Portland moves PSU theater plan forward

• Questions remain regarding who would pay for construction, operations and ongoing maintenance.

Yes, but: Councilor Dan Ryan, the lone "no" vote Tuesday, said the resolution didn't provide enough protections for the Keller, which he said he feared could eventually "go dark" with another large venue nearby.

Zoom in: The planned 3,200-seat Broadway-capable theater, estimated to cost around $450 million, would be built on the site currently occupied by the University Place Hotel on Southwest Lincoln Street.

Catch up quick: Previously, two advisory groups recommended moving forward with the PSU venue while keeping the Keller open during construction.

• They also urged the city to immediately begin planning a new future for the Keller or its site — potentially as a smaller theater or another public cultural space.

Between the lines: Despite broader struggles across Portland's arts sector, the nearly 3,000-seat Keller remains a major draw, especially for touring Broadway shows.

• The auditorium hosted 178 performances (more than 50% were Broadway related) and nearly 400,000 attendees last year, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the city..
• Its Broadway shows averaged 94% capacity and generated more than $24 million in ticket sales.

What's next: The full council is expected to consider the resolution in the coming weeks.