The Trail Blazers’ ownership wants $600 million in public funding.
The most important part of the National Basketball Association season for the owners of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise will begin on Groundhog Day, February 2nd. The owners and the groundhog are seeking sunnier days, the groundhog wants to see its shadow while the Trail Blazers’ ownership wants to see Oregon public money flowing its way to fund a $600 million renovation of the team’s Portland arena. The Trail Blazers’ ownership’s lobbyists will head to Salem with a proposal, tax all NBA players and referees who use the facility along with Trail Blazers’ employees’ salaries and give it to us and we will do the repairs. The problem? The owners want $600 million and the Trail Blazers’ tax proposal brings in only $20 million or so annually so other money needs to be found. It will take 30 years to raise the $600 million. The lobbyists will have to work in a hurry because the session ends by March 9th. The Trail Blazers’ owners will be sending the lobbyists in an attempt to loosen money from the state to keep the team in Portland beyond the 2030 season when the arena lease is up.
Trail Blazers’ President Dewayne Hankins reminded people that his basketball business is “a central part of Oregon’s economy and identity. But the arena is bigger than basketball. It’s Oregon’s busiest entertainment venue and one of the state’s most important gathering places. Since early 2023, we’ve been in meaningful conversations with the City and our public partners about a long-term, market-rate lease extension for the Blazers that includes an investment to extend the useful life of Center. The 2026 legislative session is an opportunity to move from conversation to action, and I’m encouraged to be working alongside leaders who see this as an investment in our economic prosperity and culture.” The Portland arena game has started.
Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191
Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
Portland Arena
