Yes, I’ve been out there in the forefront of this movement for years. Way before the Baseball Group, before the bill in Salem, before David Kahn. All of that. Nobody wants it more than me.

But folks, get a grip. Yes, the fan support for a team here would be wonderful. Everyone in sports would be shocked at how well attended these games would be. I still believe that. We’d have big crowds and nice local TV ratings.

There’s a move behind the scenes going on right now to fly the owner of the Oakland A’s up here to see the site of the post office near Union Station. If he likes it, people will push our Congressmen to get that post office out of there (a move scheduled to be made at some point in the future, anyway) and make way for a new ballpark. Using a combination of the $150 million from the state funding bill and money promised by a tribal casino of $350 million, put that ballpark on the fast track and get the A’s up here.

Yeah, I know the governor has always said he wouldn’t allow that tribal money to be used because the tradeout would be a casino somewhere nearby. But for some reason supporters believe the plan, which includes a floating casino, might get OK’d because of the hard economic times.

Nobody would love that more than me. I could fall in love with the entire concept. But I won’t. Because it’s just not realistic. I think the owner of the A’s will fall in love with the site and with Portland. But as soon as he takes a hard look at the economics up here, he’ll sober up in a hurry.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s just no corporate support in Portland. The Blazers sold out every game last season and still lost tons of money. You can’t get sponsorship money or sell signage and really — who’s going to buy all those luxury suites? Nobody. All the street-corner food carts in the world aren’t going to be able to support the thing.

It’s a shame. This is the right place for the A’s. The post office location is the right place for the ballpark. But Portland — right now — is no place for a franchise needing corporate support. Do the math. Check it out.

It really pains me to say it, but it’s just not going to work at this time.

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Tags: Dwight Jaynes, major-league baseball, Oakland A's, Portland