Ownership

[Rastapopoulos]

What do we know about Jody Allen's interest in the Blazers? Who's judging whether or not Olshey is doing a good job? Can he basically do anything he wants so long as he doesn't spend too much money, or is there a chance that he could get fired?

When Paul Allen was alive we knew (for good or ill) that there was a basketball fan in charge, and that he was willing to pony up $3M for draft picks every year. I'm guessing that is no longer the case. Is Jody looking to sell? Is she content to hang on to the Blazers as an asset?

 

[RR7]

I think they changed the rule where you now can no longer outright buy 1st round picks.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

If I'm the owner of a professional franchise, I would be contemplating the following:
To what extent is the team winning?
To what extent is the team losing money?
To what extent do the players and staff like/have confidence in the general manager?
To what extent do the fans like the team, and to what extent is the team an asset to the community?

I think Neil's good on the last two, and the answer to the first 2 depend on your POV.

 

[Hoopguru]

Im sure Burt Kolde has direct input as he was Paul's right hand man when it comes to Managing the Blazers pic picture.

 

[calvin natt]

My gut tells me Neil is able to operate similarly to how he did when PA was alive. I don’t think Jody stops him from doing whatever he feels is best for the team. I think there are enough holdovers around (Bert) who would make the move to fire Neil if they thought necessary. I don’t think Neil just does whatever he wants and isn’t afraid of getting fired. I just don’t think he’s close to getting fired though.

 

[tykendo]

I'm optimistic on Jody. She seems to have become vested as a FAN, not just the owner. I look for Neil to have the ability to make big moves. And think he will in this Colvid based environment where many teams will be paring down their commitments.

 

[Hoopguru]

I'm optimistic on Jody. She seems to have become vested as a FAN, not just the owner. I look for Neil to have the ability to make big moves. And think he will in this Colvid based environment where many teams will be paring down their commitments.

Since Pauls death we don't seem to hear much from Neil or any upper management.

 

[Voodoo]

I think Jody may be holding onto the blazers as an investment. It’s proven to be an incredible investment if you think about it, Paul purchased the blazers in ‘88 for $70 million. The team is now estimated to be worth $1.85 billion. Someone can do that math behind that, but what other investment gives you those kinds of returns?

 

[Voodoo]

I did the calculations myself and that’s a 2500% return, now granted there may have been losses some years. But so long as you’re at least breaking even for operational costs, or losing only a little bit even annually that’s one hell of an ROI!

 

[tester551]

I did the calculations myself and that’s a 2500% return, now granted there may have been losses some years. But so long as you’re at least breaking even for operational costs, or losing only a little bit even annually that’s one hell of an ROI!

The appreciation is approximately 10.7% annually. He's held the asset for 32 year - which is a VERY long time.... The effect of exponential appreciation is the key here.

 

[blazerkor]

I'm optimistic on Jody. She seems to have become vested as a FAN, not just the owner. I look for Neil to have the ability to make big moves. And think he will in this Colvid based environment where many teams will be paring down their commitments.

I sure hope you're right, obviously unlike most small and even big market teams our owner doesn't have any worries about year to year profitability/losses on an asset like this that has done nothing but appreciate in value during her families time owning it. Jody Allen literally never has to worry about anything besides long term viability with all of the money she has. The only thing she would be looking at is does the team's value move up in the long term to offset Covid time losses and the answer is an easy yes. I just don't think Neil is ambitious enough to take advantage of this environment. He likes "his guys" and will probably stay stubbornly loyal to them far too long to take advantage of current conditions. If there weren't cap and luxury tax conditions then yeah Neil would likely make lopsided trades to add to "his" team but he just doesn't seem to be willing to move away from this core until he sees them fail while healthy.

 

[AldoTrapani]

What’s scary is the arena is nearly 25 years old one of the oldest arenas in the league. I hope they don’t use “we need a new arena or else” as a threat is what concerns me

 

[blazerkor]

What’s scary is the arena is nearly 25 years old one of the oldest arenas in the league. I hope they don’t use “we need a new arena or else” as a threat is what concerns me

It's still one of the best arena's in the league and it can be renovated. We're number six in the league in capacity and have some of the best amenities, including amazing luxury suites. It also happens to be in one of the best areas of any NBA arena with the Rose Quarter all around it. The only thing holding it back from getting all star games, final fours and other major events is the lack of hotel space in the city, the arena itself is golden.

