Trail Blazers gear up for legislative ask that would ‘guarantee’ team’s future in Portland

[JfizzleBlazer]

Doesn't matter if you or me or anyone here articulates what upgrades are or are not needed.

Adam Silver said it's needed. That was not by accident. The NBA is beginning the processes of moving the team if Oregon doesn't partner in giving those upgrades.

Silver said it is "likely needed"

Please tell me more about this conversation you were a part of where the NBA began processes of moving the team if Oregon doesnt give in.

 

[wizenheimer]

Flip side is if the team moves all the"Jock tax" funds are gone so the general fund is smaller than if the state paid for arena upgrades.

Not saying it's right, but that's what pro sports do everywhere.

Oregon set themselves into a corner by funding a baseball arena.

that's a net zero for the general fund, at least it is insofar as the specific jock tax. Now the overall impact to the general fund from the hypothetical loss of the Blazers after 2030 is another matter

I'm not really sure where this sense of urgency, bordering on panic, is coming from. The 'plan' seems to be pretty complex and filled with potential stmbling blocks. We're already seeing there may be some significant disagreements about components of the proposal between the Blazers, the City, and the County

Kotek lobbies NBA commissioner to keep Trail Blazers in Portland as team and county at odds over arena funding

County leaders are reluctant to commit $40 million in unexpected tax revenue to Moda Center renovations, complicating the franchise's funding efforts as new ownership prepares to take control.

www.oregonlive.com

and it sure sounds like there is mounting opposition to the City deciding to use 75M from the voter approved climate fund. These may be small disagreements that will be easily overcome; or maybe the ease of overcoming them will take enough time that the State won't be able consider the proposal this session. And if this proposal doesn't have clear sailing in the City & County, it's probably not just going to coast thru a legislature with reps from all over the state. Anybody who pays attention would know that getting a bill like this thru the state legislature would be much easier next year when it's a 6 month session than this year's one month session that is already bogged down with the transportation budget

also, and it may be I'm just dumb & ignorant, but I'm about 80% convinced the math on the jock tax paying for, and retiring the 360M in bonding isn't close to working

also, as part of this rushed proposal, as Sly has been pointing out, what exactly is this 600M going to be used for. Has anybody said? Has there been any engineering and/or detailed design planning that derived this 600M number? or is it just throwing a number out there and talking about vague renovation ideas? Has there been any detailed comparison about the pros and cons of spending 600M on a Moda renovation vs 1.2B on a new arena?

this whole operation kind of looks like a bulldozer being driven by an unlicensed first time operator

 

[Hoopguru]

I'm going to be real. I'm not interested in a sales tax. Not even to keep the Blazers here.

If they can't figure it out without a regressive tax the team can move on and I'll kick rocks with my hillbilly shoes...

Way back when Oregon established a lottery that was supposed to go fund economic growth and possibilities to help drive new business, I knew a guy that ran a large Industrial Electrical company with a distribution subsidiary, here in Portland. He and his partner along with their wives were provided full expenses by the State of Oregon to spend a month in Saigon to find sources for old military parts, and other parts to purchase and ship back for resale. All in the Name of Oregon Economic Development. Neither thought they would get to first base in qualifying for The State covering all expenses.

 

[Cugel]

Silver is kind of a douche for saying Moda is shit. It’s not like POR and Oregon are super rich city state flush with cash. He seem like a mouth piece for owners, not fans, when he pipes up. Your feet are going to be sticky in any fucking arena when someone spills beer

 

[wizenheimer]

Silver is kind of a douche for saying Moda is shit. It’s not like POR and Oregon are super rich city state flush with cash. He seem like a mouth piece for owners, not fans, when he pipes up.

that's his job; he doesn't work for the fans. He's the CEO of a consortium with 30 shareholders

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The Mexico City Blazers has a nice ring to it.

 

[Cugel]

that's his job; he doesn't work for the fans. He's the CEO of a consortium with 30 shareholders

I get that but he needs to read the room when he is *speaking* to fans at a press conference

 

[SlyPokerDog]

that's his job; he doesn't work for the fans. He's the CEO of a consortium with 30 shareholders

Maybe Silver should fly his ass out here and talk more about this.

Maybe sweeten the pot for us fans and the government entities involved.

Oh, I've got one...

How about we get the All-Star game with 2 years of the update/upgrade/imporvement of the Moda.



The NBA All-Star Game generates massive economic impact for host cities, often exceeding $300–$400 million in total value through direct visitor spending, job creation, and substantial media exposure. The 2025 event in the San Francisco Bay Area generated $328.2 million in direct economic impact, with over 142,000 attendees, while 2024 in Indianapolis hit $400 million+ in total value.

Key economic impacts include:

• Direct & Indirect Spending: The 2025 Bay Area event resulted in over $210 million in direct spending from tourism and corporate services, plus $117 million in indirect/induced spending.
• Job Creation: The events support, create, or expand roughly 1,700 to 1,800 local jobs.
• Tourism & Hospitality: Hotels, restaurants, and local businesses experience significant surges, with 2024 IndyStar reporting $290 million in direct economic impact from, retail, food, and beverage.
• Media Value: Temple University studies indicate over $100 million in earned media value, with 2024 generating 24 billion social media impressions.
• Community Investment: Host cities often receive, like in 2024, over $1.5 million in legacy project investments.

 

[Hoopguru]

Stern had a long beef with the organization over gambling and cap circumvention.

 

[BigGameDamian]