Russell Wilson‘s baseball journey has come full circle! Originally a two-sport star, Wilson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007. But, he chose to play college football and baseball at NC State and later Wisconsin. In 2010, the Colorado Rockies selected him in the fourth round of the MLB draft, and he played two seasons. Despite his rising NFL career, Wilson never gave up on baseball, attending Texas Rangers spring training in 2014 and 2015. But it’s not only Russ; even his wife, Ciara Wilson, is a prominent figure in the effort to bring MLB to Portland, Oregon. Hence, on June 17, 2025, the couple made an exclusive announcement!

The Wilson couple took to publicly celebrate Oregon’s landmark decision to approve $800 million in stadium funding. Yes! Giants QB Russell Wilson, a known supporter of the Portland Diamond Project (PDP), took to his Instagram Stories to celebrate the Oregon lawmakers’ approval of monumental $800 million funding, as MLB is bound to Portland. Sharing @portlanddiamondproject’s post, he wrote with utmost exhilaration. “Excited about us bringing @MLB to Portland, Oregon! We are getting closer @ciara,” adding prayer hand emoji.

He further wrote, “Let’s make this happen!” Even Ciara had shared the post on her story, iterating, “TODAY IS A GREAT DAY!!” Both partners are strongly committed to revitalizing baseball in the Pacific Northwest. Ciara and Russell’s support dates back to 2018, since they began investing in the project, using their influence to actualize the dream. Launched in 2018 and led by former Nike executive Craig Cheek, PDP’s mission was to acquire land, build a stadium, and position Portland for MLB expansion or relocation.

On June 1, in the same year, Wilson and Ciara were announced as the first public investors in the initiative. Reflecting on his emotions in baseball, Wilson remarked, “Teaching Future how to play Little League baseball has been one of the best experiences of my life.” Ciara, inspired by her childhood in Atlanta, also added, “I want to see this vision come to life and empower more women owners in major sports franchises.” In fact, it’s also reported that CiCi has ties to New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter. They are rumored to be DNA cousins. Hence, CiCi, too, supports her husband in his MLB initiatives.

Now, as their long-standing support of the PDP has yielded results, they are not able to contain their happiness. After all, Portland’s chances for MLB are closer than ever.

Portland edges closer to Russell Wilson & CiCi’s MLB Dream

On June 17, 2025, the Oregon House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 110 with a decisive 46-6 vote. With it, it set one of the most ambitious sports infrastructure proposals in state history in motion. The bill, which previously cleared the state Senate, now heads to Governor Tina Kotek, who is expected to sign it into law.

As per reports, it will be authorizing $800 million in bonds to help finance a $2 billion stadium in Portland’s South Waterfront. So, the dream of landing an MLB franchise is becoming closer.

The PDP celebrated the legislative milestone on IG, calling it a historic occasion for Oregon baseball. He said, “Today is an exciting moment for Oregon…This bill shows Major League Baseball Oregon is excited about America’s pastime… No rest until opening day!” Craig Cheek, the group’s president and founder, added, “Overwhelmingly passing SB 110 is more than securing funding support for a professional baseball stadium… it shows MLB that Oregon is serious.”

A key aspect of the bill is that no new taxes will be levied on Oregonians. Instead, it proposes to repay the $800 million in bonds through a “jock tax.” So, what is it? Well, it is a tax on income earned by MLB players and staff once a team is established in Portland. Moreover, the remaining stadium costs are expected to be covered by the team and private investors. The stadium would rise on 33 acres of the Zidell Yards in Portland’s South Waterfront. It is a site that they already secured via a letter of intent signed by the PDP in September 2024. With things in motion, the moment is indeed historic!