Waterfront Expansions
A Tale of Baseball in Two Cities
IIn the fall of 2023 my friend Dan alerted me to something amazing. Dan, who grew up in and has since returned to Maryland, was a Baltimore Orioles baseball fan since his youth. That season, the Orioles ball club had made it to the top of their division in the regular season, and in the process, had won over 100 games.
The author and his best friend Nick attend a Baltimore Orioles game in 1995.
The author and his best friend Nick attend a Baltimore Orioles game in 1995.
The Orioles were the team I got to see play as a kid growing up in the Washington, D.C. area. Once every summer my dad would get a deal on tickets from work, and he’d take me and my brother to a game. In September of 1995, just days before Cal Ripken surpassed Lou Gehrig’s 56-year-old record for consecutive games played (2,130), I attended his pre-historic game number 2128 with my best friend.
Cal Ripken reaches 2,128 consecutive games, nearing Lou Gehrig's record.
Cal Ripken reaches 2,128 consecutive games, nearing Lou Gehrig's record.
Not long after witnessing Ripken's feat, my baseball card collection was soon replaced with Magic: The Gathering cards, and my interest in the sport waned considerably. I didn’t follow baseball, or any sport for that matter, for the next 28 years. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t attend any games. When I lived in Chicago, I went to White Sox and Cubs games with friends. By the time I moved back to D.C in 2007, the Montreal Expos had just relocated there and become the Nationals.
The author's grandmother, Jeanne, taking in a game her Washington Nationals gear.
The author's grandmother, Jeanne, taking in a game her Washington Nationals gear.
My grandmother, Jeanne, was an avid fan from the start. She had grown up following baseball in her home state of New York, rich with the traditions of the Mets and the Yankees. She saw New York lose the Dodgers and the Giants to California. After relocating to D.C. in 1969, she only got to cheer on the Washington Senators for 2 short seasons before they moved to Texas and became the Rangers.
The author tailgating at a Washington Nationals game in 2008.
The author tailgating at a Washington Nationals game in 2008.
Needless to say, when the Nationals started playing in D.C., my grandmother was stoked. I didn’t consider it at the time, but D.C. is a baseball town. So many transplants come to the area to work in government that everyone brings their fandom for their home teams. My grandmother and I shared an interest in politics. A lifelong Democrat into her 90s, I was grateful she lived to see Joe Biden make it into the White House and the Washington Nationals win the 2019 World Series.
Stickers and buttons appeared in the mid '80s to rally D.C. area baseball fans. The Washington Post article “BASEBALL IN ’87!” appeared to poke fun at the overly optimistic and almost quixotic campaign to bring Major League Baseball back to Washington, D.C. The Washington Post. Tony Kornheiser. February 28, 1987.
Stickers and buttons appeared in the mid '80s to rally D.C. area baseball fans. The Washington Post article “BASEBALL IN ’87!” appeared to poke fun at the overly optimistic and almost quixotic campaign to bring Major League Baseball back to Washington, D.C. The Washington Post. Tony Kornheiser. February 28, 1987.
Since rediscovering my passion for baseball in 2023, I can’t help but notice the timing—it was the same year my grandmother passed away at 96. While I didn’t intentionally return to baseball as a way to remember her, it feels like her spirit has been with me. Even though she might have rooted for the Nationals, I think she would have enjoyed some friendly rivalry when they face off against the Orioles in the “Beltway Series.”
The author's extended family attends a Washington Nationals game in his grandmother's memory.
The author's extended family attends a Washington Nationals game in his grandmother's memory.
Attending a game at field level this summer changed the way I watch baseball. I ventured up to Seattle to see the Baltimore Orioles take on the Seattle Mariners on July 4th. At T-Mobile Park, there were no close up camera cuts, no broadcasters calling plays. I could see the ball pitched, hit, and fielded—or knocked out of the park—as one continuous movement from one vantage point. So close to the game that I was in it. So close to the game that a baseball literally fell in my lap.
The author attends a 4th of July game at T-Mobile park.
The author attends a 4th of July game at T-Mobile park.
As I was watching Orioles rookie Colton Cowser step to the plate, I simply shouted his name. There were a number of Orioles fans in my section, but not enough to join me in the famous “moo”-ing that accompanies his at bats at Orioles Park (too often confused with boo-ing). “COWSER!” I shouted. Soonafter, he popped foul into the stands. I joined the fans in looking up and watching as the ball careened high into the air. Assessing it would land in the stands behind us, I returned to my view of the game. Only a half a second later, did I realize my mistake, as the ball fell “THUMP” on my left thigh.
