NLF quarterback Russell Wilson, who led the Seahawks to their 2014 Super Bowl victory, has joined the effort to bring a Major League Baseball team to Portland, Oregon. If successful, it could result in the development of a new pro sports stadium and nearby mixed-use properties in that city's urban core.
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Wilson, along with his wife, Ciara, who is a singer and best-selling recording artist, have invested an unspecified amount in Portland Diamond Project, the company leading the push.
In April, Portland Diamond Project made formal offers for two large parcels on which to build a 32,000-seat MLB stadium and mixed-use development in Portland's urban core.
One offer was made for the site of a factory in Northwest Portland, including the company's headquarters. Another offer was made to Portland Public Schools for the Blanchard Education Services Center, which houses PPS administration, and the surrounding property.
"Our team has commissioned a comprehensive economic study of both sites, and preliminary reports indicate both possess the right mix of infrastructure and proximity to Portland's Downtown," PDP founder and President Craig Cheek said in a statement.
Cheek also said that both areas have room for multifamily development.
"We're planning to pave the way for 8,000 new workforce and market-rate apartments to create a walkable community around the facility, wherever it ultimately lands," he said.
According to ESPN, citing an anonymous source, all of the partners in the venture to bring a team to Portland will split the effort's costs equally. Were MLB to award the city an expansion franchise, the project's partners would probably be on track to be team owners.
"Having Russell and Ciara sign on as owners and investors in PDP is game-changing, and has elevated our campaign significantly," Cheek said.
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