Portland Divided on Moda Center Renovation Funding as Dundon Refuses to Contribute
Councilors want the Trail Blazers to pay rent, cover at least half of maintenance and add private funding before arena talks advance.
- On Wednesday, the Portland City Council held a work session debating a $120 million public funding proposal for Moda Center renovations, with elected leaders divided over the financial structure and public investment terms.
- Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon told the Portland Metro Chamber on Wednesday he will contribute zero personal funds toward the $600 million renovation project, arguing ticket fees already constitute his investment.
- Facing a $170 million budget shortfall, Portland councilors questioned the deal's transparency after the team submitted an economic analysis using 4-year-old data without providing current financial forecasts.
- Councilor Candace Avalos demanded the team pay rent, cover at least half of maintenance costs, and guarantee living wages for arena employees as conditions for any public funding agreement.
- City officials must reach an agreement by December to secure a 20-year lease extension, with the Portland City Council scheduling a public hearing later next month to solicit community feedback.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Tom Dundon Cares Not One Bit About The Portland Trail Blazers
It takes a special kind of creep to stand out for sleaziness among NBA owners, objectively one of the worst demographics our species has ever established. Tom Dundon has been the official majority owner of the Portland Trail Blazers for less than three months, and already he is a standard-bearer. It's clear he doesn't mind being a villain. Having already downsized the organization with layoffs, pinched on travel accommodations, stiffed his team'…
Good Morning, News: Moda Center Drama, Lloyd Mall Drama, and Taylor Swift Drama… So Much Drama!
If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! And hey: in case you haven’t noticed, the Mercury is now offering audio versions of many of the stories you love—including Good Morning, News, which is especially entertaining when narrated by the Mercury’s residen…
Protesters, officials clash over $600M Moda Center renovation as funding debate intensifies
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A proposed $600 million Moda Center renovation sparked sharp debate Wednesday as protesters, business leaders and elected officials clashed over public funding, economic risk and a fast-approaching deadline to finalize the deal. The discussion unfolded at a Portland Metro Chamber event at Moda Center, where demonstrators inside and outside the venue [...]
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