Adam Silver: Portland needs a new arena, will be a challenge for new owner

[zzaj]

Here's another thing I don't get, since it's been brought up...

Back in 2013 (I think it was) Paul Allen and the Vulcan's sold naming rights to Moda Health for 10 years...I hated it at the time, and I hate it now. Especially, since it was a move away from a name that had some civic meaning, and was essentially a money grab from somebody who had more money than G-D. it's 2025, ten years is long gone. Why is it still called the Moda Center?

[PDXKnight]

Here's another thing I don't get, since it's been brought up...

Back in 2013 (I think it was) Paul Allen and the Vulcan's sold naming rights to Moda Health for 10 years...I hated it at the time, and I hate it now. Especially, since it was a move away from a name that had some civic meaning, and was essentially a money grab from somebody who had more money than G-D. it's 2025, ten years is long gone. Why is it still called the Moda Center?

I think moda had a contractual option to renew and chose the name. That said the name stinks and almost reminds me of "commode" aka the bathroom. The rose garden was a special name i wish at least it was moda garden instead of center

[Dick Tate]

There is a thread about the whether the owners would really want expansion. If the answer is no, it'll be
interesting if Seattle or Vegas would be in line to get the Blazers.

From just an optics standpoint, I don't think the NBA would let a team move to Seattle. It would take what they want to be a redemption story and sour it.

Vegas would more likely be the destination if the NBA were to let the Blazers were to move.

The city should just let the new owners tear down Memorial Colosseum and build a new arena on that.

I don't get the logic that Jody Allen would prefer to sell to a Vegas group over a Seattle group. Maybe she'll sell the Seahawks and Blazers to Bezos in a package deal.

The Seattle group (NHL owners) have made it known that expansion is the end goal. They're not looking to buy & move a team. The NBA can keep dragging its feet on expansion, but the Blazers won't end up in Seattle.

Amazon already has naming rights to Climate Pledge Arena. Do you think the Oak View Group wouldn't allow Bezos to sign a lease there? Then I guess he might need to shake loose some spare change to build his own arena.

[PDXKnight]

Can anybody provide a non-cynical reason why Moda Center is an inadequate facility? I suspect a new arena for a new owner is just about selling seat licenses and inflating the value of the franchise, post-purchase.

I’ll be honest, I don’t get it either. All I’ve heard is that it doesn’t have all the “bells and whistles” of modern arenas (whatever the hell that means) and that the layout is a bit dated… I mean… ok?

I would think for arenas, seating capacity should trump everything and haven’t heard that’s an issue… so yeah, I donno.

I think it has more to do with most other arenas being heavily renovated or rebuilt which leaves us sort of 10 years behind which is an eternity by today's standards in sports venues. Also teams are venturing into building housing/shopping/ revenue centers tied to the team. Not saying we have to have that but would probably go a long ways to keep a prospective owner here if we move the arena somewhere with the space and landscape to build around it. Not sure how much the public should be expected to pay if any but tax breaks can go a long way as well

Bare minimum we need to heavily remodel moda and add some more modern features much like Seattle did to make an old arena essentially new. Would probably work depending on what other revenue streams the new owner cares about along with assuming the owner would actually make an effort to keep the team here rather than look for a convenient out to relocate ie "Oregon wouldnt pay for 100 percent of the bill". And it doesnt seem like silver would give much resistance to that based on today's statement

[Cactus Jack]

I don't get the logic that Jody Allen would prefer to sell to a Vegas group over a Seattle group. Maybe she'll sell the Seahawks and Blazers to Bezos in a package deal.

The teams are being sold separately. Which is precisely why the Hawks are not on the market.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Amazon already has naming rights to Climate Pledge Arena. Do you think the Oak View Group wouldn't allow Bezos to sign a lease there? Then I guess he might need to shake loose some spare change to build his own arena.

As far as I know, Bezos is not associated with the Kraken. Although, Andy Jassy currently is.

Leiweke & the group as a whole have made it pretty clear that they're not in the business of trying to buy & move a team. It's really Samantha Holloway, who is head of the group.

Holloway, co-chair and co-owner of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, leads the ownership group hoping to lure one of the NBA’s proposed two expansion teams.

[zzaj]

Here's another thing I don't get, since it's been brought up...

