Blazers are for Sale

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julius said:
I think this is far more likely the scenario than anything. Plus, i dont think the league wants a mom and pop type ownership group buying the Blazers. The league knows a strong Portland franchise is more important to the league than losing Portland as a franchise, especially since they've been here for 55+ years. That is not a good look for the NBA, especially if they allow the team to be moved to Seattle.

Look at the shit-show that is happening in MLB with the Athletics and Rays, that's not exactly exuding confidence in the stability of teams.

Like I've said before, the NBA knows that having the Sonics leaving Seattle has been a negative blight on the league, and solving that by having a team move from one of the most stable franchises would be stepping on their own dick, time 100.
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Do they really care that much about Seattle? I'm not sure the NBA really cares about the PNW. OKC just won a title.

So here's the question, if expansion is out and the only way to put a team in Vegas is relocation, how big of a priority is it for the NBA? Or are they satisfied with Vegas just being their playground every summer?

What other teams are going to be for sale soon? Yes there are less profitable teams, but will those be available in the next ten years?

Here is the ChatGPT breakdown

  • Las Vegas is widely considered an appealing location for an NBA team for several key reasons:

    ️ 1. Growing Population & Market Size
    • Rapid Growth: Las Vegas has one of the fastest-growing populations in the U.S., especially among younger demographics.

    • Underserved Sports Market: Despite being a major city, it currently has only two major league teams (NFL Raiders and NHL Golden Knights), leaving room for more.
    2. Strong Tourism & Revenue Potential
    • High Visitor Volume: Vegas attracts over 30 million tourists annually, many of whom are eager to attend events.

    • Entertainment Spending: Tourists often spend big on shows, gambling, and sports, boosting potential ticket and merchandise sales.
    ️ 3. Arena Infrastructure
    • T-Mobile Arena: Already hosts NBA Summer League games and is NBA-ready.

    • New Venues Coming: Billionaire investor Tim Leiweke and Oak View Group are planning a $10 billion entertainment district, including a new NBA-grade arena.
    4. Corporate & Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Casinos & Hospitality Brands: Major hotel and casino companies (e.g., MGM Resorts, Caesars) are eager to align with sports teams for branding and marketing.

    • Naming Rights & Partnerships: Vegas offers unique partnerships across entertainment, hospitality, and tech sectors.
    5. NBA Familiarity & Investment
    • NBA Summer League Hub: Las Vegas has hosted the Summer League since 2004, helping grow its NBA credibility.

    • G League Ignite: Based in Henderson, the Ignite is a developmental team with NBA ties.

    • League Ties: Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly said Vegas is a “strong candidate” for expansion.
    6. Gambling Normalization
    • Legal Sports Betting: Once a deterrent, sports betting is now legal in most states, softening previous resistance to a Vegas franchise.

    • NBA Embrace: The NBA has embraced gambling partnerships, making Vegas less taboo.
    7. Star & Owner Magnet
    • Celebrity Appeal: Vegas is a hotspot for celebrities and influencers—ideal for brand-building and attracting attention.

    • LeBron James Interest: LeBron has publicly stated he wants to own a Vegas-based NBA team, adding major momentum and star power.
    8. Media & Exposure
    • Prime Time Friendly: West Coast location enables late-night games that still draw East Coast viewers.

    • National Visibility: Vegas events (like Summer League and All-Star weekend) already get strong TV ratings.
    ✅ Summary:
    Las Vegas offers a rare combination of population growth, tourism, business infrastructure, and NBA familiarity, making it a top-tier candidate for NBA expansion or relocation.

    Here’s a head-to-head comparison of Portland vs. Las Vegas as an NBA team market, across multiple key factors:

