day play at the stadium could be interpreted as progress. Or not. I hope the Vikings finally get some respect.
John, off topic but not too long ago if a mascot traveled to an opponents school and was menacing around campus they would have had a very bad day. It seems like there is little or no outrage. What’s going on with students today? How do coaches and players feel about it? I’d think a rookie move like this would be fuel for the fire, especially when you were just invited to the party.
It's summer. Might even be a dead period between summer and fall terms at some places? If you're referencing The Duck visits, the tone from The Duck was seek humor first. At some places, that school's mascot also got "into the act" with The Duck.
Royce, if you are referencing The Duck’s visit to some BIG 10 campuses, it’s called “marketing“…something that John Canzano has been encouraging OSU to do.
True. And a fair response. I guess my point is that in a broader sense. PDX and Providence Park proved they can effectively and successfully manage that level of football game environment and operation. But yeah, what D1 would agree to it? Dunno.
Reser capacity 35,000, Martin capacity 32,000, Providence capacity, 30,000. Not that big of a difference. As John said, let them split the gate with OSU and it could be a financial win for them, PSU and the state of Oregon. Might make more money than an away game at Nevada or New Mexico.
Providence Park only holds 25K. OSU already has the small time perception of being left behind when the Pac-12 collapsed, playing an away game at an FCS stadium might the one thing they could do to make themselves look even less big time.
You're not wrong, but the optics for the FBS team would be so bad that none of them would take that deal, esp when they can probably get a better deal elsewhere.
Nitpicking here, but Bill Graham wasn't an act, he was a bay area rock music promoter, perhaps some of his acts played at the stadium. Or are you referring to evangelist Billy Graham?
"On September 25, 1992, the Rev. Billy Graham brought his crusade to Portland, where about 40,000 people packed Civic Stadium — now known as Providence Park — to hear him preach." -Koin 6
Anybody remember a LA Rams quarterback named Dieter Brock. It was said his passing was so wildly off target, that only he and Billy Graham could bring 100,000 people to their feet shouting in unison "Jesus Christ!" Just sayin', Charlie
I remember attending an Oregon State game at what was the old Civic Stadium, then owned by the Multnomah Athletic Club (maybe it still is?) It was 1975 and the opponent was Grambling State. Of course, OSU lost. Grambling was GOOD and OSU was not, from about 1975 on. But since OSU has climbed into the Top 50 nationally, there has been no need for these Portland-based game in a smaller stadium. Is there now? I hope not. I prefer to see top 50 or 60 games played home and home with other like-conferences.
That was part of a double header. Portland State, coached by Mouse Davis, played first then OSU. The difference between the Run and Shoot and Dee Andros coached team was night and day.
My bad. The doubleheader was the opener in September. PSU played first then OSU lost to San Diego State in the nightcap. Strange to think that OSU played two games in Portland during the 1975 season.
Dee Andros could never get out of the 50s and 60s. His teams were plain vanilla, in more ways than one. His "Great Pumpkin" routine became the butt of jokes all over campus. Had the team won, I think his size would have been tolerated, but they didn't. Slow and boring. Even the USC/OJ Simpson win was by a 3-0 score. They started to rev things up under Jerry Pettibone but it took Dennis Erickson to really light the fire for the Beavers (pretty much all of the current coaching staff are from the Erickson tree, as was Jonathan Smith). It was a long and painful wait.
Nothing really but I was fortunate enough to meet Dee late in his life with a friend of mine who played for Coach Andros . Although Dee mixed me up for a former Beaver player neither my friend or me bothered to correct him. Eight straight wins in the The Civil War probably will never be matched.# good guy
John,
Public service announcement: I suffered a stroke a week ago. Got lucky. My wife picked up on what was happening. Called the ambulance and thanks to great professionals along the way got the care I required, was back home a day later. Folks, know the signs of a stroke, even if you are wrong , you will be right.
PSU deserves a fair shake. I’m not informed enough to know this, but isn’t the stadium a municipal facility. If so, then find an advocate or two on the city council and get the Vikings a place at the table. Admittedly, I could care less about soccer. It would appear with the WNBA on the rise soccer will be relegated to sixth place in America’s sport hierarchy!
So happy you are ok. Wonderful PSA.
So glad to hear you’re better P.H.! Time is of the essence when suffering a stroke; good on your wife for being on top of your medical emergency.
Glad you are feeling better. Welcome back!
