Good news that professional soccer is on the way for Portland at Fitzpatrick Field. And I think its proximity to USM is a win/win for both (parking in garages for up to 2,000 cars, and perhaps limited lodging for visiting teams--pro, college, and youth). But I have some concerns (aha!) : Those front row seats sure are back a bit. As I've said before, it's too bad this new facility can't somehow be year-round. It's 6 months of action, and then 6 months of sleeping. Partners ($$$). Find some more. So, recently Live Nation, that billion dollar plus concert promotion company, the one that de facto owns Taylor Swift and everyone else notable, and a place where our concerts hero Lauren Wayne used to work at (and a company that I've had to deal with on many occasions), had expressed interest in staging an outdoor concert venue in Payson Park. Portland has a metro population of over half a million and is roughly a 90 min / 2hr drive from up to 3-4 million (Southern NH and the central/northern Boston metro area). Live Nation sees Portland as a continuation stop for big acts. If Bangor can fill 15,000 seats in its outdoor venue, then certainly Portland could do twice that. Okay, I get it, it's Maine and we don't do that (where are they all going to park!!!). "Compromise" to a capacity of twenty thousand with a simpler and lower height roof. It doesn't have to be a goliath. And, have the ability to open up the ends for the warmer months with dynamic food and drink spaces for today's crowds (bars). Now, you have the 6 months of sleeping time being used as concerts and other events to solve the embarrassing void from the many shortcomings of Cross Insurance Arena (I so hate that name--insurance does not make anyone think of having fun).
All that space in between the first row and the action...