If you happened to be at Safeco Field Wednesday afternoon for the Seattle Mariners-Oakland A’s baseball game, there was a good chance you saw a banner with the words “Oregon A’s” on it.
The banner is part of a promotional campaign by MLBoregon.com, a new group that is assisting the city of Portland in attracting a Major League baseball franchise to the state.
The reason it chose Wednesday’s venue as the place to launch this summer’s campaign is because of the potential relocation of the Oakland Athletics, one of baseball’s many small-market teams in financial trouble.
MLBoregon.com is headed by Dr. G. Lynn Lashbrook, an adjunct professor at Pacific University and Oregon State University. Lashbrook’s goal this summer is focused on spawning interest from the entire state in bringing professional baseball to Portland.
“We are one major step away from making the MLB dream a reality,” Lashbrook said. “That step is the financing of a Major League ballpark.”
MLBoregon.com will try to gain momentum for such financing to take place through the use of state-issued lottery bonds designated for economic development. Lashbrook is encouraging “people to contact their local legislators and sign petitions.”
Even with such efforts made by MLBoregon.com and the Portland Baseball Group, there are some doubts as to whether Portland could compete financially at the major league level.
“I don’t think Portland is a viable town for major league baseball,” said Bob Beban, general manager of the Eugene Emeralds. “The region is just too small. You look at the struggles going on right now with Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Montreal. You would see the same things happen here.”
MLBoregon.com, however, counters such talk on its Web site by stating that Portland is the only market out of the top 34 markets in the country that doesn’t have two professional franchises. Portland ranks 22nd overall with more than 1.7 million people — larger than Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Kansas City, which all have teams.
Lashbrook also has emphasized the importance of supporting the local minor league teams in Eugene, Salem-Keizer and Portland.
“It is imperative that we support our minor league clubs,” Lashbrook said. “It’s time to demonstrate to MLB and our public officials that Oregonians truly love baseball.”
While Beban may not think the town of Portland is suitable, he did admit that he would be a supporter and said that a big-league team would “have a very positive influence on the Northwest League.
“It would boost the interest in baseball tremendously and bring in more media to the state, along with new fans in a super-charged environment.
“I would be the first to applaud it.”
The fact that the MLBoregon.com group was in Seattle trying to attract the attention of Oakland was certainly news to the A’s administration, who didn’t seem to be too concerned when reached for reaction on Wednesday afternoon.
“The idea that this team is going to Oregon or any other state is too outrageous to even comment on,” said Jim Young, director of public relations for the Oakland Athletics.
“We don’t think we’re in financial trouble and there is no right to even think that the A’s will leave Oakland. There is no other comment from this organization.”
Such remarks won’t stop Lashbrook and his troops as they embark on an intensive crusade that Lashbrook believes will help lead to the ultimate dream: Catching a big-league ball game under the sun in a fan-friendly ballpark located in the heart of Portland, near the Rose Garden.
“The pieces are all in place,” Lashbrook said. “We have been assured that an owner will surface as the push for financing goes forward, and Major League Baseball has officially said relocation will occur if a club cannot overcome its difficulties in its current market.”