A spritely youth recovered the ball as I sat in bewilderment, waiting for the stadium safety team to come check on me. I received a couple of ice packs, but on a warm summer day, they did little to impede the swollen baseball sized mass that arose from my left leg. The Mariners fans seated next to me agreed that they too had thought the ball was headed behind us, but the wind or its strange curve brought it to land squarely on me.
A few innings later, the mom of the young Mariners fan in the row ahead of me offered me the baseball. I demurred, but she insisted. The ball had caused me enough harm to warrant the transfer of ownership, and her son seemed old enough and mature enough to surrender the stitched leather. The fact that he cheered for the home team didn’t make a difference in his giving up the souvenir, but the fact that his mom was a fellow Orioles fan might have worked in my favor.
The author holds the offending foul ball.
The author holds the offending foul ball.
Colton Cowser pops foul into the stands at T-Mobile Park. Courtesy of MLB and MASN © 2024.
Colton Cowser pops foul into the stands at T-Mobile Park. Courtesy of MLB and MASN © 2024.
Taking that baseball home with me to Portland has become a metaphor for my personal quest to see Major League Baseball brought to this city. The ball that fell into my lap represents more than just an accident; it feels like a sign—a call to action.
Portland, much like Washington, D.C., has its own history of longing for a professional baseball team. While D.C. finally saw the return of Major League Baseball in 2005 after a 34-year absence, Portland has faced repeated false starts and disappointments in its pursuit.
Yet, the efforts continue, driven most recently by the Portland Diamond Project, which is campaigning to bring an MLB team here and make baseball a cornerstone of Portland’s cultural and economic landscape.
As I delve into the similarities between Portland and Washington, D.C., I’m reminded of how both cities have navigated geographic and economic hurdles in pursuit of baseball. The Navy Yard neighborhood in D.C. was not always the bustling waterfront district it is today.
Before Nationals Park opened, the area was mostly industrial, underdeveloped, and avoided by many locals. The development of the stadium sparked a revitalization that brought new life to the Navy Yard, resulting in residential growth, new businesses, and a stronger local economy.
Similarly, Portland’s Zidell Yards—an old industrial site along the Willamette River—has been tapped as a potential stadium location, with hopes that a new ballpark could ignite a similar transformation in the South Waterfront area.
D.C. Navy Yard Development © 2002 Google
D.C. Navy Yard Development © 2007 Google
D.C. Navy Yard Development © 2010 Google
D.C. Navy Yard Development © 2022 Google
D.C. Navy Yard Development © 2016 Google
D.C. Navy Yard Development © 2022 Google
D.C. Navy Yard Development © 2024 Google
My brother Brian’s story deepens my connection to the potential benefits that come with establishing a Major League Baseball stadium in a developing urban neighborhood. His work at a locally owned bike store, located just blocks from Nationals Park, highlights how thoughtful urban renewal can cultivate new jobs and support small businesses. The success of the Nationals’ stadium in transforming the surrounding area—from an underutilized industrial zone to a vibrant neighborhood—brings into focus the potential for Portland’s Zidell Yards to achieve something similar.
The author and his brother outside Conte's Bikes at it's Washington Navy Yard location.
The author and his brother outside Conte's Bikes at it's Washington Navy Yard location.
Located on the Anacostia River, the Washington Navy Yard is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy, now an administrative center and neighborhood in Southeast Washington.
Nationals Park.
Nationals Park.
The prices developers paid for abandoned lots, rundown warehouses and industrial sites around the proposed stadium all spiked dramatically in the year and a half after news arrived that the Nationals were coming to Washington (2006).
Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District credits the area’s proximity to government buildings, public transportation, major highways and cleanup of the Anacostia River for attracting developers (2019).
Brian’s story is a reminder of how these developments impact individuals. Could Zidell Yards create opportunities for Portlanders in a similar way—helping small businesses, providing jobs, and fostering a sense of community connected to the game? Exploring the parallels between D.C.’s and Portland’s ambitions is not just about understanding the path forward for Portland’s MLB aspirations but about envisioning how such an investment could transform lives and neighborhoods, just as it has for my brother and countless others.
Brian takes in a Nationals game with his partner Megan.
Brian takes in a Nationals game with his partner Megan.