My 50 year old “healthy “ athletic son also had a stroke. Fortunately, his symptoms were recognized by an acquaintance and after spending 10 days in the ICU in Charlotte has recovered fully. Looks can be deceiving. His Mom, however, will never “fully” from the trauma.
First, glad you are ok. Secondly, soccer in America continues to grow.
In 1977, when Pele played at the old Multnomah Stadium, all the experts said soccer was on the rise. I prefer fotbal Americano. I was born in Portland, Oregon and will be 73 soon. I think soccer is a very mundane and boring sport, and if I want to get ripped off by trump supporter Paulson, I will tell him to get a covid shot before he passes it on. I know fotbal is the largest spectator sport in the whole world. I have seen soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina. If you think we Duck fans are rabid, you are mistaken. Even Montlake Monsters and Seahawk fans pale into comparison to fotbal in South America. In Rio, there is a huge moat around the playing field, and it is wide and deep. If I want to sit for 3.5 hours and see a 0-0 tie (before penalty kicks or OT or whatever they do) I would much rather go to Eugene and watch track and field in the world's finest facility called Hayward Field. I love women, and am so happy that our next President will be a female. Watching women play basketball is worse than soccer. Most cannot jump, run fast, or play defense. Some are born with a penis. Other are more queer than a 3 dollar peso. Many abhor men. To each his own, and I love watching them play tennis, or compete in track and field, or play beach volleyball. My passion is college and pro football, and I have done well betting on both since my first year in Nevada in 1984. I rode with Joe Montana, and the 49ers only covered the odds for the first 13 weeks of the season! At 2,000 american dollars per game, I was ahead 26,000 dollars with more games coming before the play-offs. I ended the year by taking the niners in the super bowl for just 10 thousand dollars. I made $46,000 and ran to my accountant to pay taxes on the winnings. I was able to deduct losing bets, and travel expenses. I am riding with the Chiefs again this year, and they play 18 games before the play-offs. Last year I did well by driving to either Spirit Mountain or Chinook Winds(or both) and wagering. I do not bet the point spreads, I wager on the odds. I picked KC and Phily before the season started last year, with KC winning it all. I am picking the same two teams to go to the championship for the 2024 season. kc has the best coach, and best qb, in the show, and a solid defense. My Ducks could have their best year ever. I predict they will compete for the BIG 10 title, and will likely make the 12 team college play-off They have the culture and facilities, and fan support, to make the final four. Cannot wait to beat up on the baby jv team in Corvallis in September, aka the Civil War. Ditto to see Chip kelly and Ohio State in Autzen. The pups from Seattle also visit Autzen, and we owe them three losses in a row. Coach Lanning has been the Huskies best friend in all those three losses. I will travel to the big house to see Michagan and U of O. Since I am a licensed travel agent, and Duck for just 61 years, I now want to go to some road games. Penn State only holds 107,000 people. Tickets are allegedly hard to get. You have to pay an arm and a leg for a hotel room, with a two night minimum, at around 800 per night. If the Ducks make the final fou,( Kirk Herbstreet picked them to win it all) I predict Autzen will be expanded to hold at least 75,000 people. To play with the BIG BOYS, you need to have a larger field than Autzen. Uncle Phil shares my passion for Duck football. I would rather see Autzen expanded than Phil buy the portland sub par minor league mens basketball team, coached by a convicted sex offender, and run by a lady and some vulcans from Mercer Island who know nothing about the NBA. Paul Allen never would have let Russel Wilson leave the Seahawks. He never would have let the trailblazers fall to being one of the worst train wrecks in NBA history. His sister never even went to blazer games when Paul was alive. She will not sell the basketball team, as she makes big money being owner of his trust. The Seahawks are in the toilet. The Sonics left Seattle, the Mariners finally made the baseball play-offs after a 20- year drought. The Kracken play hockey, and I would like to see them live. The Mariners get rained out very often when playing at home(the roof does not work now) Seattle sucks, and my native Portland, where I live, is unsafe to go downtown. Mayor Wheeler. thank God, is not running for mayor in November 2024. One republican I would vote for if I could is a lady who used to be mayor of Happy Valley, Or. She is a current member of the House of Reps in D.C. representing a certain district in Oregon. I cannot vote for her because I do not live in her district. I met her daughter, last week. Both quality ladies and very attractive. Ridin with Kamala Harris through 2032, and if you want to vote on Trump in November 2024, I know how you can wager legally on the dumpster trumpster. CASH ONLY and no crying. GO DUCKS!!!!!
Wow Donnie, you used the word “I” 35 times in one comment. Must be some kind of record.
if you don't get it, call John Canzano, or go vote for trump again. I will use the word I more times in future. Did you get your GED yet?
