Taking a swing at the future ⚾

Hillsboro Hops forgo renovation, will build entirely new stadium

A rendering shows the new Hillsboro Hops stadium with fireworks over it.

The site for the new stadium currently contains three softball fields. | Rendering via Hillsboro Hops

Crack! That’s the sound of the Hillsboro Hops knocking out another park — or at least that’s the plan.

The minor league baseball team, which is the newly promoted High-A level affiliate to the Arizona Diamondbacks, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2023. But fans have something to cheer about long before the home opener on Tuesday, April 11.

Together with the city of Hillsboro, the Hops announced they will construct a new stadium on the northwest side of the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex. The 6,000-seat structure should be ready in time for the team’s 2025 season and will offer a year-round entertainment venue on the western edge of the Portland metro area.

Civic leaders say the site will be able to host 300 events per year, including concerts.

You may be wondering — why build a new structure instead of renovating the existing Ron Tonkin Field? Well, that was the original course of action, but the preliminary design and analysis showed it would be more cost effective to start from scratch, even though it will triple the price tag to $120 million.

A group of people pose on the field at a Hillsboro Hops baseball game. — The design-build team was chosen because of its “community-oriented approach” and previous experience with sports complexes. | Photo via the city of Hillsboro

So let’s talk moneyball. The Hops will source $75 million in private financing and assume full operational control over the new ballpark. Hillsboro will contribute a smaller sum ($18 million) through its transient lodging tax and retain exclusive ownership and oversight of Ron Tonkin Field. About $25 million will be requested from the state.

The organization’s ultimate aim is to meet the MLB’s updated facility standards for High-A teams, which means improved player health and wellness, more stringent security, and an elevated fan experience. Hops President and General Manager K.L. Wombacher called it a “game-changer for our region.”

Mortenson, SRG and Populous will start the construction process later this summer.

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Thursday, March 9

Pre-Show Author Talk with Anthony Hudson | Thursday, Mar. 9 | 6:30-7:15 p.m. | Portland Center Stage, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland | Free | Before watching “Where We Belong” on stage, join author Anthony Hudson (AKA Portland’s premiere drag clown Carla Rossi) for a first-ever public reading from their upcoming memoir “Looking For Tiger Lily.”
Dan Flores in Conversation With Sara Dant | Thursday, Mar. 9 | 7 p.m. | Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W. Burnside St., Portland | Free | Dive into “Wild New World,” a prehistoric tale of ecology and evolution that shows how humans affected the decline of megafauna like mammoths and bison.
Cirque du Soleil: Corteo | Thursday, March 9-Sunday, March 12 | Times vary | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $44-$135 | Watch talented performers fly through the air with the greatest of ease.
Jenny Don’t And The Spurs | Thursday, Mar. 9 | 9 p.m. | Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St., Portland | $15 | Stomp your boots to the garage-infused country music of this Portland band.

Friday, March 10

Snack Fest | Friday, Mar. 10-Saturday, Mar. 11 | Times vary | Portland Night Market, 100 SE Alder St., Portland | Free | Step right up and get to feasting on local eats.
Bad Dates | Friday, Mar. 10 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Alberta House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave., Portland | $20 | Laugh and cringe your way through a live talk show interviewing Portland’s movers and shakers about the one horror we can all relate to — dating experiences gone awry.

Saturday, March 11

Portland Timbers vs. St. Louis City SC | Saturday, Mar. 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Providence Park, 1844 SW Morrison St., Portland | $28+ | Let’s welcome the MLS’ newest team to the Pacific Northwest with a flurry of goals and the roaring sound of a chainsaw.

Sunday, March 12

Oregon Cancer Ski Out | Sunday, Mar. 12-Monday, Mar. 13 | Times vary | Mt. Hood Meadows, 14040 OR-35, Mount Hood | $75+ | Join this fundraiser on the slopes, where teams will race to raise money to fight cancer, with a dinner, raffle, auction, and night of dancing.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

REACH OUT + TOUCH FRIDAY

Weather

44º | Showers | 52% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 6:34 a.m.
Set: 6:08 p.m.

Civic

Yesterday, Mayor Ted Wheeler shared a video and statement in which he outlined his plan to provide temporary housing as his office strives to “eliminate unsanctioned, unsheltered camping in Portland.” There will be a press conference today at 10 a.m. to provide additional details.

Legacy

“Good evening, basketball fans, wherever you may be.” The Portland Trail Blazers will host a celebration of life for broadcast legend Bill Schonely on Monday, March 13 at 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Free parking will be available at the Garden Garage and guests will enter at Gate 10. 🎙️

Plan Ahead

Kimpton Hotel Vintage invites you to join a Prom for the Ages on Friday, March 31. Take a trip through time as you dance, eat, and drink your way through an old western saloon, roaring ‘20s speakeasy, tubular ‘80s game lounge, and the Space Age. Awkward pics or it didn’t happen. 🕺

Sports

The University of Portland women’s basketball team is going dancing after upsetting No. 16 Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference tournament championship game. It will be the Pilots’ first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1997 — they earned a berth in 2020, but it was canceled due to COVID-19. 🏆 (KGW)

Development

Work on Portland’s fifth tallest skyscraper — the Ritz-Carlton tower — is nearing the finish line, and could open (at least partially) as soon as May. The $600 million project has managed to avoid many setbacks and is seen by some as a sign for optimism in downtown. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Award

Production designer Karen Murphy, who lives in Portland and oversaw every visual aspect of the hit blockbuster “Elvis,” is waiting to see if her team’s work will earn a hunk, a hunk of Oscars gold. Learn how they used archival footage to bring the King of Rock and Roll’s world to life. 🎬 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Watch

Kite boarder Collin Sharp recently had a run in with a pinniped at Jones Beach on the Columbia River. In truth, it was a sea lion — a large bull male — that gave chase while barking at him. Eventually, it caught up and tried to jump aboard. 🦭 (Portland Tribune)

Closing

Green Zebra Grocery has announced that it will close all three of its stores at the end of the month. The Portland-based healthy convenience store attributed the decision to supply chain and staffing issues, as well as inflated operation costs.

Job

We’re hiring an Account Manager to support the post-sale process, which includes onboarding new partners, executing digital ad campaigns, and final analytic reporting. This role serves as the primary liaison between clients and internal departments. See details + apply.

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This. Is. February! 💡

PDXtoday news quiz: August 2023

People enjoy the rooftop bar at KEX Hotel in Portland

August was hot off the press. | Photo by @kexportland

Okay, PDXtoday readers, let’s test your memory skills.

We bring you roughly seven news notes each day, which amounts to nearly 150 pieces of news every month. Can you remember the stories we shared in August?

If you...

☀️ melted in the heat

🎭 are plugged in to the theater scene

🍽️ have been looking for a reservation for months

... then we’re expecting high marks.

Show off your skills by taking our news quiz — we’ll give high-scorers a shoutout in an upcoming newsletter.

TEST YOUR MEMORY

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ben.

Editor’s pick: Read with caution — it’s about to get sappy. On this day 10 years ago, I asked my now-wife Mallory to be my girlfriend at Otter Rock on the Oregon Coast. I’m always thankful to have her by my side on our adventures. It’s time to celebrate with pasta.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? All aboard! Amtrak has restored its service from Portland to Vancouver, BC.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Alaina McIntyre | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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