Delta Dome

Delta Dome (unbuilt)

File:Delta Dome, 1964.png
Location	Delta Park, Portland, Oregon
Capacity	46,000 (expandable to 80,000)
Surface	artificial
Construction
Broke ground	1964 (designed)
Built	never built
Opened	1968 (planned)
Construction cost	US$105 billion (estimate)

The Delta Dome was a proposed indoor sports venue in Portland, Oregon, which was scrapped after voters rejected two bond measures in 1964. The site which the arena was recommended for was Delta Park, which was the former location of Vanport City, a post-World War II veterans housing project that was flooded out almost two decades prior. It was announced in 1963 that plans were being drawn up for an enclosed stadium in Portland which could serve useful to a major professional sports franchise, despite that at the time, the city had no such team and a vacant arena completed a few years before. The next year plans were shown for a 46,000 seat dome with a plexi-glass skylight and a 17,000 vehicle parking lot.

It was put up to a vote twice: the first time it was rejected by voters in Portland and the second time Multnomah County residents denied the plan. The dome had the support of Mark Hatfield, the Governor of Oregon at the time as well as Portland's mayor Terry Schrunk. When the city purchased Multnomah Stadium, now known as Providence Park, the need for a multi-sports facility ended. The inspiration for the building came from a similar design in Houston, Texas where they were concurrently constructing the Harris County Domed Stadium (now known as the NRG Astrodome).

History

Designers of the Delta Dome borrowed ideas used at Harris County Domed Stadium in Houston, Texas which was being built at the time.

The idea for a stadium at Delta Park in Portland, Oregon, was started by a development group in the summer of 1963. They looked at building a domed stadium, similar to the Harris County Domed Stadium in Houston, Texas which was being constructed at the time. Plans were made for a 46,000 seat facility that could be expanded to 80,000 or possibly 100,000. Architects drew up plans for a 17,000 vehicle parking lot. The ceiling of the dome was going to be made from plexi-glass, which would add natural light. The plexi-glass was also supposed to be able to open for ventilation and an open-air feel. If it was approved, the dome was said to be ready to open by 1968. It was estimated to cost US$25 million (US$190.7 million adjusted for inflation).

Measure 2 was on the ballot during Portland's primary election in 1964 which if approved would allow for the construction of the Delta Dome, but it was rejected with 91,961 "yes" votes and 101,324 "no" votes. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners originally denied the proposed bond in July 1964. The Portland City Council followed suit by rejecting supporters request (by a 4–1 vote) to put it up for a second city-wide approval on August 5, 1964. Governor Mark Hatfield convinced County Commissioner David Eccles to change his vote in favor of the bond in August, which meant it would be voted upon by the citizens of Multnomah County for final approval. In the county-wide contest, it was defeated with 102,281 people voting in its favor and 113,832 voting against.

In March 1965, a bill was introduced into the Oregon House of Representatives which would fund the Delta Dome by imposing a three percent tax on hotels and other forms of lodgings to out-of-state residents. However in November 1965, the City of Portland purchased Multnomah Stadium from the Multnomah Athletic Club putting to rest the city's need for a multi-sports facility.

Opposition

The bond measure ultimately failed, due in part to a sense that Portland could not attract a major sports franchise. The Oregonian noted that the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which was opened five years before, was hemorrhaging money without a permanent tenant. Another issue raised was the traffic on Interstate 5, which opponents said would get worse if the stadium was erected. As with several civic works projects, opposition grew around the possibility that tax would increase. Worries of flood damage was another concern, since it was in the area that flooded two decades prior.

Supporters

The group funding advertisements in favor of the bond measure was known as "Volunteers for Delta Dome" with Robert Richett as their chairman. A mix-up at the publisher's office led to some of the leaflet advertisements placed in newspapers being switched with anti-President Lyndon B. Johnson material. One of the biggest attractions of the stadium was that it was enclosed, so games would not have to be canceled due to inclement weather. A scale model of the stadium was unveiled in October 1964 where supporters sang a song entitled "New Delta Stadium, Where it Never Rains".

Supporters of the stadium claimed that building a second stadium in Portland would make bids on behalf of the city to the International Olympic Committee more feasible. A consulting firm conducted a study which predicted a US$800,000 profit for the tax base, but it was criticized because it assumed Portland would attract several large events following the completion of the stadium.

After it was voted down in November 1964, there was speculation that the Delta Dome would form a corporation and issue stock for citizens to buy, bypassing the county or city, but the idea never materialized.

Politicians

• Vic Atiyeh, future Governor of Oregon
• Donald G. Drake, chairman of the Port of Portland
• David A. Johnson, Portland Police Bureau Chief of Police
• M. J. Frey, publisher of The Oregonian
• Mark Hatfield, Governor of Oregon
• Robert D. Holmes, former Governor of Oregon
• Rudolph Luepke, Mayor of Vancouver, Washington
• Tom McCall, future Governor of Oregon
• Wayne L. Morse, Senator for Oregon at the time
• Terry Schrunk, Mayor of Portland

Organizations

• American Institute of Architects (Portland chapter)
• East Side Commercial Club
• Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce
• Oregon Sports Writers and Broadcasters
• Portland Chamber of Commerce
• Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce
• St. Johns Boosters

Quotes

Delta Dome will be the largest covered stadium in the world, Oregon's big landmark of distinction like the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Space Needle. Delta Dome will be our international symbol of progress, a year-round, weatherproof, family fun center servicing three million people a year.

— Volunteers for Delta Dome, The Oregonian, 25 April 1964

The Delta Dome covered stadium is the best investment ever offered [sic] any community [...] We would bring thousands of tourists just to see such a stadium, and thousands more from nearby states to see events.

— Robert D. Holmes, The Oregonian, 27 October 1964

Do not be fooled by the last minute snowstorm of propaganda. Delta Dome is an extravagant gamble which will cause higher taxes for thirty years.

— Citizens Against Delta Dome, The Oregonian, 30 October 1964

I have no doubt that an NFL franchise would have been a [big] hit in Portland if the 1964 'Delta Dome' $25 million bond measure had not narrowly failed. The Delta Dome was a 45,000-seat baseball-football complex proposed in an era when the NFL and MLB were expanding. Now, we would need a publicly funded stadium. We would need an owner. We would need an opportunity from the league. A pipe dream, basically. And if it never happens, it's a shame.

— John Canzano, The Oregonian, 28 January 2012

See also

• List of sports venues in Portland, Oregon
• Kingdome, a similar design built in Seattle, Washington in 1976
• Portland Beavers Ballpark, another unbuilt stadium in Portland