Back in 2013 (I think it was) Paul Allen and the Vulcan's sold naming rights to Moda Health for 10 years...I hated it at the time, and I hate it now. Especially, since it was a move away from a name that had some civic meaning, and was essentially a money grab from somebody who had more money than G-D. it's 2025, ten years is long gone. Why is it still called the Moda Center?

I think moda had a contractual option to renew and chose the name. That said the name stinks and almost reminds me of "commode" aka the bathroom. The rose garden was a special name i wish at least it was moda garden instead of center

Decided to waste a few minutes to try and hunt it down. It does not appear that there has been any renewal of that contract. As far as I can tell, either a contract renewal has been non-public, or it's simply being allowed to operate as the Moda Center by the City and Rip City Management.

As a citizen of the city of Portland, I demand that Moda Health pays for their free advertising. I'll expect a check very soon.

EDIT: Interestingly, Delta Dental bought up Moda Health...so we could ostensibly see it changed. However, SLC and Delta Airlines already has a "Delta Center". It'd be pretty weird to have two "Delta"s. Maybe they would do the popular choice and change it to the "Delta Rose Garden" or something...

[PDXKnight]

I don't get the logic that Jody Allen would prefer to sell to a Vegas group over a Seattle group. Maybe she'll sell the Seahawks and Blazers to Bezos in a package deal.

The teams are being sold separately. Which is precisely why the Hawks are not on the market.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Amazon already has naming rights to Climate Pledge Arena. Do you think the Oak View Group wouldn't allow Bezos to sign a lease there? Then I guess he might need to shake loose some spare change to build his own arena.

As far as I know, Bezos is not associated with the Kraken. Although, Andy Jassy currently is.

Leiweke & the group as a whole have made it pretty clear that they're not in the business of trying to buy & move a team. It's really Samantha Holloway, who is head of the group.

Holloway, co-chair and co-owner of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, leads the ownership group hoping to lure one of the NBA’s proposed two expansion teams.

As in Holloway wants to move the team but the rest dont? Or the group doesnt want to move the twam including holloway?

If Seattle takes the Blazers ill be honest in saying I have no interest in rooting for any of their teams. Not sure why Portland fans seem to automatically assume we need to root for Seattle teams anyhow as frankly I enjoy the nw rivalry. Part of why I like the oregon uw rivalry so much

[PDXKnight]

Here's another thing I don't get, since it's been brought up...

Back in 2013 (I think it was) Paul Allen and the Vulcan's sold naming rights to Moda Health for 10 years...I hated it at the time, and I hate it now. Especially, since it was a move away from a name that had some civic meaning, and was essentially a money grab from somebody who had more money than G-D. it's 2025, ten years is long gone. Why is it still called the Moda Center?

I think moda had a contractual option to renew and chose the name. That said the name stinks and almost reminds me of "commode" aka the bathroom. The rose garden was a special name i wish at least it was moda garden instead of center

Decided to waste a few minutes to try and hunt it down. It does not appear that there has been any renewal of that contract. As far as I can tell, either a contract renewal has been non-public, or it's simply being allowed to operate as the Moda Center by the City and Rip City Management.

As a citizen of the city of Portland, I demand that Moda Health pays for their free advertising. I'll expect a check very soon.

They're being paid just not sure on the amount.

[Cactus Jack]

I don't get the logic that Jody Allen would prefer to sell to a Vegas group over a Seattle group. Maybe she'll sell the Seahawks and Blazers to Bezos in a package deal.

The teams are being sold separately. Which is precisely why the Hawks are not on the market.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Amazon already has naming rights to Climate Pledge Arena. Do you think the Oak View Group wouldn't allow Bezos to sign a lease there? Then I guess he might need to shake loose some spare change to build his own arena.

As far as I know, Bezos is not associated with the Kraken. Although, Andy Jassy currently is.

Leiweke & the group as a whole have made it pretty clear that they're not in the business of trying to buy & move a team. It's really Samantha Holloway, who is head of the group.

Holloway, co-chair and co-owner of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, leads the ownership group hoping to lure one of the NBA’s proposed two expansion teams.

As in Holloway wants to move the team but the rest dont? Or the group doesnt want to move the twam including holloway?

If Seattle takes the Blazers ill be honest in saying I have no interest in rooting for any of their teams. Not sure why Portland fans seem to automatically assume we need to root for Seattle teams anyhow as frankly I enjoy the nw rivalry. Part of why I like the oregon uw rivalry so much

The group has no plans to relocate a team. It will either happen through expansion or Seattle will remain without a team. It's really that simple.