    NBA Market Comparison: Portland vs. Las Vegas

    Category     Portland Las Vegas
    Current NBA Team     ✅ Trail Blazers (since 1970) ❌ No team yet
    Market Size Medium market (23rd TV market) Similar size, but booming tourism inflates reach
    Population Growth Slow-to-moderate Very fast-growing, esp. young adults
    Arena Moda Center (NBA-specific, well maintained) T-Mobile Arena (NBA-ready), new arena planned
    Tourism & Events Modest tourist activity Massive—over 30 million annual visitors
    Corporate Sponsorship Limited pool (Nike is major exception) Casinos, resorts, global hospitality brands
    Sports Competition Only major team in town (Blazers dominate spotlight) NFL (Raiders), NHL (Golden Knights), A’s MLB coming
    NBA History / Culture Deep history, passionate fans, "Rip City" culture Hosts Summer League, G League Ignite nearby
    Game Attendance Strong despite team performance; consistently high fan engagement Unknown for NBA regular season, but high Summer League turnout
    Media Rights & Exposure Local/regional appeal; nationally quiet unless successful More national visibility due to tourism & celebrity presence
    Ownership/Expansion Interest Longtime team, but currently in ownership limbo (estate of Paul Allen) LeBron James has expressed interest in owning Vegas team
    Gambling & League Trends Historically more conservative Aligns with NBA’s embrace of sports betting and global branding
    Summary
    Portland:
    • Strengths: Loyal fanbase, historic NBA culture, no in-city competition, great arena.

    • Weaknesses: Limited corporate base, ownership instability, not a growth market.
    Las Vegas:
    • Strengths: Massive growth, huge tourism dollars, sponsor-rich environment, glamor appeal, strong NBA interest.

    • Weaknesses: No fan loyalty yet, crowded sports market forming, untested in regular-season NBA context.
    Verdict:
    • Portland is a great legacy NBA city, beloved by its fans but facing challenges in ownership and market evolution.

    • Las Vegas is a top-tier expansion or relocation candidate, offering glitz, growth, and revenue—but still unproven in long-term support.
    As of now, there is no official plan or announcement to relocate the Portland Trail Blazers to Las Vegas — but let’s break down the situation realistically.

    Official Status:
    The Trail Blazers are not moving to Las Vegas.
    • NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reiterated that Portland is a valued NBA market.

    • The team is currently owned by the estate of Paul Allen, and while a sale is expected eventually, it hasn’t happened yet.

    • The Moda Center lease runs through 2025, with options that could extend that much longer, complicating a near-term move.
    But Could It Happen Eventually?
    Yes — under specific conditions.
    Here’s what would need to happen:

    ✅ 1. Blazers are sold to a buyer who wants to move the team.
    • If someone like LeBron James, Tim Leiweke (Oak View Group), or a Vegas-backed group buys the team, relocation could be on the table.

    • Paul Allen’s sister, Jody Allen, is not expected to be the long-term owner.
    ✅ 2. NBA expansion is delayed.
    • The NBA is eyeing Las Vegas and Seattle as expansion cities, but if expansion stalls, Vegas might look to grab a struggling team instead.

    • Portland is not the worst NBA market — but with inconsistent ownership and revenue, it’s vulnerable if mismanaged.
    ✅ 3. Stadium or financial pressures emerge.
    • If Portland can’t modernize the Moda Center, or the team stagnates both on and off the court, investors may push for a bigger market.
    Reality Check: Likelihood of Blazers Moving?

    Scenario     Likelihood (Next 5–10 Years)
    Blazers stay in Portland     ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (80%) — Most likely outcome
    Vegas gets expansion team ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (75%) — NBA’s preferred method
    Blazers sold & relocated to Vegas ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (25%) — Possible but requires major shifts
    Blazers move to Seattle ⭐☆☆☆☆ (10%) — Very unlikely due to Sonics legacy and expansion plans
    Summary:
    The Blazers relocating to Las Vegas is possible but unlikely, unless:
    • The team is sold to someone with Vegas ambitions, and

    • NBA expansion stalls or is deprioritized.
    Vegas is far more likely to get an expansion franchise, not steal Portland’s.
 
Funny that ChatGPT just mentioned the three things that seemingly are happening... other than the buyers. We don't know anything about that.

But Could It Happen Eventually?
Yes — under specific conditions.
Here’s what would need to happen:

✅ 1. Blazers are sold to a buyer who wants to move the team.
  • If someone like LeBron James, Tim Leiweke (Oak View Group), or a Vegas-backed group buys the team, relocation could be on the table.
  • Paul Allen’s sister, Jody Allen, is not expected to be the long-term owner.
✅ 2. NBA expansion is delayed.
  • The NBA is eyeing Las Vegas and Seattle as expansion cities, but if expansion stalls, Vegas might look to grab a struggling team instead.
  • Portland is not the worst NBA market — but with inconsistent ownership and revenue, it’s vulnerable if mismanaged.
✅ 3. Stadium or financial pressures emerge.
  • If Portland can’t modernize the Moda Center, or the team stagnates both on and off the court, investors may push for a bigger market.
 
