Maybe some people in the league front office are smart after all. Yesterday MLS Commissioner Don Garber was in the city of Portland hearing about the plan for stadium improvements for PGE Park. Thing is according to some reports out of Portland, its more of a plea for the city to sign off on some money for the upgrades than actually saying the city would be one of the two expansion sites in 2011.

“We need to make a decision by March,” Garber said. “We want one of the teams to be in Portland.

Some more back story on Portland and their bid. Merritt Paulson, son of U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson,  will cover the $40 million expansion fee but he’s asking the city to fund $40 million in renovations needed for PGE Park and a new $35 million baseball stadium for the Triple-A Beavers with city bonds. He proposes repaying the bonds through revenue generated by rentals and ticket fees.

I’ve said before that I’d really like to see Portland in MLS along with Seattle when it is all said and done. Getting Portland in MLS is really a no brainer in my mind as we all know what they will bring to the table. Its a Toronto-like situation and I would imagine they will find a way to put down a lot of season tickets, much like Toronto and Seattle.

You think Garber’s plea will be enough to get the city of Portland to pass the bonds? Plus if they do will that mean Portland is as good as in for 2011?