Apologies, I have no idea if you are replying to me? You have a right to your opinion about soccer. It is an opinion not shared by a few billion people, but you do you. As for the rest of your post…ugh. I will choose not to pursue commentary.
if you do not like what i write; do not read it. go vote for trump again and eat ——— with a rusty spoon. i said ugh as I read your little high school narrative, as it is obvious you still did not pass your GED yet. Real hard to fix stupid.
(1) I read your post as it appeared it was addressed to me. (2) this is a sports discussion site, not a flamethrower politics and culture war site(3) it’s none of your business who I, or anyone else votes for. That stated, I am a lifetime democrat. Never voted for
Trump. (4) you seem to be taking on inflammatory positioning in your posting. I am not interested in that. (5) I probably will avoid your posts forward if that is the tone and intention.
do not read what I write Mr. Kelly if you do not get it.
I think Donnie Roberts is off his.meds as he cast aspersions on anybody who may disagree.
" than buy the Portland sub par minor league mens basketball team". Cheap shot at the only big time professional sport team in the state of Oregon. Phil and Penny don't need your input on how to spend their money in my opinion.
another stupid trumpster loser, go get a GED, and I donate to my school, the U of O Ducks. no cheap shots; blazers suck and have for years. College football and NFL are great, NBA basketball is no good until play-offs!
Not a " trumpster" are you Donnie Roberts still a big Hamas supporter?
Sorry Donnie Roberts are you on team Hezbollah or team Hamas?
So does cancet
♋️
Soccer is the dumbest game ever invented or played.
The experts said in 1977 here in Portland with Pele and his NY Cosmos, that fotbol would be the next hit. They were spot on wrong. Give me American football and all you fotbol lumberjacks, here in PDX, keep giving Paulson your dollars. If you cannot touch the game ball with your hands, unless you are the goalie, it is a sport for LGBQTRSRVY and trumpsters. Football Americano is cool, soccer is for girls and boys who choose not to play a major American sport like football, basketball, track and field, or baseball. . Too many people play who are not willing to prove their birth gender. Do you want your daughter to play sports in high school against people who were born with a male sex organ? Kotex for sale in a men's restroom? If you were born with a penis, you are male. If you were born with a vagina, you are female. Fact check me. DUH Gender testing is needed in all sports, like they allegedly do in the Olympics . If you are like Bruce Jenner, and did the transition to be named Katlyn, and claim to be female now, you are beyond sick. Just because you had your penis cut off, claim to have "seen the light", means only you need to get a shrink, take more psych meds, or go back and try to get your GED. It also means you are way beyond queer or gay or lgbqtrssvd if you do not get it. DUMP TRUMP 2024.
I think a PSU game a season could work well at Providence Park with the right marketing and opponent. The first goal of PSU should be to sell all the lower sections first, then sell the uppers, just to make it feel like a more cohesive crowd.
I still think PSU and Portland Schools really missed out with not building a stadium together during the Lincoln HS rebuild…
PSU might consider dropping football and, instead, going D-1 in men’s soccer with a big infusion of money, including extra scholarships (now legal) and lots of NIL opportunities. A nationally ranked soccer program might catch on in Portland, kind of like John’s Hopkins lacrosse or University of Denver Hockey. No matter the amount of resources committed to soccer, the total would be less than the cost of football.
Hmm, a nationally ranked soccer program might catch on in Portland? Wonder where that idea camed from?
The first thing is to make tickets affordable. The Apple Cup this year is gouging fans and the attendance is going to reflect that and will be under 30,000 in a 70,000 seat stadium.
Price Tickets at $30 and $15 for students. Maybe a handful of premium seats on the club side if you can set up the benefits to go with it. In the end though you need another team that will draw and travel well. If you cant get an FBS team then bring in NDSU. Their team travels well and for a shared gate, Im sure they will do it. Not sure if you could get Army or Navy but that would be a big get as well. Also do it on a week Oregon and Oregon state are both away. Would love to see the stadium full for CFB.
According to their website, about 40 percent of PSU students are part-time. About 20 percent are Latino. A big chunk of enrollment is grad school classes. Not sure attending football games is a "good fit" at PSU? So, how do you get older adults and peripheral fans to attend? Gimmick offense? Opponent reputation? Sponsor theme/giveaway days? Answers hard to come by.
