As Post Malone’s BIG ASS Stadium Tour rolls into Portland, the local community is getting a glimpse of how live entertainment positively impacts the economy.
The singer’s tour necessitates not just parking space for its 40 tour trucks, but also places for crew members to eat, drink, and sleep, suggesting a substantial economic boost for the city.
This was the crux of a presentation at a Portland Metro Chamber breakfast forum on June 11, where sports and performing arts leaders gathered to launch an informal coalition called We Play for Portland.
Joth Ricci, the executive chairman of Burgerville’s board, moderated the panel, which featured key figures such as the heads of the Portland Trail Blazers and the Portland Timbers, as well as the CEO of Sports Oregon, a nonprofit focused on advocating for the economic interests of the sports sector.
Leaders from the Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Oregon Symphony also contributed to the discussion, emphasizing that both sports and artistic performances are critical to spectator events.
The panel spent a significant amount of time voicing their support for the arts with a business-minded approach, stressing that the development of new venues is essential to reshaping Portland’s image in a post-pandemic world.
Notably, the impending redevelopment of Keller Auditorium and Portland State University’s new performance arts venue highlight ongoing efforts to elevate the city’s cultural scene.
Despite the mention of Live Nation and AEG’s concert venues, a spokesperson for WPFP clarified that these companies are not currently members of the coalition.
Jim Etzel, CEO of Sports Oregon, was pivotal in the formation of We Play for Portland.
He recalled a meeting in Washington, D.C. with state senators alongside Isaac Thompson, the CEO of Oregon Symphony, and Shane Jewell, the executive director of Oregon Ballet Theatre.
During a break, they recognized the degree to which ‘sports’ and ‘arts’ were organized separately, further amplifying the need for better collaboration in the context of economic development.
Etzel noted, “It’s always separated where it’s arts or it’s sports, and it needs to be ‘sports and arts’ or ‘arts and sports.’”
He underscored the importance of enhancing city-owned venues, saying that successful economic development relies on a thriving arts and sports sector.
As of now, We Play for Portland’s goals are somewhat ambiguous, with requests for comments from WPFP members going unanswered.
While the focus during the panel was on collaborations and broadening support, specific actionable steps, such as lobbying City Council members, were notably absent from the discussion.
The need to support smaller cultural institutions that have been adversely affected by shifts in Portland Arts Tax priorities or cuts to federal grants was also not fully addressed.
In a positive development, Jewell and Etzel relayed a suggestion from Portland Police Chief Bob Day to work together with large cultural events to ensure both patrons and touring entertainers feel safe, thanks to visible police presence.
Ultimately, We Play for Portland envisions a future that not only promotes individual events but also fosters a deeper and more integrated cultural landscape within the city.
image source from：https://www.wweek.com/culture/2025/06/12/we-play-for-portland-coalition-sees-city-sports-and-arts-leaders-team-up/
