Breaking: Blazers sold to Tom Dundon

PDXKnight · Post #1 » by **PDXKnight** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 5:44 pm

Thought this deserves its own thread. Dundon also owns the Carolina Hurricanes.

https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/nba/blazers/tom-dundon-buying-portland-trail-blazers-sale/283-1156b549-dc60-4424-9905-1ca2e28b79ef

PORTLAND, Ore. — Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, has a tentative deal to purchase the Portland Trail Blazers from the estate of Paul Allen, according to multiple reports.

Sportico's Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams first reported the agreement, later confirmed by ESPN's Shams Charania, who reported the sale price is for more than $4 billion.

The buying group also includes Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital, and Portland-based Sheel Tyle, co-CEO of Collective Global, according to Sportico.

Sportico reported the prospective owners plan to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland. Bill Oram of The Oregonian, citing a source familiar with the proceedings, confirmed that claim, reporting that the group "is passionate about basketball and intends to keep the team in Portland, where it belongs."

Instant reactions?

m0ng0 · Post #2 » by **m0ng0** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 5:50 pm

The hurricanes have been quite successful since he took over in 2018ish? Seems good to me

Case2012 · Post #3 » by **Case2012** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:04 pm

NO MORE VULCANS!!!!!!!!

Sounds like he's the polar opposite of Jody and he's super involved. That could be a bad thing, but to me that signals someone that doesn't bend over for agents and players and knows how build a team. No more 2 timelines, no more overpays, no more disrespect around the league from agents.

We're set up nicely to actually make some moves... First thing first, Joe is gone, maybe Chauncey too (fingers crossed). An owner this involved is gonna want to hire their own FO. Joe scammed his way into a golden parachute because he knew he was done in the league so good for him. Don't let the door hit you on the way!!

We're actually gonna see a competitive team around Dame for his last 2-3 years... It should've happened 6 years ago, but we're here now. Hell MF yeah!!!!

Walton1one · Post #4 » by **Walton1one** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:12 pm

Sounds good, now clean house...

Norm2953 · Post #5 » by **Norm2953** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:24 pm

Presumably the talks with the city went well. Let's see what the refurbished Moda Center will look like in 2028 or 2029

OutsidetheNBA · Post #6 » by **OutsidetheNBA** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:30 pm

I don't follow hockey, but based on the team's wikipedia page, when Dundon took over the Hurricanes it was a situation where there were rumors the team might move and Dundon kept them in Carolina.

He also cleaned out the front office and offered below-market salaries to GM candidates. The team hadn't been to the playoffs in 9 of the 10 previous years when he bought them and they got to the conference finals in his second year of ownership. Since then they've been to the playoffs every year, mostly getting to the 2nd round or conference finals but never winning a cup.

Walton1one · Post #7 » by **Walton1one** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:33 pm

“I’m not patient,” he admitted. “The fact that they have a team that can win right now, and we can do some things to bring more fans and resources, that was an opportunity. This is a market that has supported this team and loves sports. This is a winning place. I know we can fix it.”

Also…

“I value winning,” he said, “more than I value money.”

Dundon regarding the Hurricanes...

I thought this comment summed him up pretty good

What kind of owner is Dundon? Quick survey regarding the future outlook for the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes is really positive. Besides making the playoffs for the past nine seasons, and the conference finals two out of the past three years, ESPN also has them ranked #1 in the "future power rankings," which considers prospects, roster, cap situation, etc. Anecdotally, their farm system, scouting team, and draft history seems well regarded. Agents voted Dundon the NHL's worst owner, probably a good thing, since he's not known for not overpaying players unless he's after a star. Seems shrewd to me.

[url]
https://www.blazersedge.com/trail-blazers-news/102424/tom-dundon-portland-trail-blazers-carolina-hurricanes-owner-quotes#comments[/url]

DusterBuster · Post #8 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:37 pm

I can't begin to pretend I have an opinion on this. I don't know who Tom Dundon is.

Does anyone have background on the guy?

Plans to keep the team in Portland is all I really care about.

Post #9 » by **Cactus Jack** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:46 pm

DusterBuster wrote:I can't begin to pretend I have an opinion on this. I don't know who Tom Dundon is.

