PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – City leaders are looking to breathe new life into the Portland Expo Center.

Metro has been studying how the space could be most efficiently used, and the future of the Expo Center could be new facilities for indoor sports.

“We have an incredible assets that exists that is extremely underutilized,” Sport Oregon CEO Jim Etzel said.

On Monday, Etzel showed the Metro board plans and renderings of what they would like to see done at the Expo Center.

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His plan has multiple phases, with phase one turning convention halls D & E into indoor courts.

“We think basketball, volleyball but really you could see wresting, cheer, taekwondo, really any floor sport…pickleball” Etzel said. “Anything where we can turn those halls into a court.”

Phase two would include an indoor track and ice facilities. Phase three and on would focus on expanding the amenities on the 53-acre plot of land, including a hotel and restaurants.

Developers say an indoor sports facility could increase visitation to the Expo Center by 1.5 million visits a year. Etzel said that’s because this would be a space for more than just tournaments on the weekend.

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“That’s when the community access comes in, community usage” he said. “And in the evenings it can be rentals to leagues, we just have a huge lack of sports facilities here where people can play.”

Etzel says Oregon doesn’t have a facility like this, so right now folks have to travel or Idaho or Washington to compete.

“It’ll keep local families in the region instead of having to drive to Boise or Spokane to play in these or participate in these events, so they stay local,” he said.

These plans are still pending approval from the Metro Council, but Etzel says once they get the green light, phase one of the project could be up and running in about two years.

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