Sep 14, 2022·edited Sep 14, 2022Liked by John Canzano
Great story on "Civic Stadium" as I remember it (its been decades since I have lived in Oregon). I did see a Beavers game there once. It was in 1975. This was the beginning of 20 years of miserable Beavers football and Dee Andros was in his last year as head coach (in his full Great Pumpkin glory on the sidelines). The game was against Grambling, an all-black college at that time and that fact got all the attention in the lead up. I hope that would not matter today. Of course, the Beavs got beat by a faster, more athletic team, even though smaller and not Div 1 at that time, I do not believe. But it was a fun place for a game. Old school.
Some of Portland sports' biggest blunders happened at 18th and Morrison. Baseball running Jack Cain and the Rockies out of town so they could bring in Scott Thomason, Marshall Glickman, and the Beavers. Running PIL football out of downtown and Central Catholic all the way to Hillsboro(!).
The biggest might be Portland State deciding to make the jump from Division II, which they dominated, to I-AA, where they've never competed. That place used to ROCK on Saturday nights. I wonder who would have won out between a dominant and relevant PSU football program and the Timbers.
Excellent piece on PSU & Providence Park. You nailed it. I have never seen a more unresponsive city vis a vis its responsibilities to make publicly funded facilities available to the public. “No space to store football equipment”! What a load of rubbish!
Good topic John. I'd love to see the economic's on the last PSU game in 2018. Net net, profit or loss for the City and PSU. As noted elsewhere, historically small crowds, how big did N Lomax draw?. That said, excellent point as it is a city/public venue and should reflect as such. However, it seems like City Mayor and Admin have safety and cleanliness as a low priority downtown. Bring on fall. Dave M
I have been to more events than I can count the the old barn that is now Providence Park. Now well north of 55, I recall: Timbers v NY Cosmos circa 1977; heaps of Portland Beavers games; the aforementioned Billy Graham Crusade and Jimmy Buffett concert; Def Leppard and Bryan Adams, David Bowie Serious Moonlight tour. Would love to see PSU get a facility of their own, like a football version of Viking Pavilion.
Been to PSU games at both vs. Idaho State. Definitely more fun at Providence Park. Hopefully someday the student section can grow in energy as well.
(Though, at Hillsboro, they were able to provide Idaho State U. a great place for alumni and fans to tailgate and network before the games, not so at Providence)
Love all the tidbits you present, John. I truly look forward to reading you every day
Re: Providence Park - shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Portland area sports mis-management, heck, Portland mismanagement in general, comes as no surprise to most of us blessed to not live in P-town. Good on Barnum for telling it like it is
I watched the USFL Portland Breakers at Civic stadium.
Poor PSU in the sports toilet of Oregon another victim of nerdville. No MLB, No NHL, No NFL and barely hanging on to NBA. Portland the city that hates sports.
I guess i am truly older than dirt- sold papers for the pro games for free entry in the 50's - age -8-10 - (lineup and team photo wrapped around the days paper ) later as a boy scout we were ushers (45 yard line) again free admission -Watched the game w part of the roof gone after the Columbus day storm Then watched PSU games as a student w the run & shoot w my bota bag of wine. Paid $4.00 a seat for the original reserved seats for the first Timbers and went to San Jose for the championship . I have passed on this version of the Timbers as have a # of friends- to many 'friendly' games that had to be purchased as a part of season tickets
It seems like PSU could play at Providence Park on Thursday nights and arrange their schedule well in advance of the season. Heck, you could even see the Ducks playing a “road” game against their In-state FCS school in September, or the Beavers playing the Vikings as well. It would be a win-win- PSU getting a guaranteed sellout and the Ducks or Beavers not paying the Vikings for the game.
I can’t ever recall MLS scheduling a match in a Thursday - midweek games are almost always on Wednesday’s.
Psu doesn’t need providence…Psu doesn’t have a stadium problem they have a historically administrative problem. The school doesn’t really care about sports and it has showed over the years. John I believe you have mentioned this in the past. No crowds…hard to make money or get a hometown feel without a crowd that backs you. A thought…just a thought. Ever notice small town school football games? In many area they are packed, with whom? Kids…they all want to play for the home town team. I would say, work with the high schools, youth football programs and find a way that those kids get in for $5. Figure something out where those hs and youth are there for game day…every home game. I remember the “buying everyone a beer” idea. Lol. Very cool and fun, but you get a few thousand kids at every home game. Suddenly some of those kids are now a Viking rather than a beaver or duck. Their memory as a kid growing up in Pdx is going to Psu games. That handful of studs are now contemplating staying home because they grew up with the Psu family. Maybe recruiting locally becomes easier? It’s a thought…just a thought.
What a great interview with jack Colletto…love the maturity of the young man and yet the youth shines through. The fact that he is donating to The Wounded Warrior Fund is awesome. And,of course he’s local and that makes us smile. Local kid makes good is always a feel good story.
And, the part about Multinomah Statdium (I’m old enough to remember the old stadium and games when Mouse Davis was coach)was sad for so many reasons especially Portland State. To bad the city turned their backs on PSU
Its about time you began to note or complain about PSU being shut out . I tried to bring this to your attention years ago but your love affair w Paulson got in the way. Perhaps now that all the other things about his actions have brought you "out of Love" - there is no reason why PSU and perhaps the high school championship cannot be played there . Seattle allows high school games in a much larger venue - its just Paulson - go ahead and say so -U have great influence - use it !
