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Will new ballpark fly in Lents?

A new ballpark in Portland’s Lents neighborhood for the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) has some appeal for an economic-development tool, but many details need to be worked out before a new facility is built.A new ballpark in Portland’s Lents neighborhood for the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) has some appeal for an economic-development tool, according to those interviewed by the Oregonian. The tentative plan proposed by Merritt Paulson calls for a new $45 million ballpark in southeast Portland for the Bevos and a $40 million renovation of PGE Park to accommodate an expansion MLS franchise, all funded by the city. In these economic times, such a plan may not be tenable, and so far Paulson is cobbling together funds from various sources (economic-development funds for the ballpark, urban-renewal money for the PGE Park renovation) while not addressing the issue of where the majority of the funds will come from. The city of Portland was burned pretty bad when Portland Family Entertainment, the former owner of the Beavers, flamed and burned, leaving the city on the hook for millions the last time PGE Park was renovated. Still, there’s some sentiment for a new Lents ballpark among political leaders. And, interestingly, there doesn’t seem to be any opposition to a new Beavers ballpark based on the belief that Portland should be seeking a MLB team instead.