Potential Soccer Stadium | Portland peninsula

[TC_zoid]

Kennedy Park is too small....they just put in Futsal Court too....thought about it!

What about this... Thompson's Point adjacent with part of Waynflete's fields (they have two neighboring soccer fields). It's enough room, though would have to make a path and foot bridge to parking and TP. In today's world, it's crucial a new sports venue is next to food and drink offerings outside the park. That way, people don't have to get in their cars and head out so fast, causing major traffic problems. Depending on who wins (or not), people want to stay around after the game to party. To understand this, hang out at Fenway or Yankee stadium after the game (and before too) to see what I mean. I did that last week, both places, and the scenes are fantastic. The new Trillium Beer patio and modern designed indoor food court down the street from Fenway are the best food and drink offerings I've seen so far. Thompson's Point could compete with that. Google Earth the view to see what I mean.

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

It's down to just Fitzpatrick:

Back Cove no longer in play as site for pro soccer stadium

Local investors trying to bring a United Soccer League expansion franchise to Portland have turned their attention solely to Fitzpatrick Stadium as a home for the team.

www.pressherald.com

 

[markhb]

Back Cove is off the table due to a stadium making it difficult to impossible to maintain the new massive septic tanks being built under the field. Fitzpatrick Stadium is the site under active consideration.

 

[nomc]

Can't wait to hear the "more detailed specifics" in the coming months!

 

[TC_zoid]

Yes, great news (maybe Shamrock is involved too). Perhaps Fitzpatrick, the hockey arena, and the Expo can also be used by the "new" USM, of which is a short walk away. USM in Gorham has an indoor field house that is used for track and limited space soccer. Why not add a roof to make this proposed facility indoors, to go up a few levels? There are small cities around the U.S. with no economic and population growth potential with college facilities that rival Boston College. Time for change. Time to think beyond the provincial mindset. Boston is a short train away, which is on its way to becoming one of the world's great cities. Portland is a de facto suburb.

 

[PWMFlyer]

There are plans to expand the ice arena by adding another sheet of ice, a sports training facility, a possible parking facility. Similar facilities is the new balance facility in Boston. If done right, this could be a big opportunity for Portland and the sports community.

 

[TC_zoid]

There are plans to expand the ice arena by adding another sheet of ice, a sports training facility, a possible parking facility. Similar facilities is the new balance facility in Boston. If done right, this could be a big opportunity for Portland and the sports community.

It's a potential sports gold mine here. It's soccer (or soon will be), AA baseball, basketball (D-League), and hockey. There will be a second parking garage at USM, so that can be used along with more event usage from beefed-up USM sports programs. And, don't forget that it's all walkable to the train and bus station. The various nearby breweries can participate with brew kiosks along with the many food trucks. A corporate sponsor could take it to an even higher level, and I don't mean insurance. Perhaps LL Bean, or one that can sell its products at the events (a national beer brand). Shamrock Marketing could make this happen. They brought the PBA and a prestigious golf tournament to Portland last year.

 

[Patrick Winn]

It's down to just Fitzpatrick:

Back Cove no longer in play as site for pro soccer stadium

Local investors trying to bring a United Soccer League expansion franchise to Portland have turned their attention solely to Fitzpatrick Stadium as a home for the team.

www.pressherald.com

How can you play professional soccer on artificial turf?!?! No slide tackling... No diving headers... No goal celebrations... I always considered playing on fake grass something other than real soccer.

 

[HenryAlan]

How can you play professional soccer on artificial turf?!?! No slide tackling... No diving headers... No goal celebrations... I always considered playing on fake grass something other than real soccer.

Gillette has artificial turf. I realize it's not considered an optimal location for the Revs, but I've never heard any concerns about the field itself. Modern artificial turf can mimic the texture and feel of real grass.

 

[TC_zoid]

Gillette has artificial turf. I realize it's not considered an optimal location for the Revs, but I've never heard any concerns about the field itself. Modern artificial turf can mimic the texture and feel of real grass.

Yes, the old style turf resulted in "rug burns'. The new stuff is much better.

 

[Patrick Winn]

Yes, the old style turf resulted in "rug burns'. The new stuff is much better.

When I played college ball I *hated* playing on fake grass. Granted, that was 20 years ago. But I have a hard time imagining how any artificial surface allows for sliding the way real grass does. I've always thought the Revs need a soccer-specific stadium.

 

[Patrick Winn]

Yes, the old style turf resulted in "rug burns'. The new stuff is much better.

Believe It Or Not, There Are Still Six MLS Clubs Playing On Turf

MLS clubs have made great strides in securing soccer-specific stadiums with real grass. Still, there are some teams that are playing home games on turf whether they want to or not.

the18.com

.

Interesting article here about it. Basically, you don’t see turf in European soccer and it tends to be used on multipurpose facilities were soccer is an afterthought. I guess it was banned by FIFA for a long time, but isn’t technically prohibited anymore (likely due to advances you were referring to). In my opinion, soccer should always be played on grass.

