We ask the questions, The Chris McGowan edition! (2 Viewers)

[ponderguy]

Could the Stampede ever move closer to the Portland area?
Why did the team choose the rip city alternates to become the sleeved jersey next year? Why not create a new design for the sleeved jerseys?
Are there any plans to introduce a new set of alt uniforms?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's pretty obvious that you inherited a mess with the current Blazer TV deal. With that finally coming to an end in a few years what can we expect from the next TV deal. What will you do to make it easier for fans to watch games?

 

[maxiep]

When will the fountain at the Rose Quarter be fixed? Will it still shoot fire?

Yes. Ask this question. I miss the fire.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I read that the Blazers are switching over to Ticketmaster next season. They have a reputation for service high fees. How will this change benefit the fans and what kind of fees should we expect to see?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Not really a questions, just want to throw this out there. LED flat panel basketball court. Playing the game on a giant flat panel screen would be one of the greatest innovations ever! You know some team will eventually do it, why not be the first.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Not really a questions, just want to throw this out there. LED flat panel basketball court. Playing the game on a giant flat panel screen would be one of the greatest innovations ever! You know some team will eventually do it, why not be the first.

Yes and put shit loads of ads under the players feet because we aren't bombarded with nearly enough ads

 

[Eastoff]

Not really a questions, just want to throw this out there. LED flat panel basketball court. Playing the game on a giant flat panel screen would be one of the greatest innovations ever! You know some team will eventually do it, why not be the first.

EVEN BETTER! a TOUCH screen court that can ACTUALLY tell if that 3 pointer was on the line!

although eventually Adam Silver will start getting the touch screen court to shift the line slightly to favor his LA/NYC monoplies

 

[blue9]

EVEN BETTER! a TOUCH screen court that can ACTUALLY tell if that 3 pointer was on the line!

That's actually a pretty great idea! I wonder if it could be programmed to detect traveling, too? That'd be hard since the ball doesn't actually need to hit the floor before you lift your pivot. But maybe if all players wore a ring on each hand that could tell if the ball was still touching either hand?
But the 3-point idea could also be applied to out-of-bounds. Couple that with the ring-sensors and you could know for certain who the last player was to touch the ball before it went out of bounds...or whether a player is touching the ball while out of bounds. This could decrease the burden on the refs so they can more closely focus on other parts of the game.

 

[RR7]

That's actually a pretty great idea! I wonder if it could be programmed to detect traveling, too? That'd be hard since the ball doesn't actually need to hit the floor before you lift your pivot. But maybe if all players wore a ring on each hand that could tell if the ball was still touching either hand?
But the 3-point idea could also be applied to out-of-bounds. Couple that with the ring-sensors and you could know for certain who the last player was to touch the ball before it went out of bounds...or whether a player is touching the ball while out of bounds. This could decrease the burden on the refs so they can more closely focus on other parts of the game.

Also the lane could flash when there is a 3 second violation, illegal defense

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Also the lane could flash when there is a 3 second violation, illegal defense

But only against the visiting team.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Like everyone else, I want to know how in hell Comcrap has been able these years to hold rights to Blazer games and then charge extortion-type money to subscribe. What's going to be done about this?

 

[Eastoff]

Hey what happened to our Wesley Matthews questions?

 

[maxiep]

Like everyone else, I want to know how in hell Comcrap has been able these years to hold rights to Blazer games and then charge extortion-type money to subscribe. What's going to be done about this?

At this point, it looks like absolutely nothing. In other words: Comcast attorneys > Blazer attorneys.

 

[blue9]

Also the lane could flash when there is a 3 second violation, illegal defense

Good one! Man, we could totally revolutionize the way games are officiated!

 

[maxiep]

Good one! Man, we could totally revolutionize the way games are officiated!

You mean, straight up? That would be a remarkable development in the NBA.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Like everyone else, I want to know how in hell Comcrap has been able these years to hold rights to Blazer games and then charge extortion-type money to subscribe. What's going to be done about this?

That's why I asked about the next contract. This one there doesn't seem much the Blazers can do differently.

 

[blue9]

You mean, straight up? That would be a remarkable development in the NBA.

Precisely! Imagine the popularity if the best league, playing the best team sport had the best officiating rather than the worst!
The stars would hate it, but the rest of the players would probably love it.

 

[maxiep]

That's why I asked about the next contract. This one there doesn't seem much the Blazers can do differently.

I'm amazed the Blazers signed a deal that had a big "You can trust us, we're Comcast" opening in it. It would be interesting to do a study at how much the Comcast deal has actually COST the Blazers by distancing themselves from the casual fan.

 

[Samuel]

Having traveled to road arenas, I've been able to witness several different types of gameday experiences. While I like the way the Moda Center is run, one thing I love (and prefer) about the presentation I've witnessed in LA and NY is the dimmed seating lighting to increase the atmosphere and focus the attention on the court. Have you looked into this type of setup for Portland? If not, I think you definitely should. The Memorial Coliseum had a fairly similar setup to these places and I miss the way things were lit in the arena there.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Having traveled to road arenas, I've been able to witness several different types of gameday experiences. While I like the way the Moda Center is run, one thing I love (and prefer) about the presentation I've witnessed in LA and NY is the dimmed seating lighting to increase the atmosphere and focus the attention on the court. Have you looked into this type of setup for Portland? If not, I think you definitely should. The Memorial Coliseum had a fairly similar setup to these places and I miss the way things were lit in the arena there.

Additionally darker seating would make it easier to get an old fashioned in the 300s

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Last day of questions before I send them off to the Blazers.

 

[maxiep]

Last day of questions before I send them off to the Blazers.

I just want to know about the fire in the fountain. That's it. It's the least I deserve after the fisting I just got from the team on my season ticket price increase.

 

[blue9]

I'll second the motion to ask about bringing the NHL to Portland.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Does Paul Allen really have a secret apartment in the Moda Center and have you ever been inside it?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I noticed you sometimes give away yours seats to games on twitter. Any chance you could give them away in the forum for a game or two?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

You got to go with Paul Allen to the Super Bowl. What was that like? Did you go to the after party with Paul Allen's band and Macklemore?

 

[danpalm]

Is limiting the infamous ticketmaster fees part of the new deal with them?
Are the Trail Blazers and McDonalds satisfied with the mcmuffin deal?
Will we see cross promotion with the Portland Thunder in the future?

 

[MARIS61]

That's why I asked about the next contract. This one there doesn't seem much the Blazers can do differently.

Actually, they can do plenty if they choose. It's not rocket science.

Tell Comcast to immediately stop being the worst media partner ever associated with The Blazers, or they can forget about ever signing any future contracts with them.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Actually, they can do plenty if they choose. It's not rocket science.

Tell Comcast to immediately stop being the worst media partner ever associated with The Blazers, or they can forget about ever signing any future contracts with them.

Think this is slightly late Roger.

I don't think Comcast is going to be hardballed. But It would be interesting to see if they were. Comcast is usually doing the hard balling. What really started it is directv and it's exclusive rights with the NFL.

With that said, I like what Comcast has done with CSNNW. All the programming related to the Blazers and to Oregon specifically. Think it's fresh and really appealing.

 

[jlprk]

Last day of questions before I send them off to the Blazers.

Where's the interview? What percentage of our questions did he answer?