Will a ballpark fit in the Zidell Yards? It will, and the Portland Diamond Project is all in

The artist renderings are due soon and I'm told they will be "mind-blowing"

Photo by Adam Blank on Unsplash

We’re about to enter a new era in Portland politics and sports that I have never experienced in my long life.

It appears that this is finally a time when the politicians here — long known for their apathy toward bringing any sort of big-time sports to Portland — now need big-league sports more than the sports need the politicians.

And I’m talking about The Portland Diamond Project and its plan to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to this community. I have friends either involved in the political scene or very close to it. And frankly, I’ve sensed from them a surprising excitement about the possibility of a new ballpark on the Zidell Yards property and what it would do for this area’s outlook and progress toward recovery..

There is no sugar coating this, the downtown area isn’t what it used to be. Retail is difficult and businesses have fled. The city needs something to feel good about and an attraction that has the potential to unify this community and show the world we are moving forward. The Diamond Project has a chance to be a driving force toward a comeback.

Mike Barrett, the long-time Trail Blazer broadcaster and the managing director for the PDP, told me Thursday morning that everything is on track with the waterfront location and the support his project is getting from the city and state governments.