Beaverton stadium could mean $$$ for community

BEAVERTON, Ore. – A privately commissioned report released Wednesday said a new stadium to host Triple-A baseball could generate millions of dollars for the community.

Merritt Paulson, the owner of the Portland Beavers commissioned the report (by Economics Research Associates) which said that initial stadium construction will put $75 million into the Washington County economy and create nearly 400 jobs.

The report also said that annual operation would generate $17 million and create 219 jobs.

Additionally, it said it will benefit Multnomah and Clackamas counties by growing the numbers to $99 million for construction and nearly 800 jobs, with annual operations generating $22 million and 285 jobs.

But what the study doesn’t address is whether the stadium will operate at a loss and whether that will need to be covered by taxpayers.

Denny Doyle, the mayor of Beaverton, said he would be willing to make taxpayers foot the bill.

“The thing people have to remember is we have federal possibilities, state, [and] county - and the more I walk around the community, private dollars,” he said. “The whole goal would be to bring it down to where it would have little or no impact.”

Property near the development known as The Round is the only stadium site that’s been publicly identified as an option, but the neighboring land owner is fighting it.

Doyle said the owners of another piece of property have stepped forward, showing some interest in hosting the Portland Beavers’ future.

According to documents from the city of Beaverton, the cost to the average homeowner for a $40 million stadium might mean higher utility and property taxes around $55 to $89 a year for 20 years.

The city hopes to have its own cost/benefit study completed in the next couple of weeks.