Las Vegas metro area already has 400,000 more people than Portland metro and it's growing much faster
 
tlongII said:
LOL! That won’t make any difference at all to new ownership.
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If the city "will not let the Blazers leave" then the city will build a new arena and the NBA won't let new ownership move the team. So yeah the city's amount of dedication to keeping the Blazers makes a huge difference.
 
We say the City needs to keep the Blazers, but i'm not sure you all understand the direction situation financially it is there right now. The media has been talking about it a lot lately.

Also, i'm not sure the climate is there for folks to get taxed more because the narrative is already that high income earners are getting taxed too much.

One of the only things that would pass the smell test with folks in this climate is the jock tax route, imo.

Or they can tax ticket sales to recover to try to hide it, like tariffs.

The truth is we don't have anywhere near the resources Vegas does.
 
I'll tell you guys, in March YouGov did a poll of Portland residents and 34% said they consider themselves a fan of the Blazers. That's an awful lot of people to piss off if you are the city. Then you have to consider the state itself. I just don't think it would be popular at all to let the team go and for sure that's how any new owner trying to move the team would frame it, that the local and state government let the team go.

The state currently operates with a balanced budget of 121.3B per year, that it's balanced is very impressive and means they have flexibility. The city is currently operating on a 8.6B budget that is at a 1.7% deficit which honestly is good, being within 5% of a balanced budget or surpluss is good.

Especially at the state level, having just passed whatever the fuck that was about keeping the Blazers here, our state and city sharing the cost and owning a brand new arena that costs 1.5B to build makes a lot of sense. They'll have the chance to recoup cost and eventually have the stadium netting revenue for the local and state government.

I think it would be incredibly unpopular not just with the Blazers fans but just the idea for the average Oregonian that we can't keep one major sports franchise here... especially one with so much history for our city and state.

I guess we'll see but I think the Blazers will stay... I think after hearing what Adam Silver said, that the city and state will figure out a way to build a new arena. It makes way more sense to do that in my opinion. People thought the outrage in Seattle was bad when the Sonics left... it would be way worse here.
 
I think a lot of you are overreacting to Silver's use of the word "preference". It's all he can really say right now given the situation. The NBA wanting to keep the team in Portland, that is there "preference", is a good thing for us obviously.
 
BoBoBREWSKI said:
I think a lot of you are overreacting to Silver's use of the word "preference". It's all he can really say right now given the situation. The NBA wanting to keep the team in Portland, that is there "preference", is a good thing for us obviously.
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Probably, but the issue is that some thought that there was no way in hell Silver would let the Blazers leave town after what happened to Seattle. Clearly, it is possible. More than a 50% chance? I don't think so, but too much of a chance not to be concerned. It is not like downtown Portland is thriving right now from a business standpoint.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Probably, but the issue is that some thought that there was no way in hell Silver would let the Blazers leave town after what happened to Seattle. Clearly, it is possible. More than a 50% chance? I don't think so, but too much of a chance not to be concerned. It is not like downtown Portland is thriving right now from a business standpoint.
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There is no way in hell Silver would let the Blazers leave Portland. But he can't say that publicly. Especially right now.
 
BoBoBREWSKI said:
There is no way in hell Silver would let the Blazers leave Portland. But he can't say that publicly. Especially right now.
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I'm 99% sure he's just being used by the ownership group (and not in a bad way) to put some emphasis on the city being more amenable to helping foot the bill for either A: a new arena or B: massive upgrades to the RG.

Potential owners are probably less inclined to want to buy the team without the knowledge of knowing that the city is on board with spending $ on either fixing it up or building a new one.

I kinda think it'd be cool if they put some kind of clear roof structure over the plaza (like where the fountain/flame thing is), and maybe expand some of the concourse out. That all could be done with the team still playing games, I bet.

Actually make the area an attraction, improve parking, etc.

Structurally, I wonder if there's a lot that can be improved/added onto the RG, without having to build a brand new one.

Of course, you can only do so much to the bowl itself, in season, so that might not be feasible.
 
The profits of the sale go to charity, correct? I think Jody and Bert might need to sell it lower than they want, with the understanding that the new owner will need to invest the difference in the Arena. (Even if they don't own it) The Vulcan group might not want to lower the price, but the fact that the proceeds don't go directly into their pockets could possibly help.
 
