Wweek.com - Portland Must Confront the Real Danger of Losing the Blazers

[THE HCP]

Do you think the public would support a portion of a new arena?

You should would think so. But think of all the new Portlanders who don’t really have ties to the team.

 

[THE HCP]

Blazers aren’t gonna become the Sonics. NBA doesn’t want that. The only threat is Vegas, no one can convince me owners don’t want to be in that market. NFL and MLB have already beaten them to it. Vegas could have a new arena built in 18 months.

I’m always confused when people say that Vegas needs to build a new arena when they already have a GORGEOUS one!

 

[THE HCP]

They have another arena about to undergo construction as well. And it satisfies the NBA requirements.

T-Mobile is amazing! Don’t know what they would build another.

 

[tlongII]

T-Mobile is amazing! Don’t know what they would build another.

Probably to compete for the new team there would be my guess.

 

[LayneStaley]

If the NBA wants to be in Vegas so bad, they'd either A: find a way to put an expansion team there or B: move a team that actually is struggling and doesn't have a half century of solid history in one city.

Also, not sure they could "have a new arena built in 18 months", considering how long ago did they announce the A's were moving there? I think it's been more than 18 months.

Allegiant took 31 months. The A’s is projected to take 31 months. Considering basketball arenas are smaller I’m guessing 18-24 max. Like a few have noted though they already have an arena ready to play in today.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I’m always confused when people say that Vegas needs to build a new arena when they already have a GORGEOUS one!

View attachment 74845

Yeah the Vegas arena is very nice and right on the strip you can walk to thousands of places.

Compare that to the Rose Garden which is stuck between railroad tracks and freeways. Nothing useful around except empty buildings such as the basically abandoned memorial coliseum. Almost no hotels, no restaurants, no entertainment. It's really a waste.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I’m always confused when people say that Vegas needs to build a new arena when they already have a GORGEOUS one!

View attachment 74845

 

[THE HCP]

Probably to compete for the new team there would be my guess.

But it’s already nicer than HALF the arenas around the league.

 

[julius]

Compare that to the Rose Garden which is stuck between railroad tracks and freeways. Nothing useful around except empty buildings such as the basically abandoned memorial coliseum. Almost no hotels, no restaurants, no entertainment. It's really a waste.

They should cap the two buildings, so the courtyard(s) are covered and usable year round. Also, it would mean they could tear down the building in-between the two arenas, and expand the RG, but also keep it covered so the construction could be done any time of the year.

In essence, combine the RG and the MC into one complex (obviously you'd have to have a barrier between them otherwise you'd get a lot of hopping over between the two during events).

Think like what PDX is doing with the airport. Something like that between the two buildings, an open air (but roofed) area, allowing for the expansion of the concourse in the RG, and also making it look not so dated.

One thing that would be beneficial is to make the 100 and 300 levels look and feel more like the 200/suite levels, in as far as appearance. Though the 200 level is kinda dark at times, it is much nicer looking than the 100 and esp the 300 level. They could easily, albeit probably expensively, upgrade the concourse, without causing too big of a hiccup in the on goings of the season.

Thing is, didn't the city buy the RG while extending the team to being in Portland until 2030, with an option for 2035?

 

[Hoopguru]

As long as the city owns The Moda and land it'son, Im not very optimistic about an innovative, aggressive, managed well out come. The city has never been very business driven and I read where Nordstroms may shut downtown store down, and REI moved out.

 

[barfo]

Vegas already has the NHL T-Mobile arena ready for NBA games tomorrow.

Well, they really screwed up then.

There are no NBA games tomorrow.

barfo

 

[tlongII]

https://www.thesportingtribune.com/...uit-dome-tapped-to-design-las-vegas-nba-arena

 

[Mediocre Man]

https://www.thesportingtribune.com/...uit-dome-tapped-to-design-las-vegas-nba-arena

Yep. Nothing to see here

 

[Hoopguru]

https://www.thesportingtribune.com/...uit-dome-tapped-to-design-las-vegas-nba-arena

its amazing how many Jumbo jets from the Orient land in Vegas, almost daily.