Great story on "Civic Stadium" as I remember it (its been decades since I have lived in Oregon). I did see a Beavers game there once. It was in 1975. This was the beginning of 20 years of miserable Beavers football and Dee Andros was in his last year as head coach (in his full Great Pumpkin glory on the sidelines). The game was against Grambling, an all-black college at that time and that fact got all the attention in the lead up. I hope that would not matter today. Of course, the Beavs got beat by a faster, more athletic team, even though smaller and not Div 1 at that time, I do not believe. But it was a fun place for a game. Old school.
Some of Portland sports' biggest blunders happened at 18th and Morrison. Baseball running Jack Cain and the Rockies out of town so they could bring in Scott Thomason, Marshall Glickman, and the Beavers. Running PIL football out of downtown and Central Catholic all the way to Hillsboro(!).
The biggest might be Portland State deciding to make the jump from Division II, which they dominated, to I-AA, where they've never competed. That place used to ROCK on Saturday nights. I wonder who would have won out between a dominant and relevant PSU football program and the Timbers.
I'd like to know what the contract covers with the soccer leagues...
Tax payers shouldn't have to cover one dollar of them playing there.
Does the revenue go into the general fund or?
Excellent piece on PSU & Providence Park. You nailed it. I have never seen a more unresponsive city vis a vis its responsibilities to make publicly funded facilities available to the public. “No space to store football equipment”! What a load of rubbish!
Good topic John. I'd love to see the economic's on the last PSU game in 2018. Net net, profit or loss for the City and PSU. As noted elsewhere, historically small crowds, how big did N Lomax draw?. That said, excellent point as it is a city/public venue and should reflect as such. However, it seems like City Mayor and Admin have safety and cleanliness as a low priority downtown. Bring on fall. Dave M
I have been to more events than I can count the the old barn that is now Providence Park. Now well north of 55, I recall: Timbers v NY Cosmos circa 1977; heaps of Portland Beavers games; the aforementioned Billy Graham Crusade and Jimmy Buffett concert; Def Leppard and Bryan Adams, David Bowie Serious Moonlight tour. Would love to see PSU get a facility of their own, like a football version of Viking Pavilion.
Been to PSU games at both vs. Idaho State. Definitely more fun at Providence Park. Hopefully someday the student section can grow in energy as well.
(Though, at Hillsboro, they were able to provide Idaho State U. a great place for alumni and fans to tailgate and network before the games, not so at Providence)
Love all the tidbits you present, John. I truly look forward to reading you every day
Re: Providence Park - shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Portland area sports mis-management, heck, Portland mismanagement in general, comes as no surprise to most of us blessed to not live in P-town. Good on Barnum for telling it like it is
Love the man
GO DAWGS
I watched the USFL Portland Breakers at Civic stadium.
Poor PSU in the sports toilet of Oregon another victim of nerdville. No MLB, No NHL, No NFL and barely hanging on to NBA. Portland the city that hates sports.
Portland’s current city leaders have proved to be anti-sport—unless the sport is hacky sack or smoking crack.
I guess i am truly older than dirt- sold papers for the pro games for free entry in the 50's - age -8-10 - (lineup and team photo wrapped around the days paper ) later as a boy scout we were ushers (45 yard line) again free admission -Watched the game w part of the roof gone after the Columbus day storm Then watched PSU games as a student w the run & shoot w my bota bag of wine. Paid $4.00 a seat for the original reserved seats for the first Timbers and went to San Jose for the championship . I have passed on this version of the Timbers as have a # of friends- to many 'friendly' games that had to be purchased as a part of season tickets
It seems like PSU could play at Providence Park on Thursday nights and arrange their schedule well in advance of the season. Heck, you could even see the Ducks playing a “road” game against their In-state FCS school in September, or the Beavers playing the Vikings as well. It would be a win-win- PSU getting a guaranteed sellout and the Ducks or Beavers not paying the Vikings for the game.
I can’t ever recall MLS scheduling a match in a Thursday - midweek games are almost always on Wednesday’s.
Would love to be able to buy Colletto's grandmother's sauce on his site and spill some on my Jackhammer shirt when slurping spaghetti.
Psu doesn’t need providence…Psu doesn’t have a stadium problem they have a historically administrative problem. The school doesn’t really care about sports and it has showed over the years. John I believe you have mentioned this in the past. No crowds…hard to make money or get a hometown feel without a crowd that backs you. A thought…just a thought. Ever notice small town school football games? In many area they are packed, with whom? Kids…they all want to play for the home town team. I would say, work with the high schools, youth football programs and find a way that those kids get in for $5. Figure something out where those hs and youth are there for game day…every home game. I remember the “buying everyone a beer” idea. Lol. Very cool and fun, but you get a few thousand kids at every home game. Suddenly some of those kids are now a Viking rather than a beaver or duck. Their memory as a kid growing up in Pdx is going to Psu games. That handful of studs are now contemplating staying home because they grew up with the Psu family. Maybe recruiting locally becomes easier? It’s a thought…just a thought.
What a great interview with jack Colletto…love the maturity of the young man and yet the youth shines through. The fact that he is donating to The Wounded Warrior Fund is awesome. And,of course he’s local and that makes us smile. Local kid makes good is always a feel good story.
And, the part about Multinomah Statdium (I’m old enough to remember the old stadium and games when Mouse Davis was coach)was sad for so many reasons especially Portland State. To bad the city turned their backs on PSU
John,
Its about time you began to note or complain about PSU being shut out . I tried to bring this to your attention years ago but your love affair w Paulson got in the way. Perhaps now that all the other things about his actions have brought you "out of Love" - there is no reason why PSU and perhaps the high school championship cannot be played there . Seattle allows high school games in a much larger venue - its just Paulson - go ahead and say so -U have great influence - use it !