Blazers Defend Arena Pitch in Testy City Council Meeting
The city and team have publicly sparred over the Moda Center.
On Thursday, Trail Blazers executives appeared before Portland’s city council amid ongoing disputes over the team’s lease and a $600 million renovation plan for the Moda Center. Team president Dewayne Hankins affirmed his team’s commitment to reaching an agreement to remain in Portland, despite uncertainty from new owner Tom Dundon.
Blazers CFO Joe Loomis, team lawyer Landus Anderson, and spokesperson Charles Boyle accompanied Hankins. Economic consultant Mike Wilkerson shared projections of the team’s economic impact on the local area. The Blazers requested $120 million from the city and $88 million from Multnomah County, with the bonds contingent on voter approval.
However, team representatives were cautious in their responses to council inquiries, citing potential legal risks from the arena's first-class standard provision in the lease, which holds the team responsible for maintenance costs. Blazers attorney Zandria Conyers emphasized that the team had already invested nearly $1 billion in the arena's construction and upkeep, urging the city's turn to cover renovations.
The city has deviated from 20 aspects of the original term sheet, and when asked if the team could provide those details, Conyers indicated they would do so at an appropriate time. The council is set to discuss the term sheet next week, with voting on the $120 million and $88 million components scheduled for Aug. 12. Mayor Wilson can break any potential tie during the vote.
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