Professional sports teams, arts programs team up to help revitalize Portland
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - On Wednesday morning, multiple arts programs and professional sports teams announced they would be forming a coalition designed to bring more fans into the city.
“It’s not a choice of arts versus sports, or sports versus arts. They’re one in the same,” said Jim Etzel, CEO of Sport Oregon.
The coalition named “We Play for Portland” includes a variety of organizations, including the Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Timbers, Oregon Symphony, Portland Art Museum, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Sport Oregon, and Portland Metro Chamber.
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All members of the coalition share the same goal of bringing more fans into the city.
“I think the Portland Trailblazer organization has done a lot,” said Tommy Ayala, who lives in Hillsboro. “I think that draws a lot of people into the city.”
While sports games in Portland help bring in more foot traffic, so do arts events, like concerts and performances. This is why organizations on both sides have decided to work together.
“We’re all in the same industry. We’re all here for spectator events,” said Isaac Thompson, President and CEO of Oregon Symphony. “We’re all here to support each other. We need to align these entities and speak with one voice.”
According to Thompson, the coalition will work with the City of Portland to secure funding for both arts and sports events, improve existing public-owned facilities, and help change the sometimes-negative perception of the city.
“I think Portland gets a lot of hate, but I mean, I love it,” said Joy Ojala, who lives in Portland. “From what I’ve seen, the people love it too.”
By prioritizing arts and sports, coalition members say Portland will only continue to improve.
“Over the last five or six years, as our city has been on this journey of recovery, the key thing that everybody talks about is events,” said Jim Etzel, CEO of Sport Oregon. “And what delivers events year-round is arts and sports. They drive hundreds of thousands of visitors downtown each year.”
From dining at restaurants or staying at hotels, Thompson said bringing people into the city for a sports or art event also supports the rest of the local economy.
So, whether you catch a game or see a show, We Play for Portland calls that a win for everyone.
“We’re showing up for each other, and we really hope that you will show up for us,” Thompson said. “Come to events, come to concerts, eat at restaurants downtown. It’s a really vibrant community, and it’s what makes Portland, Portland.”
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