I think the simple dynamic is a new owner is going to want a new arena

but that's probably where the simplicity ends. I haven't been in the Moda in over 20 years. But I've been reading enough comments to know that at the very least the Moda needs major renovation; as in hundreds of millions. And even with that, it might not be enough to satisfy a new owner's desire to monetize everything associated with the franchise. And even with a major renovation there are issues with the Moda and it's location

I said earlier in this thread I didn't believe that Silver was making some random comment. His use of 'preference' twice seemed calculated. I'd be nearly certain he's been privy to discussions between the trust and potential buyer(s). And either the Vulcans have told him that potential buyers are concerned about the age and location of the Moda and the lease agreement with the city, or the potential buyers have talked with him about it

safe to say that the assumption that "there's no way the Blazers will leave" needs to be discarded. Yep...there's a way

Pinwheel1 said:
The profits of the sale go to charity, correct? I think Jody and Bert might need to sell it lower than they want, with the understanding that the new owner will need to invest the difference in the Arena. (Even if they don't own it) The Vulcan group might not want to lower the price, but the fact that the proceeds don't go directly into their pockets could possibly help.
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that may not be true, at least not when it comes to Jody as the executor of the estate. We had discussions years ago about this but her fee, as executor is probably in the 5% range; and may even be a bit higher. If what you're talking about, for example, is a 4B price tag for an unencumbered sale, but a 3.5B price encumbered by a stipulation the team stays in Portland, Jody could be 'losing' 25M in fees. I'd be skeptical her affection for Portland is worth a 25M personal sacrifice
 
wizenheimer said:
I think the simple dynamic is a new owner is going to want a new arena

but that's probably where the simplicity ends. I haven't been in the Moda in over 20 years. But I've been reading enough comments to know that at the very least the Moda needs major renovation; as in hundreds of millions. And even with that, it might not be enough to satisfy a new owner's desire to monetize everything associated with the franchise. And even with a major renovation there are issues with the Moda and it's location

I said earlier in this thread I didn't believe that Silver was making some random comment. His use of 'preference' twice seemed calculated. I'd be nearly certain he's been privy to discussions between the trust and potential buyer(s). And either the Vulcans have told him that potential buyers are concerned about the age and location of the Moda and the lease agreement with the city, or the potential buyers have talked with him about it

safe to say that the assumption that "there's no way the Blazers will leave" needs to be discarded. Yep...there's a way



that may not be true, at least not when it comes to Jody as the executor of the estate. We had discussions years ago about this but her fee, as executor is probably in the 5% range; and may even be a bit higher. If what you're talking about, for example, is a 4B price tag for an unencumbered sale, but a 3.5B price encumbered by a stipulation the team stays in Portland, Jody could be 'losing' 25M in fees. I'd be skeptical her affection for Portland is worth a 25M personal sacrifice
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Per AI overview


  • No Fee from Sale:
    Importantly, while she manages the estate and collects a fee, Jody Allen does not receive a commission or fee specifically from the sale of the Blazers.
I could be reading this wrong. but it does explain why she would want to wait as long as possible to sell the team if she makes more money managing it than selling it.
 
Why bother prying open the broken-ass wallet of Multnomah County or kissing the ring of the Portland City Council? The Moda Center’s NE Portland digs are a crime‑ridden shithole, traffic’s a nightmare, and every public‑fund request gets chewed up by sanctimonious committee theater. Fuck that noise — they’ll stall you forever while the arena rots in place.

Head west to the RedHills Golf Course in Beaverton/Hillsboro and you’ve got corporate power and runway access on your side. Three miles from Nike’s HQ means naming rights, product labs and premium suites sponsored by the Swoosh; five miles from Hillsboro Airport (soon to host private jets) means teams and performers skip PDX’s hellscape. Tear down the golf course, build a mixed‑use “Fieldhouse Village” of sports bars, retail and offices.

Or stake your claim on the Willamette Falls redevelopment in Oregon City, where a glass‑walled arena looks out on a 40‑foot cascade. With a massive public budget already flowing into hotels, shops and promenades, slipping an NBA venue into the mix transforms the riverfront into a non‑stop tourist magnet. You’re 30 minutes from PDX and entirely outside Portland’s bullshit zoning—let Clackamas County write the checks and reap the glory.
 
