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Land woes could kill Bevos ballpark in Beaverton

A decision by the Biggi family not to sell land pegged for the home of a new Portland Beavers ballpark could keep the team from Beaverton.

We've not sensed a lot of enthusiasm among our Portland friends for a new Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark in suburban Beaverton, and that lack of enthusiasm now officially extends to the Biggi family, the owners of land eyed by the city as the site of the project.

Yesterday the Biggi family officially notified the city they were not willing to sell the land, preferring instead to retain ownership and develop their own projects on it when the economy improves. Beaverton officials had offered upwards of $9 million for the land.

This isn't necessarily the final stake in the heart of a new Bevos ballpark in Beaverton. But the fact is there's just not a lot of enthusiasm in Portland for the prospects of a new Beavers ballpark: the city is still paying off bonds related to the last renovation of PGE Park, and the state of the local economy just is not very good. Plus, there's a question as to whether the Beavers overplayed their hand in seeking public money both for a new ballpark and a renovation of PGE Park to a soccer-only facility. We still question whether MLS really is requiring Merritt Paulson to convert PGE Park to a soccer-only facility, especially with the recent news that the Oakland A's could possibly share a new ballpark with the MLS's Earthquakes if a new San Jose ballpark is built.

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