[Cactus Jack]

If Seattle takes the Blazers ill be honest in saying I have no interest in rooting for any of their teams. Not sure why Portland fans seem to automatically assume we need to root for Seattle teams anyhow as frankly I enjoy the nw rivalry. Part of why I like the oregon uw rivalry so much

Fwiw, I feel the same way about Oregon/Portland teams.

[PDXKnight]

If Seattle takes the Blazers ill be honest in saying I have no interest in rooting for any of their teams. Not sure why Portland fans seem to automatically assume we need to root for Seattle teams anyhow as frankly I enjoy the nw rivalry. Part of why I like the oregon uw rivalry so much

Fwiw, I feel the same way about Oregon/Portland teams.

Breath of fresh air to hear to be honest

[Norm2953]

I do like the Mariners and go up once a year to see the Yankees when they come to town.

All things equal, if Portland somehow got an MLB expansion team, I wouldn't miss the Blazers if they
left for Vegas

[m0ng0]

If they relocate the team, I am done with the NBA, yes I am a Mariners fan, Seahawks fan, Colorado Avalanche fan, when Seattle got the Kraken that changed nothing for me go Av's!!!

[PDXKnight]

I do like the Mariners and go up once a year to see the Yankees when they come to town.

All things equal, if Portland somehow got an MLB expansion team, I wouldn't miss the Blazers if they
left for Vegas

Yeah.. In all honesty the nba is sort of getting boring these days. Sure a small mkt team just won a title but in general it feels like all the more big market teams control the cards and agents and players are really assisting in that process. I love the Blazers as Portland's team but in some ways it almost feels like between baseball and basketball baseball is a better "fit" for PDX. But whichever is in Portland I agree thatd be my primary team(s). Hopefully we can get baseball and keep basketball but if its just baseball thatd certainly be fun times for the family at least

[PDXKnight]

If they relocate the team, I am done with the NBA, yes I am a Mariners fan, Seahawks fan, Colorado Avalanche fan, when Seattle got the Kraken that changed nothing for me go Av's!!!

I like the Hawks but if the Blazers move up there I might have to become a 49ers fan or at least a 49ers fan against seattle

[DaVoiceMaster]

The city just approved their budget, including a $95M shortfall. Am i bitter I didn't get my merit increase? Yep, I am. Just sell the arena back to the new owner and let them install some new electronics. The arena seems to be more than adequate.

If Jody Allen sells the team to someone who intends to move the team elsewhere, she is simply $hitting on her brother. I only watch the Blazers for the most part so I probably wouldn't watch too many NBA games (if any) if they were moved elsewhere.

[zzaj]

Yeah, I'm with many that have posted...

If the Blazers were to move to a different city I would most likely never watch another NBA game. I'm of the "Be true to your school" stripe, and the only reason I ever got into the NBA is because the association had a representative from my (our) city.

I'm not really a fan of Seattle, and certainly enjoyed the I-5 rivalry. If the team moved North I would make it a point to NOT support them, because I don't feel like Seattle has anything to do with me--doesn't represent "me" in any way. Certainly I don't feel like the NBA or the Trailblazers are somehow "owed" viewership.

I mostly don't like the NBA product anyway. Truly, the only reason I watch is the Portland connection and I enjoy tracking the NBA draft and rookie progress.

[JRoy]

Honestly the current nba product is almost unwatchable.

If the Blazers move or fold I’d just watch college bball and find something else to bitch about on internet message boards.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Honestly the current nba product is almost unwatchable.

If the Blazers move or fold I’d just watch college bball and find something else to bitch about on internet message boards.

"Portland politely declines... to be fans of the Seattle Blazers."

[PDXKnight]

The sad reality is both Portland and Seattle deserve a NBA team and a rivalry. Either city would be next in line if expansion ever happens and one is without a team. But as discussed on sports radio yesterday would make a ton more sense if Memphis or NO lost their teams as neither city really produces the value of Portland or Seattle. In fact if someone buys the Blazers just to move them if im the owner of the Grizzlies or Pelicans im contacting Portland immediately to see what can be done with the arena so that I could move the team immediately after the current team left and ideally with the trail blazers name. As a nw sports fan i just want the rivalry revived (or perhaps a baseball rivalry?) But from a financial perspective its a virtual monopoly on a larger Portland market as even if we get baseball the season doesn't clash with the NBA season much