River Campus--Baseball Stadium updates

PurpleGeezer wrote:Does this mean I should sell the kayak I bought to shag balls in Etzel Cove?

The exercise is good for you, but it’s probably premature to think the water is good too!

Too bad. What are they going to do with this artists rendering of the river stadium?

DoubleDipper wrote:It would appear the 45 acre creosote land that Geez rightly pointed out is NOT owned by UP, and that will be cleaned up by the government, is being offered for sale at a rock-bottom price. If UP were to purchase the land it would than own 80 acres on the river that could one day, many years from now, be used for athletic fields, a recreational area and even a first class X-C site....some day!

Hmm, it turns out the 45 acre creosote site has already been cleaned through the generosity of taxpayers for a bazillion dollars....anybody want some waterfront property?

Again, I'm waiting for something from someone who may know more than rumor, but I understand one can never dig down into the "cleaned" soil to secure footings for a building of any height, so the area is still probably destined to be playing fields.....not a high-rise retirement center for prematurely and quickly aging Pilots basketball fans and one 6'8" coach in his seventh season on the Bluff.

Cleaned up to the tune of 50 million or so.

You can get a hint for what you can or can't do with the site here:

http://www.epa.gov/region10/pdf/sites/mccormick_baxter/2005_mccormick_&_baxter_creosoting_co_preliminary_close_out_report.pdf

The city also stuck is nose in, and the report says that after studying residential, industrial, university, and mixed use, the city thinks the best use is " recreational" . And I think that's how it is zoned. Look at the last couple pages.

I don't expect they are thinking of any new campus down there as a possibility.

DoubleDipper wrote:not a high-rise retirement center for prematurely and quickly aging Pilots basketball fans and one 6'8" coach in his seventh season on the Bluff.

It has been pointed out to me this is the last year of the men's basketball coach's contract.

I'll just set that on the table and be going now.

WOW!! The bar has been raised....is it too high for UP?

The baseball weather in San Diego is already a big advantage....

Good find!

So the plan now, if anyone didn't know, is to remodel Etzel Field, and they're off to a good start with a very generous donation from the mother of a former player:

http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2013/5/13/BSB_0513133234.aspx

Adding lights to the field will be huge... I think there is a great opportunity to grab additional fans for games, with the current lack of other baseball options in Portland proper.

Etzel Field is in sore need of a major remodel; in terms of keeping up with the Joneses in the WCC, we are behind.

This is exciting news!

Does it seem weird to install artificial turf in Joe Etzel stadium? Wasn't grooming great grass turf one of his passions?

up7587 wrote:Does it seem weird to install artificial turf in Joe Etzel stadium? Wasn't grooming great grass turf one of his passions?

Perhaps, but Joe doesn't OWN the field, it was simply named for him because of his wonderful contributions to all athletic programs while at UP, but especially baseball.

The yearlong playability and comparative simplicity of upkeep should be a huge upgrade to the field.

DoubleDipper wrote:

up7587 wrote:Does it seem weird to install artificial turf in Joe Etzel stadium? Wasn't grooming great grass turf one of his passions?

Perhaps, but Joe doesn't OWN the field, it was simply named for him because of his wonderful contributions to all athletic programs while at UP, but especially baseball.

The yearlong playability and comparative simplicity of upkeep should be a huge upgrade to the field.

I hope that doesn't become the rationale for putting Turf down on Merlo...

PilotNut wrote:USD is renovating their facility for next year, as well... and it looks beautiful! I dont think they have the same turf/grass concerns... Can we get some palm trees?

USD won the WCC Championship yesterday in Stockton by beating USF 2-0.

Does the nice new baseball stadium equal a championship team? IMO it sure can't hurt!