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The Portland Diamond Group this morning revealed two celebrity investors in their effort to bring a Major League Baseball team to Portland: the singer Ciara and her husband, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
“Athletics has always been important to me. As a young girl growing up in Atlanta, I was a tomboy who ran track and worked the hot dog stand at Turner Field,” Ciara said in a statement. “I am excited about the opportunity to bring the camraderie of the game to the city of Portland. I want to see this vision come to life and empower more women owners in major sports franchises.”
Wilson led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory in 2013. He also briefly played minor league baseball before focusing full-time on football.
“We believe Portland is the next great Major League Baseball city, and that’s why Ciara and I are excited to announce we are a part of the Portland Diamond Project,” Wilson said in a statement. “It is time for MLB in Portland.”
Craig Cheek, the former Nike executive who is the Portland Diamond Project’s president, signed Wilson to an endorsement deal when he worked for the sneaker giant.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who has shown little enthusiasm for the nascent baseball project so far, issued a positive statement this morning.
“Watching the Portland Diamond Project steadily gain momentum over the past few months has been exciting, especially in light of today’s announcement that Russell Wilson and Ciara have signed on as investors,” Wheeler said. “Bringing a Major League Baseball team to Portland could have many extremely positive economic and social ramifications for the city, and I look forward to looking hearing more about the possibilities of this initiative.”