Beaverton reaches preliminary deal with Beavers for stadium

Portland Beavers owner Merritt Paulson and Beaverton negotiators have reached terms for a preliminary deal to pay for a new baseball stadium, but the would-be agreement does not include a ballpark location.

Beaverton City Council President Bruce Dalrymple said Friday that the surprise deal will be discussed but not decided by policymakers at a special meeting Tuesday. Dalrymple refused to say how much the stadium package would cost or how much money taxpayers could contribute, but he did say the plan includes funding for land acquisition.

“Members of the negotiating committee and Paulson are in agreement at this point,” Dalrymple said Friday. “That’s the city’s perspective.”

Paulson refused to comment directly. “We’ve had good discussions with them,” Paulson said.

Friday’s announcement comes days after Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle reiterated that the city would not condemn land from an unwilling seller to build a stadium at the preferred location, the former Westgate Theatre site.

— Excerpt from OregonLive.com, October 9, 2009