Two thumbs up: Dillingham and Ann Cudd. Different reasons but both working for the betterment
Yeah, I remember the days when the Timbers were putting 20,000 a game in the stadium and didn't get a dime of the concessions. It all went to baseball -- Class A baseball, mind you. The changeover of the park to full-time soccer has been good for the franchise, which sells out every game and has become one of the hardest places for visiting teams to play. The only real knock against Providence Park is that it has artificial turf -- the only "soccer specific" stadium in Major League Soccer that doesn't have natural grass. The other few that have artificial surfaces (Seattle and Vancouver included) are football or multipurpose facilities. With grass, the stadium could be hosting some big international games including World Cup qualifying matches, Gold Cup and other big competitions. The fact that both Portland and Seattle, two of the hottest areas for professional soccer, year-in and year-out, can't host international games without putting natural grass down over their artificial surfaces is a crime. Fans in those cities, who have supported the sport since the early 70s, deserve to see big games once in a while. The fact that Portland has one of the top women's franchises in the USA (and a player who arguably is one of the biggest stars on the women's national team) is another reason to put down grass. As for Portland State, I'll risk what I hope is good standing with my colleagues in here by saying I find it difficult to understand why the school has kept on with football all these years. The money spent on a team no one wants to watch -- quite a sum I would imagine -- must be hard to justify.
Largely in agreement. Soccer has been a huge boon to Portlands economy and reputation. When people bemoan the loss of baseball in PDX and tie it to the Timbers, I just shake my head. Merritt is a businessman. If baseball pencilled out, it would still be here. Probably in its own ballpark, separate from providence at this point. But the fact is…PDX was the largest metro area with triple A and it had the leagues WORST attendance. Minor league baseball is gone from Portland for one simple reason…no butts in the seats.
As for Portland State…it’s tricky. I wish they could position themselves better. I get that a stadium in Hillsboro does not help. But PSU usually filled about 20% of Providence on any given game day. The attendance would raise when they would play Montana or Montana State, but that was solely due to the heavy alumni base and rabid traveling support. Basically an opposing team takeover of the stadium. PSU not only lacks funding, it lacks connection to the city. Vikings? What is Vikings about Portland? Identity? Barnum is a fun interview, but PSU is a bottom dweller in a second tier league. Unfortunate. If I was an AD there I would work on a complete rebrand as a start. Figure out how to get the NIL funds for a top tier Big Sky football program second. And see if it’s salvageable. I hope it is! Would love to see good things for the university, student athletes, students, alumni, and city at large as a result.
My opinion. Hope not too harsh.
Mr. Polis,
Soccer is not my cup of tea. However, to each his own. Our daughter - in - law was a small college All-American two years running for UPS. Her father was a well regarded coach. Our grandkids play. It’s becoming ever popular. Most likely it will grow. Good for all you soccer enthusiasts. If someone pays my freight, I will most assuredly attend. But then, if someone has a ticket to NASCAR I’m on board. As long as the date is open. No football, basketball, baseball, hockey, or now the WNBA.
I have been to State College a couple times on business. It is not too far from Harrisburg, which is big enough to have a lot of hotels and so will not be sold out. It is less than 2 hours, no worse than Portland to Eugene. There is apparently an Amtrak between Harrisburg and State College. $20 each way and no stress. Maybe check that out. Or, there is Williamsport (a lot smaller than Harrisburg). It is even closer, about one hour, and you can stop and check out the site of the Little League World Series
Just because I love your efforts every time, both the reporting and the writing, doesn't mean I understand everything covered (probably not alone?).
a) Why does Portland State, year after year to no avail, keep running full speed into the brick wall of varsity football? Not being a wise ass here, I truly don't get it I don't get tattoos either, and yes, I am of the "get off my lawn!" vintage.
b). Why, (just deleted, it was about going to the Penn State game and I got carried away. When I started foaming at the mouth I decided nobody needed that share!). Just sayin', Charlie
Planning ahead, have the broadcast sources and times been\ determined for each of the Duck football games this season?
If they are, I can't find anything but " TBD"
Welcome to it's all about money and tv has the money.
I watched highlights of Bo’s play and I’m excited to see the success and excitement he’s generating. While I don’t bet on sports, I might have to give a friend that goes to the casinos a little money to place $20 for Bo to win :-)
It would be fun if PSU football were to become a thing on Saturdays during the fall. A 10.000 seat downtown stadium would be amazing. But where?
Seems to me the city of PDX sold its sole for the Timbers and Thorns. Having the Foos and Green Day play at the stadium could be interpreted as progress. Or not. I hope the Vikings finally get some respect.
