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SITUATON 
The owner of the minor league Portland Timber soccer team, Merritt Paulson, wanted to purchase and bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise to Portland. To secure a team, Paulson needed the City of Portland to approve a public-private renovation of historic PGE Park to accommodate the larger crowds and specific stadium requirements of MLS.

STRATEGY
Leverage Portland’s reputation as “Soccer City USA” to build public and political support for bringing MLS to Portland and making improvements to PGE Park. Propose and negotiate a public-private stadium financing plan that didn’t tap city general fund revenues, protected taxpayers from risk and ensured that stadium construction and MLS expansion would create jobs and strengthen the local economy.

OUTCOME
The Portland City Council gave final approval to the MLS/PGE Park plan in 2010; MLS will begin play in Portland in 2011.