A group of investors hoping to bring Major League Baseball to Portland is one step closer to securing a stadium site.
The Portland Diamond Project said Tuesday it signed a letter of intent to buy Zidell Yards in the city’s South Waterfront area. The group wants to transform the 33-acre former shipyard into a ballpark that meets requirements to host a Major League Baseball team.
“There have been numerous proposals over the years on what should become of Zidell Yards,” Jay Zidell, president of Zidell Companies, said in a statement about the letter of intent. “I think the potential for a future professional baseball stadium is an ideal use of the land. Who wouldn’t want to watch baseball with the Willamette River as the backdrop?” [OPB]
Regent University on Monday announced a $50 million expansion for its athletics programs.
Royals Rise: The Campaign for Regent intends to build a 31-acre sports complex, including an athletic & fitness center, NCAA basketball and volleyball courts, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, a soccer field, an outdoor track & field, and more.
“I am pleased to announce that Regent University is embarking on a strategic campus expansion that will advance our mission and vision,” said Regent Chancellor Gordon Robertson in a news release. “These new facilities are not just designed to support the Regent Royals athletic program but to give every Regent student a place to enjoy the community and excel in their God-given abilities. Furthermore, we look forward to welcoming the Hampton Roads community and hosting sports tournaments in these world-class facilities.”
Regent says the new sports complex will feature:
- NCAA-certified basketball and volleyball competition court with 2,000 seating capacity, practice courts, and media and VIP boxes
- Varsity weight room and fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment
- Atrium with café, student lounge, connected banquet room, and outdoor seating
- A sports medicine clinic for treatment and rehabilitation processes
- NCAA and USATF-certified 400-meter track with designated field event areas
- NCAA regulation-sized sports turf field for soccer and multisport usage [13 News Now]
Arizona Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall last week explained to Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta why discussions with Maricopa County have turned contentious regarding lease extension talks for the team at the county-owned Chase Field.
That has since inspired more conversations about how the D-backs could potentially play baseball elsewhere in the state.
So what would the D-backs want out of a new stadium? [Arizona Sports]
The Diamondbacks are still trying to stay at Chase Field for the long haul.
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 24, 2024
But if they had to build from the ground up, how would their stadium be different than Chase Field? https://t.co/UXOrqus7pU
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