Does anyone have background on the guy?

Here's his bio.

https://canespr.com/executivemanagement

JasonStern · Post #10 » by **JasonStern** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:46 pm

Watch on YouTube

And now we just need a new owner for the Seahawks.

PDXKnight · Post #11 » by **PDXKnight** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:48 pm

Im cautiously optimistic, although I am concerned his pockets aren't deep enough

DusterBuster · Post #12 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:49 pm

Trying to download all the information I can on this.

Read on Twitter

Apparently Dundon bought out his shareholders with the Hurricanes to be the sole owner, not sure he can do that with the NBA $$$, but shows he's an involved owner. Sounds like he's willing to pay, so this isn't gonna be a penny-pincher franchise.

So far I'm seeing all green lights here...

DusterBuster · Post #13 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:52 pm

PDXKnight wrote:Im cautiously optimistic, although I am concerned his pockets aren't deep enough

All indications from online is he's willing to spend to build a winner. So who knows, but early returns would say that shouldn't be a problem...

He's considered in the NHL circles a very good owner.

This is one of those, we won't know til we know situations... but reason to be cautiously optimistic.

PDXKnight · Post #14 » by **PDXKnight** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:53 pm

DusterBuster wrote:
PDXKnight wrote:Im cautiously optimistic, although I am concerned his pockets aren't deep enough

All indications from online is he's willing to spend to build a winner. So who knows, but early returns would say that shouldn't be a problem...

Yeah I think its gonna work out alright

Well its a group of owners which could be an advantage or detriment. Certainly an advantage if theyre all committed to winning

DusterBuster · Post #15 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:59 pm

Dundon is also going to do freaking interviews... insane Jodie hasn't said a single word to the media in 5-6 years.

Post #16 » by **Cactus Jack** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 7:03 pm

DusterBuster wrote:Dundon is also going to do freaking interviews... insane Jodie hasn't said a single word to the media in 5-6 years.

Tbf Paul very rarely did interviews himself. I don't recall him really ever doing them in regards to the Hawks.

DusterBuster · Post #17 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 7:06 pm

Some more background on Dundon, the value of the Hurricane has double since he bought the team, he extended the teams lease with the city of Raleigh and has invested in the full redevelopment of all the land around the arena for mixed entertainment events center...

If he's looking to just copy-paste that playbook for the Blazers, Portland should be ecstatic.

And before anyone asks about his donations to the GOP and Trump, just know my only opinion is I don't care. Doing best to keep politics out of my sports. If he does good things for the Blazers and the city of Portland, he can believe the world is flat for all I care.

DusterBuster · Post #18 » by **DusterBuster** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 7:07 pm

Cactus Jack wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:Dundon is also going to do freaking interviews... insane Jodie hasn't said a single word to the media in 5-6 years.

Tbf Paul very rarely did interviews himself. I don't recall him really ever doing them in regards to the Hawks.

Yes, but he always routinely did some every year in Portland. He always did media availability year in and year out during the draft, at the start of the season and at the end of the season.

We don't need to hear from the owners weekly on a pod or anything, but do SOMETHING. It's been literally 5 years and Jodie has never said one word at any moment.

Post #19 » by **Cactus Jack** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 7:09 pm

JasonStern wrote:And now we just need a new owner for the Seahawks.

That seems to be the next domino to occur. Even though Jody is more positively viewed by fans in Seattle than in Portland. But we'll see...

Post #20 » by **Cactus Jack** » Wed Aug 13, 2025 7:17 pm

DusterBuster wrote:
Cactus Jack wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:Dundon is also going to do freaking interviews... insane Jodie hasn't said a single word to the media in 5-6 years.

Tbf Paul very rarely did interviews himself. I don't recall him really ever doing them in regards to the Hawks.

Yes, but he always routinely did some every year in Portland. He always did media availability year in and year out during the draft, at the start of the season and at the end of the season.

We don't need to hear from the owners weekly on a pod or anything, but do SOMETHING. It's been literally 5 years and Jodie has never said one word at any moment.

Wow, as someone who doesn't regularly follow them, that's news to me. He avoided the spotlight completely when it came to dealing with Seattle media.