The Timbers and Thorns have done 100,000,000 fold more for the city of Portland than what the city has done for them.
Point taken...but these entities are not mutually exclusive. They can coexist.
John, off topic but not too long ago if a mascot traveled to an opponents school and was menacing around campus they would have had a very bad day. It seems like there is little or no outrage. What’s going on with students today? How do coaches and players feel about it? I’d think a rookie move like this would be fuel for the fire, especially when you were just invited to the party.
It's summer. Might even be a dead period between summer and fall terms at some places? If you're referencing The Duck visits, the tone from The Duck was seek humor first. At some places, that school's mascot also got "into the act" with The Duck.
https://x.com/TheOregonDuck/status/1820661091229163824
https://x.com/Huskers/status/1818312754832560436
Royce, if you are referencing The Duck’s visit to some BIG 10 campuses, it’s called “marketing“…something that John Canzano has been encouraging OSU to do.
Wishful thinking, no FBS school is going to play in an FCS stadium, best bet is to bring Montana in.
Oregon State played Montana State there at Providence Park in I believe 2022.
And that was while their stadium was under construction and Reser's capacity was reduced. No way they play that game with a fully functional stadium.
True. And a fair response. I guess my point is that in a broader sense. PDX and Providence Park proved they can effectively and successfully manage that level of football game environment and operation. But yeah, what D1 would agree to it? Dunno.
I agree that they COULD, I just don't see a FCS School taking that arrangement.
Reser capacity 35,000, Martin capacity 32,000, Providence capacity, 30,000. Not that big of a difference. As John said, let them split the gate with OSU and it could be a financial win for them, PSU and the state of Oregon. Might make more money than an away game at Nevada or New Mexico.
Providence Park only holds 25K. OSU already has the small time perception of being left behind when the Pac-12 collapsed, playing an away game at an FCS stadium might the one thing they could do to make themselves look even less big time.
Providence Park, especially the east side, is nicer than some FBS stadiums that I have been in. A bit small, however, at about 26,000 seats.
You're not wrong, but the optics for the FBS team would be so bad that none of them would take that deal, esp when they can probably get a better deal elsewhere.
Nitpicking here, but Bill Graham wasn't an act, he was a bay area rock music promoter, perhaps some of his acts played at the stadium. Or are you referring to evangelist Billy Graham?
"On September 25, 1992, the Rev. Billy Graham brought his crusade to Portland, where about 40,000 people packed Civic Stadium — now known as Providence Park — to hear him preach." -Koin 6
Special guest Johnny Cash"
Billy Graham... evangelist.
Anybody remember a LA Rams quarterback named Dieter Brock. It was said his passing was so wildly off target, that only he and Billy Graham could bring 100,000 people to their feet shouting in unison "Jesus Christ!" Just sayin', Charlie
A snapshot of how much Portland has changed. These days Antifa would run them out of town.
I remember attending an Oregon State game at what was the old Civic Stadium, then owned by the Multnomah Athletic Club (maybe it still is?) It was 1975 and the opponent was Grambling State. Of course, OSU lost. Grambling was GOOD and OSU was not, from about 1975 on. But since OSU has climbed into the Top 50 nationally, there has been no need for these Portland-based game in a smaller stadium. Is there now? I hope not. I prefer to see top 50 or 60 games played home and home with other like-conferences.
That was part of a double header. Portland State, coached by Mouse Davis, played first then OSU. The difference between the Run and Shoot and Dee Andros coached team was night and day.
My bad. The doubleheader was the opener in September. PSU played first then OSU lost to San Diego State in the nightcap. Strange to think that OSU played two games in Portland during the 1975 season.
Dee Andros could never get out of the 50s and 60s. His teams were plain vanilla, in more ways than one. His "Great Pumpkin" routine became the butt of jokes all over campus. Had the team won, I think his size would have been tolerated, but they didn't. Slow and boring. Even the USC/OJ Simpson win was by a 3-0 score. They started to rev things up under Jerry Pettibone but it took Dennis Erickson to really light the fire for the Beavers (pretty much all of the current coaching staff are from the Erickson tree, as was Jonathan Smith). It was a long and painful wait.
Dee Andros Bronze Star for his service as a Marine during the battle of Iwo Jima .
Great. Didn’t know that. What does that have to with his success as a HC?
Nothing really but I was fortunate enough to meet Dee late in his life with a friend of mine who played for Coach Andros . Although Dee mixed me up for a former Beaver player neither my friend or me bothered to correct him. Eight straight wins in the The Civil War probably will never be matched.# good guy