If the people near Red Tail didn't want a baseball stadium built there, what makes you think they'd be ok with a basketball arena being built there?

Also are you talking about the area right off of 99E that the Grand Ronde owns and already has plans for?
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Per AI overview


  • No Fee from Sale:
    Importantly, while she manages the estate and collects a fee, Jody Allen does not receive a commission or fee specifically from the sale of the Blazers.
I could be reading this wrong. but it does explain why she would want to wait as long as possible to sell the team if she makes more money managing it than selling it.
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I believe Bert gets a fee for selling?
 
BoBoBREWSKI said:
There is no way in hell Silver would let the Blazers leave Portland. But he can't say that publicly. Especially right now.
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I’m sure this is what Seattle fans were saying about the Sonics before they moved. Adam Silver has publicly said more than once that moving the team out of Seattle was the NBA’s biggest mistake. The NBA absolutely needs to give a team back to Seattle.
 
BigGameDamian said:
Adam Silver has publicly said more than once that moving the team out of Seattle was the NBA’s biggest mistake. The NBA absolutely needs to give a team back to Seattle.
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Exactly why they wont make that mistake again with our Blazers.
Expansion team coming to Seattle. Book it. It'll happen. I'd bet my house on it.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Per AI overview


  • No Fee from Sale:
    Importantly, while she manages the estate and collects a fee, Jody Allen does not receive a commission or fee specifically from the sale of the Blazers.
I could be reading this wrong. but it does explain why she would want to wait as long as possible to sell the team if she makes more money managing it than selling it.
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a lot of that was discredited as not true, IIRC, especially the annual fee of 90-150M.

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I remember that the provisions of PA's will allowed for Jody, as executor, getting paid a "reasonable" fee
 

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BoBoBREWSKI said:
There is no way in hell Silver would let the Blazers leave Portland. But he can't say that publicly. Especially right now.
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I don’t believe this whatsoever. The NBA will do whatever it wants to in order to maximize revenue.
 
Personally I think silver just misspoke and forgot to mention we need major renovations not necessarily a new arena..
 
AldoTrapani said:
Personally I think silver just misspoke and forgot to mention we need major renovations not necessarily a new arena..
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This crossed my mind as well. I am not sure he anticipated the question, so maybe it was not as calculated as we think.
 
BigGameDamian said:
I’m sure this is what Seattle fans were saying about the Sonics before they moved. Adam Silver has publicly said more than once that moving the team out of Seattle was the NBA’s biggest mistake. The NBA absolutely needs to give a team back to Seattle.
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They only care because Seattle is a huge market and economic juggernaut with a bunch of Fortune 500 companies.

If the blazers leave they wouldn’t give 2 shits. It’s why 20 years later they still regret leaving a top 10 market like Seattle. Portland is a just middle of the road small market that they would forget about fast
 
Pinwheel1 said:
This crossed my mind as well. I am not sure he anticipated the question, so maybe it was not as calculated as we think.
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Yea I’m pretty certain he meant new arena OR major renovations. Bc why does either or matter. There’s tons of arenas who get huge renovations that satisfy the league
 
julius said:
If the people near Red Tail didn't want a baseball stadium built there, what makes you think they'd be ok with a basketball arena being built there?

Also are you talking about the area right off of 99E that the Grand Ronde owns and already has plans for?
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Yeah, I know Red Tail neighbors threw a hissy fit about the baseball thing—but let’s not pretend a baseball stadium with 81 games and zero planning is the same as a sleek, 18,000-seat arena with Nike backing and year-round concerts, hoops, and events. Totally different beast. You add in commercial development and a plan that doesn’t involve traffic clusterfucks every Tuesday night? People will grumble, then cash out as their property values double. That’s the cycle.

And yeah, Oregon City—talking the Grand Ronde land near the Falls. If they want to build something iconic, let’s actually build something iconic. Picture this: an arena with floor-to-ceiling glass, the Willamette roaring behind it, and tourists dropping $19 on smoked salmon nachos while staring out over sacred waters. That’s not just revenue, that’s generational revenue. A tribute to the land and the tribe that owns it.

Multnomah County couldn’t build a lemonade stand without seven studies and a protest. Fuck that noise. Let’s build where people still want to win.
 
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