Luckily, there are newspapers who publish stories about this sort of thing. From The Oregonian comes a story on everything going into PGE Park and the projected timing of the refurbishment process. I'm incredibly excited about Portland entering MLS, and much of that is down to Timbers fans and the stadium they'll inhabit; PGE may look much different next year, but that's a place with history that's perfect for soccer and in a downtown location. There isn't another place like it in the league, and may never be again.
Character is hard earned. RFK has character even if it is a terrible place for United to be. A few other stadiums across the league have a chance to build it through years of soccer not yet played. NFL stadiums, even the ones like Qwest that are filled with loud, passionate fans in large numbers, bring nothing to the table in that vein. PGE Park will be a different animal; half old, half new, part face lift, part call back, it's a building that has existed in one place long enough that there likely aren't too many Portland residents who remember a time when it wasn't there. Keith Hickey waxed poetic about stadium soul just a few weeks ago.
The highlights of the plans include a plaza that overlooks the field; even when there's no event in the stadium, the plaza will be open to the public. This integrates the stadium into the community visually. Rather than just a cold edifice detached from the day to day lives of the people that pass it, PGE will be accessible on a multitude of levels.
If only they weren't putting in artificial turf.
Here's the timeline if you're interested:
Work completed: Placed deep foundations; widened south access road to field; added restrooms behind Widmer Bar area; improved concourse restrooms.
Under way: Removal of landscaping and preliminary structural work.
September-October: Complete structural and interior demolition; remove scoreboard, underground plumbing and electrical work; perform preliminary structural work for new east-side seating structure.
October-November: Erect steel structure for east-side seating and buildings; place concrete on decks; fire-proof structure; begin construction of building "skin" (the framing of east-side seating structure and new team store, club restaurant and plaza); begin remodel of locker rooms and press box.
November-December: Continue work on east-side seating structure and buildings, including roofing, glass, and façade elements; place major mechanical and electrical equipment in east-side structure and buildings, team locker rooms, press facilities; continue interior remodel work.
December-January: Interior work on existing and new buildings and structures.
January-February: Continue interior work; complete building skin on new facilities; begin elevator installations; start mechanical systems for east-side additions.
February-March: Complete elevator installation; complete interior work; place concession and kitchen equipment in new east-side facilities; continue east-side mechanical work, place seats on east side; install playing surface and video board.
March-April: Perform final inspections; move in furniture; apply finishing touches.
