Latest news with #AndrewHoan
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland Diamond Project releases South Waterfront renderings
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Five months after the City of Portland voted to put its support behind bringing a Major League Baseball team to town, leader are taking their vision of a new stadium along the South Waterfront to state leaders in Salem. This version of the stadium places the ballpark at the current site of Zidell Yards. Renderings released Monday showcase the stadium's proximity to the Willamette River. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson was among those in Salem on Monday. The Portland Diamond Project's goal is to revisit a bill passed by the Oregon senate in 2003. They want it updated to better reflect revenue generated by players' salaries. Andrew Hoan with the Portland Metro Chamber told the committee a new stadium 'would ignite a boom in Oregon's living room … that will be felt for many years to come and in fact generations. It's time to think about going on a completely different course. This is not small ball. This ia a big league swing for the fences and I think it's time to take that hit.' In a statement, Portland Diamond Project President Craig Cheek thanked the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade for hearing their pitch. 'We believe the state's support is critical for this project's success. We asked legislators to revisit SB5, originally passed in 2003, and update the law to better reflect the current revenue generated by players salaries and the rising costs to build a world-class stadium in downtown Portland,' Cheek said. 'This would not be a new tax on Oregonians. We look forward to working with the legislature to make Oregon Better with Baseball.' The costs of a Major League Baseball team in Portland is estimated to be at least $150 million — not including the stadium. Officials hope to begin building the ballpark in 2027. The Portland Diamond Project is expected to hold a press conference soon to talk about the plan's details. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Downtown Portland saw ‘encouraging' increase in foot traffic, employee presence in 2024: Report
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Downtown Portland saw an increase in foot traffic and worker presence in 2024 — marking an 'encouraging sign' in the city's appeal and resilience post-pandemic, according to a new report from Downtown Portland Clean & Safe. Since 2009, Downtown Portland Clean & Safe has been tracking foot traffic as part of the organization's mission to encourage vitality of the city's core. According to the latest foot traffic report, released January 21, Downtown Portland is continuing to see 'strong signs of recovery.' Oregon one of the worst states for retirement, WalletHub says Overall, foot traffic saw a 3% increase in 2024 compared to 2023, along with a post-pandemic high of more than 2.4 million visitors in five separate months, the report says. Additionally, foot traffic has increased by 54% compared to downtown's pandemic low in 2021. Downtown Portland Clean & Safe credits the rise in foot traffic, in part, to the return of major events in the city — including the Rockstar Energy Open, which brought thousands of people to Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and concerts at Providence Park — notably, the show, which brought 30,000 attendees downtown, according to the report. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In addition to those events, the report also credits improvements in other key areas that led to increased foot traffic. This includes employee presence, which has risen by 8% in 2024 compared to 2023, the report states, noting Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are 'the most favored days' for employees to be in the district. Additionally, the report highlights the opening of nearly 40 retail businesses and a recovery in tourism bringing more foot traffic to the city's core. An earthquake rattled the Cascadia fault 325 years ago. Here's what we know about the massive quake According to the report, tourism's 'strong recovery,' was especially seen in June and July when demand for downtown Portland rooms grew by more than 10%. In August, room demand increased by more than 17%, with that trend continuing into the fall. 'The return of iconic events like Project Pabst and new attractions like the Rockstar Energy Open and Coraline's Curious Cat Trail, combined with consistent growth in worker traffic and visitor numbers, shows that Portland is reclaiming its status as a premier destination for both culture and commerce,' said Andrew Hoan, president and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance and the Portland Metro Chamber. 'We're seeing a revitalized downtown that's attracting both local workers and tourists, creating an increasingly dynamic city center.' Mark Wells, the executive director of Downtown Portland's Clean & Safe added, 'Downtown Portland continues to show encouraging signs of recovery, with five months reaching the significant milestone of 2.4 million visitors in 2024,' noting, 'The steady increase in overall foot traffic, and particularly the notable uptick in worker presence downtown, demonstrates that our recovery continues to move in the right direction.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
