🌮 Are you ready for the Blackbears? The season starts on Saturday

Author

Jacob Espinoza
April 25, 2024

Happy Thursday Salem! Who is ready for the sunshine this weekend???

Excited to continue growing this newsletter. Thanks to all of our news subscribers.

The momentum has been incredible and I’m loving the DMs and emails I’ve been getting. Keep them coming!

Weather Updates:

🌥️ Friday (April 26): The day will be mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Expect temperatures to reach a high of around 63°F. By night, the chance of showers decreases before the skies turn partly cloudy, with a low around 43°F.

🌤️ Saturday (April 27): Saturday will see partly sunny skies with a high near 64°F. The evening will cool down under partly cloudy skies, with temperatures dropping to a low of about 41°F.

🌞 Sunday (April 28): Sunday continues the trend of pleasant weather, featuring mostly sunny skies throughout the day. Temperatures will again reach a high near 64°F, dipping to a low around 43°F at night.

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Prepare to be amazed as the historic 285 Liberty Plaza building transforms into The Forge, a vibrant mixed-use destination.

Why should you get excited? Mix ample parking and a prime location, The Forge is ready to become a cornerstone of downtown Salem's revitalization.

The approval process is underway, with construction set to begin soon. Get ready to forge unforgettable memories at this game-changing development.

Stay tuned for grand opening announcements and follow our journey as we redefine downtown Salem. The future is bright at The Forge!

What’s Happening Salem

Oregon Blackbears to Kick Off Inaugural AFL Season

Salem, Oregon will welcome a new arena football team this spring as the Oregon Blackbears join the recently reformed Arena Football League (AFL). The Blackbears will play their home games at the Salem Pavilion Arena, part of the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center, with the inaugural game set for April 27th against the Washington Wolfpack.

The Blackbears are owned by Kayvon Thibodeaux, a former University of Oregon football standout who now plays in the NFL for the New York Giants. Veteran indoor football coach Chuck Jones, who spent the last 11 seasons coaching in Washington state, will lead the team.

AFL CEO Travelle Gaines cited Salem's location between Eugene and Portland and the opportunity to bring more sports and entertainment options to the state capital as key factors in awarding the city an expansion franchise. "There's not a lot of sports or entertainment going on in Salem, so we figured bringing something to the capital city was important," Gaines said.

Arena football is known for its fast pace and high scoring, played on a 50 x 33 yard field (about a quarter the size of an NFL field) with fewer clock stoppages. "It's a very fast-paced, action packed game," said Gaines. "The fans love it. It's a college-style atmosphere in a professional setting."

iLoveMakonnen to Headline Halftime Show

Adding to the excitement of the Oregon Blackbears' season opener, hip-hop artist iLoveMakonnen will perform at halftime on April 27th. Known for his hit single "Tuesday" featuring Drake, iLoveMakonnen has collaborated with numerous high-profile artists and brings a buzzy name to the AFL's return to the West Coast.

The Blackbears held open tryouts in November with a focus on attracting players with ties to Oregon high school and college football programs. "There's a lot of good football being played in the state of Oregon, so we would love to attract those athletes that have ties to the state as much as we can," Gaines said of building the team's roster.

Team and league officials are optimistic that the combination of arena football action and live entertainment will appeal to fans across the region. "We're trying to get more sporting events on our fairgrounds," said Oregon State Fair CEO Kim Grewe-Powell. "I think this will be the cream of the crop and we're super excited to have the AFL here."

After shutting down in 2019 due to financial issues and the pandemic, the AFL has reformed with a leaner business model targeting smaller venues in cities with limited professional sports options. The league is banking on the faster pace and non-stop action of arena football resonating with fans. If the early buzz around the Oregon Blackbears is any indication, Salem appears ready to embrace their new team.

SALEM’S LIVE MUSIC SCENE

Friday 26th

All Ages Improv with Electric Baguette | Infinity Room | 7pm

Leave Your Troubles at the Door | Infinity | 9:30pm

Sagazz | Fuego Latin Club | 10pm

Sheng Wang | Elsinore Theatre | 7:30pm 

An evening with Washed in Black- Pearl Jam Tribute | Salem Historic Grand Theatre | 8pm

Saturday- 27th

ILoveMakonnen | Side Hustle | 10pm

Abiodid with diseased and Depraved and within Casket | Infinity | 7pm

An evening with Roll on - Alabama Tribute | Salem Historic Grand Theatre | 8pm

The Peking Acrobat | Elsinore Theatre | 7:30pm

Sunday- 28th

SALEM SPORTS

Upcoming games & matches

Friday- 26th

Salem Capital vs Great Falls Electric | The Salem Armory | 7:30pm

BaseBall 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | South Salem vs Sprague | Sprague High School | 5pm

Baseball Non-League  | Gresham vs North Salem | Barrick Field | 5pm

Softball 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | South Salem vs North Salem | North Salem High School | 4:30pm

Softball 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | Sprague vs McNary | McNary High School | 5pm

Saturday- 27th 

Wolfpack vs BlackBears | Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center | 7:30pm

Arena 5 on 5 Youth Flag Football Games | Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center | 12pm-5pm

Sunday- 28th

Salem Capital vs Wenatchee Bighorns | The Salem Armory | 3pm

Monday - 29th

Tuesday- 30th

BaseBall 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | West Salem vs McNary | McNary High School | 5pm

Softball 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | Sprague vs North Salem | Sprague High School | 5pm

Softball 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | McNary vs West Salem | West Salem High School | 5pm

Wednesday- 1st

BaseBall 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | West Salem vs McNary | West Salem High School | 5pm

BaseBall 5A-3 Mid-Willamette Conference | Lebanon vs McKay | McKay High School | 5pm

Softball 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | Sprague vs South | South Salem High School | 5pm

Softball 6A-6 Central Valley Conference | West Salem vs North Salem | North Salem High School | 4:30pm

Track and Field CVC- JV Bash  | McNary, North Salem, South Salem, Sprague, West Salem  | Sprague High School |  2pm 

Thursday- 2nd

Baseball Non-League  | McMinnville vs Sprague | Sprague High School | 5pm

Huge thanks to our Valued Partners

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