 

[Redfern]

It's down to just Fitzpatrick:

Back Cove no longer in play as site for pro soccer stadium

Local investors trying to bring a United Soccer League expansion franchise to Portland have turned their attention solely to Fitzpatrick Stadium as a home for the team.

www.pressherald.com

That's not really quite accurate. We were directed by the City Council to bring back information on both fields which we are still planning on doing unless specifically told otherwise. We spent over a year and had tons of meetings with 3 different engineering firms and we all felt like we could manage the access to the tanks. Would never have presented this as a location if it wasn't doable. It is true that we have shifted focus to Fitzpatrick based more on public feedback. Just to make sure what we are actually proposing is actually doable in the event the Council leans Fitzpatrick. ~C

 

[Redfern]

Believe It Or Not, There Are Still Six MLS Clubs Playing On Turf

MLS clubs have made great strides in securing soccer-specific stadiums with real grass. Still, there are some teams that are playing home games on turf whether they want to or not.

the18.com

.

Interesting article here about it. Basically, you don’t see turf in European soccer and it tends to be used on multipurpose facilities were soccer is an afterthought. I guess it was banned by FIFA for a long time, but isn’t technically prohibited anymore (likely due to advances you were referring to). In my opinion, soccer should always be played on grass.

Agree but never going to happen in Portland ME! Especially with the fertilizer ban. That's why we were directed to Back Cove in the first place. ~C

 

[Redfern]

What about this... Thompson's Point adjacent with part of Waynflete's fields (they have two neighboring soccer fields). It's enough room, though would have to make a path and foot bridge to parking and TP. In today's world, it's crucial a new sports venue is next to food and drink offerings outside the park. That way, people don't have to get in their cars and head out so fast, causing major traffic problems. Depending on who wins (or not), people want to stay around after the game to party. To understand this, hang out at Fenway or Yankee stadium after the game (and before too) to see what I mean. I did that last week, both places, and the scenes are fantastic. The new Trillium Beer patio and modern designed indoor food court down the street from Fenway are the best food and drink offerings I've seen so far. Thompson's Point could compete with that. Google Earth the view to see what I mean.

We floated this idea around and it was dismissed pretty quickly. Couple of issues - there's actually not enough space down there believe it or not. Also - in the world of urban planning - that land is technically allows housing. There could be thousands of units of housing there. So that didn't sit well with me on that level. The two proposals we made were just basically upgrading existing soccer/athletic fields that really can't be used for anything else. Legally. Also Waynflete isn't allowed lighting as of right now because of the neighbors. But we discussed food and vendors for both locations. At Back Cove you have basically everything on Anderson Street then I imagined supporters groups marching down Marginal Way to the field. At Fitzy vendors could set up stalls like farmers market in Deering Oaks fans can cruise through on way to stadium! ~C

 

[Dr. StrangeHat]

We floated this idea around and it was dismissed pretty quickly. Couple of issues - there's actually not enough space down there believe it or not. Also - in the world of urban planning - that land is technically allows housing. There could be thousands of units of housing there. So that didn't sit well with me on that level. The two proposals we made were just basically upgrading existing soccer/athletic fields that really can't be used for anything else. Legally. Also Waynflete isn't allowed lighting as of right now because of the neighbors. But we discussed food and vendors for both locations. At Back Cove you have basically everything on Anderson Street then I imagined supporters groups marching down Marginal Way to the field. At Fitzy vendors could set up stalls like farmers market in Deering Oaks fans can cruise through on way to stadium! ~C

It's too bad the DOT hasn't moved forward with their plans to remove the redundant offramps at I-295 Exit 5. I know you're looking at Dougherty Field as a potential location for a new track if Fitzpatrick ends up being the final chosen location, but if the Fitzpatrick and Back Cove weren't viable, this land would be a great spot for a soccer-specific stadium:

 

[markhb]

Having spent at least part of my youth in the neighborhood where those Waynflete fields are (I used to play in those woods!) and knowing what it's like there, I strongly doubt a full-blown stadium would fly. So far as that Dougherty Field site goes, note that the former West School location (dirt lot in the photo) is already housing under construction.

I would also think that virtually any good-sized open space off-peninsula, with the specific exclusion of Dougherty Field for incredibly nerdy historical reasons, would be under consideration for the new combined high school campus first and foremost.

 

[Redfern]

It's too bad the DOT hasn't moved forward with their plans to remove the redundant offramps at I-295 Exit 5. I know you're looking at Dougherty Field as a potential location for a new track if Fitzpatrick ends up being the final chosen location, but if the Fitzpatrick and Back Cove weren't viable, this land would be a great spot for a soccer-specific stadium:

View attachment 20394

Feel like I read about that somewhere recently! Thanks for the idea! There is some housing going in there I think on parking area but there is some land there.

 

[Redfern]

Back to this one too! Getting some renderings done for proposed track location at Dougherty and how it will connect with Douglas Commons / Riverton Pool / Skatepark. So stay tuned! ~ C

 

[nomc]

@Redfern any updates on stadium and/or track relocation?? I just spied "USL Soccer Lease terms" tentatively on the schedule for an executive session of the Housing & Economic Development Committee in Oct and Nov and presentations tentatively scheduled two weeks after each.