 

[AldoTrapani]

It's still one of the best arena's in the league and it can be renovated. We're number six in the league in capacity and have some of the best amenities, including amazing luxury suites. It also happens to be in one of the best areas of any NBA arena with the Rose Quarter all around it. The only thing holding it back from getting all star games, final fours and other major events is the lack of hotel space in the city, the arena itself is golden.

A lot of bias talk with this comment. You saying “it’s still being one of the best arenas” around is a personal opinion. So you just can’t say that. And please don’t say hotels. Freaking middle of nowhere “UTAH” just got awarded the all star game when we have a brand new rose quarter Hyatt hotel, a new Ritz Carlton 40 story tower hotel well underway, and we still get ignored..

Get ur facts straight

 

[maxiep]

Bad time to sell any franchise. Their value have taken a hit due to COVID and the NBA dipping into politics.

 

[Pinwheel1]

A lot of bias talk with this comment. You saying “it’s still being one of the best arenas” around is a personal opinion. So you just can’t say that. And please don’t say hotels. Freaking middle of nowhere “UTAH” just got awarded the all star game when we have a brand new rose quarter Hyatt hotel, a new Ritz Carlton 40 story tower hotel well underway, and we still get ignored..

Get ur facts straight

How big are those two new Hotels? The excuse the NBA gives is that we don't have ONE hotel that can hold everyone.
Not the amount of rooms in the down area. How big are these two new ones?

 

[AldoTrapani]

How big are those two new Hotels? The excuse the NBA gives is that we don't have ONE hotel that can hold everyone.
Not the amount of rooms in the down area. How big are these two new ones?

Again. Freaking Utah, I’ll say it one more time, UTAH just got awarded the all star game. Enough said

 

[Pinwheel1]

Again. Freaking Utah, I’ll say it one more time, UTAH just got awarded the all star game. Enough said

Yes, freaking Utah. I lived there when they hosted the Olympics. Not a fan, but people do like going there in February. Too bad the players can hit the slopes.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Yes, freaking Utah. I lived there when they hosted the Olympics. Not a fan, but people do like going there in February. Too bad the players can hit the slopes.

Again if freaking UTAH. Probably hands down the smallest market in the nba can get the all star game, then Portland has no excuse

 

[blazerkor]

A lot of bias talk with this comment. You saying “it’s still being one of the best arenas” around is a personal opinion. So you just can’t say that. And please don’t say hotels. Freaking middle of nowhere “UTAH” just got awarded the all star game when we have a brand new rose quarter Hyatt hotel, a new Ritz Carlton 40 story tower hotel well underway, and we still get ignored..

Get ur facts straight

Get my facts straight? "Freaking middle of the nowhere UTAH" had billions and billions invested into it's tourist infrastructure for the 2002 Winter Olympics so they are more than capable of hosting an all-star game. The NBA has said several times that they would love to have the all-star game here but can't because of hotels and night life maybe that huge Ritz is being built for this specific reason along with the ability to hold conventions and whatnot. Have you noticed that Portland isn't exactly a destination for those? Again as far as getting facts straight it's indisputable that we have the ninth best seating capacity in the league at 19441 and we're less than 400 seats away from the top five. Also where the fuck do you get off talking to anyone in here about opinion as opposed to facts, you're likely the least fact based poster in here. You were right though, me saying that the Moda Center is one of the best arenas in the league is highly subjective but every other thing I stated was factual. Also we didn't get beat out by Utah for the All-Star Game because we haven't bid on it for the last two years. The thing is like most of your takes the idea that someone would relocate this team because of the arena is way off and the idea that you based that opinion on us not having had an all-star game is idiocy.

 

[Voodoo]

The appreciation is approximately 10.7% annually. He's held the asset for 32 year - which is a VERY long time.... The effect of exponential appreciation is the key here.

You’re right, but my point is that people are getting wrapped around the axle worrying the blazers may be sold or whatever. I think from a financial stand point she is unlikely to do that as it is providing fantastic returns financially.