 

[julius]

Yep. Nothing to see here

Clearly it means the blazers are leaving for Vegas.

Nothing can be done.

 

[Natebishop3]

Clearly it means the blazers are leaving for Vegas.

Nothing can be done.

We can build a dome. They can't move the team if they can't leave the dome.

 

[LayneStaley]

I think we will know if we are moving once the new owners are announced.

 

[LayneStaley]

Does every franchise that moves leave their history in that city(Sonics) or what’s the last one to move and keep all that? The Griz?

 

[barfo]

We can build a dome. They can't move the team if they can't leave the dome.

What part of "Two teams enter, one team leaves" did you not understand?

barfo

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think we will know if we are moving once the new owners are announced.

I think there is gonna be some back and forth


Initial statements about keeping the teams in Seattle:
At the time of the purchase, Bennett stated his intention to keep both teams in Seattle

 

[kjironman1]

As long as Mrs HCP is happy with the pole

I see what you did there. Please don't blame that on auto correct.

 

[kjironman1]

Lloyd center.

Its the answer and will be the answer. No reason to talk about it anymore. Since ill be right ill bow out of this discussion.

Loydd Center is a logistics nightmare my friend.

 

[julius]

I think there is gonna be some back and forth


Initial statements about keeping the teams in Seattle:
At the time of the purchase, Bennett stated his intention to keep both teams in Seattle

Wasn't he part of a group that was all about bringing the NBA to OKC?

Also. This isn't just some "well then we owners want to move the team" thing. Had to have league approval.

Not only approval of moving, but the new owner has to be approved to.

 

[Natebishop3]

Wasn't he part of a group that was all about bringing the NBA to OKC?

Also. This isn't just some "well then we owners want to move the team" thing. Had to have league approval.

Not only approval of moving, but the new owner has to be approved to.

Yeah and I think the owners probably want to keep expansion open in Seattle and Vegas so they can collect those sweet checks when they do ultimately create those teams.

 

[Strenuus]

Loydd Center is a logistics nightmare my friend.

So will any place where we want an entertainment district, so.

 

[julius]

Yeah and I think the owners probably want to keep expansion open in Seattle and Vegas so they can collect those sweet checks when they do ultimately create those teams.

All the hemming and hawing about the expansion is about upping the ante for the groups interested. The owners stand to make more $ with 2 expansion teams than they do without or moving Portland to one of the cities (regardless of which city).

But chicken littles gotta chicken little.

 

[Natebishop3]

All the hemming and hawing about the expansion is about upping the ante for the groups interested. The owners stand to make more $ with 2 expansion teams than they do without or moving Portland to one of the cities (regardless of which city).

But chicken littles gotta chicken little.

It all depends on whether expansion is real or not. If some owners legitimately do not want to expand.... and also whether they think the talent pool is too thin. It just feels like the NBA isn't as talented as it used to be, so you're talking about watering it down even further.

I could see the league valuing a team in Vegas over Seattle or Portland.

 

[kjironman1]

So will any place where we want an entertainment district, so.

I’m talking about to build.

 

[julius]

It all depends on whether expansion is real or not. If some owners legitimately do not want to expand.... and also whether they think the talent pool is too thin. It just feels like the NBA isn't as talented as it used to be, so you're talking about watering it down even further.

I could see the league valuing a team in Vegas over Seattle or Portland.

As I said in another thread (and I think I even quoted it here), the league isn't "watered down" or the talent pool is too thing. A whole *quarter* of the league is foreign born.

Plus, the expansion teams tend to take away players the teams don't want either because they're crappy or they're a waste of a roster spot.

 

[blazerkor]

It all depends on whether expansion is real or not. If some owners legitimately do not want to expand.... and also whether they think the talent pool is too thin. It just feels like the NBA isn't as talented as it used to be, so you're talking about watering it down even further.

I could see the league valuing a team in Vegas over Seattle or Portland.

If you were handicapping this what would you say the odds are that the Blazers are relocated to any other market. I'd say the odds that they Blazers get moved are under 15%.