OPINION: Legislators should step up for Hillsboro and the Hops

In April, the Hillsboro Hops will throw out the first pitch for their 11th season in Hillsboro.

Over the course of the summer, tens of thousands of fans will gather to cheer on the players and celebrate the communal ballpark experience that we have created together. As representatives of Washington County in the state Legislature, we are doing all we can to ensure that this year isn’t the final inning for the Hops.

Major League Baseball is requiring the team to play in a facility that is more accessible and inclusive for everyone. So, to keep the Hops in Hillsboro, we need a new city-owned stadium that satisfies these requirements.

The cost of such a facility is going to be $125 million. The good news is that the Hops, the city of Hillsboro, Washington County, and others have already pledged $110 million. Now the state of Oregon needs to get us over the finish line with the final $15 million.

Here is why we are fighting so hard for this investment:

Construction of the new city-owned stadium is going to create hundreds of constructions jobs and sustain 380 full-time jobs (25-35 more than the current facility);Economic analysis shows that, based on the tax revenue generated by the project, the state will recoup its $15 million investment in less than 7 years;Since the Hops have committed to signing a 40-year lease at the new facility, any state tax revenue obtained after the first seven years can be reinvested in other vital areas like affordable housing, education, and health care services; andThe new facility will give Hillsboro a major entertainment venue for things like youth sports, festivals, concerts and more. This would spur even more economic growth and support local business in the area such as hotels, restaurants and shops.

If we lose the Hops, however, all of these benefits vanish and the state government will lose $70 million in personal tax revenue. One concerned citizen asked us, “How can Oregon afford to support the Hops when we have so many other problems to tackle?” Our response is, “How can Oregon afford not to make this short-term investment when we are going to reap such a long-term gain?”

In addition to the mere dollars and cents, there is something else to consider: The Hops are a critical part of our identity and quality of life in Washington County.

Their games provide a fun and affordable entertainment option for families. They furnish a space where we can all come together, in-person and enjoy a common pastime — which is desperately needed in a modern world that is increasingly isolating and polarizing.

We are not asking our colleagues to spend $15 million on the Hops. We are asking them to spend $15 million to support and sustain the thousands of Oregonians in our community who love baseball, enjoy the comradery it brings, and do not want to lose such an invaluable link to our common humanity.