We may not need to worry about her selling the team, and more worried about us never achieving anything beyond purgatory. If her interests are merely financial, and she’s not committed emotionally as a fan, there likely may not be much push or drive to improve or take much risk. Time will tell though.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Get my facts straight? "Freaking middle of the nowhere UTAH" had billions and billions invested into it's tourist infrastructure for the 2002 Winter Olympics so they are more than capable of hosting an all-star game. The NBA has said several times that they would love to have the all-star game here but can't because of hotels and night life maybe that huge Ritz is being built for this specific reason along with the ability to hold conventions and whatnot. Have you noticed that Portland isn't exactly a destination for those? Again as far as getting facts straight it's indisputable that we have the ninth best seating capacity in the league at 19441 and we're less than 400 seats away from the top five. Also where the fuck do you get off talking to anyone in here about opinion as opposed to facts, you're likely the least fact based poster in here. You were right though, me saying that the Moda Center is one of the best arenas in the league is highly subjective but every other thing I stated was factual. Also we didn't get beat out by Utah for the All-Star Game because we haven't bid on it for the last two years. The thing is like most of your takes the idea that someone would relocate this team because of the arena is way off and the idea that you based that opinion on us not having had an all-star game is idiocy.

I lost you when you brought up night life when Utah got awarded the all star game over us.

Night life?? Lmao

 

[AldoTrapani]

How big are those two new Hotels? The excuse the NBA gives is that we don't have ONE hotel that can hold everyone.
Not the amount of rooms in the down area. How big are these two new ones?

Again. Utah I mean FREAKING UTAH!! Got awarded the all star game over us. Liquor stores aren’t even open on the weekends in utah. For god sakes Eugene and Boise are the size of Salt Lake City and you have the nerve to question our hotel capabilities to justify that FREAKING UTAH got the all star game over us
Lmao

 

[AldoTrapani]

Get my facts straight? "Freaking middle of the nowhere UTAH" had billions and billions invested into it's tourist infrastructure for the 2002 Winter Olympics so they are more than capable of hosting an all-star game. The NBA has said several times that they would love to have the all-star game here but can't because of hotels and night life maybe that huge Ritz is being built for this specific reason along with the ability to hold conventions and whatnot. Have you noticed that Portland isn't exactly a destination for those? Again as far as getting facts straight it's indisputable that we have the ninth best seating capacity in the league at 19441 and we're less than 400 seats away from the top five. Also where the fuck do you get off talking to anyone in here about opinion as opposed to facts, you're likely the least fact based poster in here. You were right though, me saying that the Moda Center is one of the best arenas in the league is highly subjective but every other thing I stated was factual. Also we didn't get beat out by Utah for the All-Star Game because we haven't bid on it for the last two years. The thing is like most of your takes the idea that someone would relocate this team because of the arena is way off and the idea that you based that opinion on us not having had an all-star game is idiocy.

Dude everybody lost you when said maybe it’s because it’s the lack of our night life, when freaking UTAH got awarded an all star game.

LIQUOR STORES ARENT EVEN OPEN ON WEEKENDS IN UTAH!!

Lol

 

[Pinwheel1]

Again. Utah I mean FREAKING UTAH!! Got awarded the all star game over us. Liquor stores aren’t even open on the weekends in utah. For god sakes Eugene and Boise are the size of Salt Lake City and you have the nerve to question our hotel capabilities to justify that FREAKING UTAH got the all star game over us
Lmao

Not sure what your point is. I was asking a simple question based on the excuse from the NBA in the past.
I am not trying to defend Utah. I don't like the place. (Although Saturdays are part of the weekend and liquor stores are open so I am not sure why you wasted two posts on the subject)

 

[tester551]

You’re right, but my point is that people are getting wrapped around the axle worrying the blazers may be sold or whatever. I think from a financial stand point she is unlikely to do that as it is providing fantastic returns financially.

We may not need to worry about her selling the team, and more worried about us never achieving anything beyond purgatory. If her interests are merely financial, and she’s not committed emotionally as a fan, there likely may not be much push or drive to improve or take much risk. Time will tell though.

It has been a fantastic investment to be sure. However, my point is getting a 10-11% return annually is not 'astronomical'.

The biggest increase in value over the last few years has been a direct result of the TV and Media rights. Continued growth of the Media revenue may be challenging in the future.