Nationals Park and its surrounding developments exemplify how a well-planned stadium can anchor broader urban revitalization. Washington D.C.’s Capitol Riverfront area experienced not only increased property values but also a significant rise in residential developments and new businesses following the stadium’s construction. The project overcame initial skepticism about funding, delays, and the neighborhood’s capacity for transformation. However, city leaders maintained a clear vision for what the area could become, emphasizing its waterfront location as an asset.
"Finally and at last, all of us have risen above the fray, and the Washington Nationals are rounding third and heading for home,"
– D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams
Amended Deal on Stadium Approved. Washington Post. December 22, 2004.
Washington Nationals’ home opener on April 14, 2005. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.
Washington Nationals’ home opener on April 14, 2005. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.
“For years, people looked at me like I was crazy...we got criticized for the two big holes outside the stadium, for having no place to eat and no grocery store. I just kept saying: ‘Wait; people love water. We’re on the water.’ ”
– Michael Stevens, President, Capitol Riverfront business improvement district
Ballpark Boomtown. Washington Post. July 14, 2018.
Washington Nationals’ first game at the new stadium on March 30, 2008.
Washington Nationals’ first game at the new stadium on March 30, 2008.
Portland's Willamette River Waterfront
Zidell Yards Site
Portland’s Zidell Yards has the potential to follow a similar trajectory, with its waterfront site offering a prime location for both public use and private investment. The Portland City Council’s recent resolution to support the Portland Diamond Project reflects the local government’s intent to collaborate on a transformative vision. However, the challenges many prospective expansion cities face—such as community concerns over displacement and the balance of public and private funding—mirror those that D.C. navigated during its journey.
Portland can adopt lessons from projects like Nationals Park, as well as recent expansions in cities like Nashville and Las Vegas. Nashville’s financing of its MLS soccer stadium combined city-backed bonds with private investments, leveraging the stadium to spur broader real estate development.1 Similarly, Las Vegas used public tourism taxes and private partnerships to fund its state-of-the-art stadium for the relocated Oakland Athletics, which is projected to drive both economic growth and tourism.2 These examples demonstrate the diverse funding models and collaborative approaches Portland could consider to finance its own stadium while minimizing risk.
Moreover, D.C.’s Nationals Park was groundbreaking as the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified stadium in the U.S., setting a precedent for sustainability in sports infrastructure.3 Portland’s reputation as a leader in environmental stewardship positions it to go even further, perhaps incorporating green energy, local sustainable materials, and water conservation technologies into the stadium’s design. Such a commitment could distinguish Portland’s project as both eco-conscious and economically impactful, creating a legacy of innovation.
Zidell Yards spreads beneath the Ross Island Bridge between the Tillikum Crossing and Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Southwest Portland on the bank of the Willamette River. Formerly a shipyard, the Zidell Yards site is the largest and last undeveloped parcel in central Portland.
There have been numerous proposals over the years on what should become of Zidell Yards, including the 2017 plan by Sasaki and West 8 to make artists and musicians central to its plans for a new 33-acre, multi-use development.
Resolution 37683
WHEREAS, it is in the City’s best interest to continue to support the Portland Diamond Project in its effort to bring Major League Baseball to Portland including its current effort to secure the Zidell Yards site in the South Waterfront District.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that City Council directs the City Administrator to lead staff across the appropriate service areas to establish a working group that ensures the Portland is well positioned to be awarded a Major League Baseball team...
This illustration of potential stadium designs was conceptualized by the author using ChatGPT’s descriptive text generation and further refined and completed with Photoshop.
This illustration of potential stadium designs was conceptualized by the author using ChatGPT’s descriptive text generation and further refined and completed with Photoshop.
For me, the story of bringing baseball to Portland isn’t just about the game—it’s about what the game could mean for the people who live and work here. As I look into the efforts of the Portland Diamond Project and consider the parallels to D.C.’s journey, I’m reminded of how much this endeavor could impact our community, not only by creating jobs but by fostering a sense of belonging and shared identity.
The author's selfie at a Mariners vs. Orioles game in July 2024.
The author's selfie at a Mariners vs. Orioles game in July 2024.
Bringing Major League Baseball to Portland is not just about landing a franchise; it’s about taking that game, that passion, and that sense of place, and planting it in a city that’s ready to catch it. The very act of bringing the game home—my new home—mirrors Portland’s ongoing efforts to secure its own place in the history and future of baseball. As I continue to explore the prospects and challenges of this endeavor, I can’t help but feel that the foul ball that dropped onto my lap was more than just a coincidence; it was a call to bring the game closer, and to bring that game home.
A baseball souvenir from the game.
A baseball souvenir from the game.
