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

[DusterBuster]

Silver putting Portland city officials on notice that a new building will be needed:

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Not exactly comforting news given the City of Portland's track record...

[Wizenheimer]

people around Portland, and Blazer fans, have probably been underestimating the potential of the Blazers being moved

no problem....easy peasy...the city of Portland would not object to spending 1-2B for a new arena....lol

[oldfishermen]

https://youtu.be/LIMtzeU6gzw?si=9ImgnE82j0HJFTgh

[Norm2953]

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.

[m0ng0]

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.

Just curious what your thoughts would be if the team moved? Personally o think I would be done with the NBA.

[Norm2953]

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.

Just curious what your thoughts would be if the team moved? Personally o think I would be done with the NBA.

I think if the team moved anywhere, it would be to Vegas for one can imagine how much more valuable the team
would be on the open market if it were elsewhere.

It would amuse me if the PNW ended up with no NBA teams if Portland left for Vegas and expansion did not happen.
We'd all likely be done with the NBA for there is no way Portland would get another team for they'd be well behind
Seattle for an expansion team and the league would almost certainly choose an eastern team as their second
expansion team

[Tim Lehrbach]

The NBA and the new owner of the Blazers can build themselves a shiny new arena, or else eff off to whatever city they like.

[DusterBuster]

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.

[mojomarc]

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.

Las Vegas was an option last year. With the Trump administration's positions, the tourism industry (which is basically the entire economy of Las Vegas) is really hurting. International tourism is down 15%, for example, revenue per room is down 5.7%, and gambling revenues are down 3.9% this year compared to 2024. I'm not sure, given the current headwinds, you'd get a strong buying group. Seattle is a different story, as Microsoft and Amazon dollars are still huge.

[Norm2953]

One can understand in the aftermath of Trump's Tax bill, there would be difficulties asking the city/state
to help build a new arena, when their budgets will be strained by the cuts in Medicaid.

City can however work with the new owner and more or less give the new ownership a free hand to build the
new arena as they see fit. Before that happens, NBA would have to inform new ownership, the league really
prefers to keep the team in Portland. Hopefully that new owner ends up being Phil

[Cactus Jack]

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.

Las Vegas was an option last year. With the Trump administration's positions, the tourism industry (which is basically the entire economy of Las Vegas) is really hurting. International tourism is down 15%, for example, revenue per room is down 5.7%, and gambling revenues are down 3.9% this year compared to 2024. I'm not sure, given the current headwinds, you'd get a strong buying group. Seattle is a different story, as Microsoft and Amazon dollars are still huge.

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.

[Wizenheimer]

Las Vegas is the threat to Portland

the first thing is: does anybody really believe Adam Silver was just tossing out a random thought about the Moda Center? Or was it calculating? It might be he's already been privy to discussions with a likely buyer of the Blazers and concern was expressed about the age of the Moda Center and the weird lease agreement with the city

new owners want new arenas. Just ask Steve Ballmer

and is there any doubt that the city of Las Vegas would be extremely willing to pony up cash and bonds to build a new NBA arena if there was the promise of the Blazers moving there?

Paul Allen bought the Blazers in 1988 for 70M. Kiki's salary was 960K; Clyde's was 350K. The NBA has completely changed in the nearly 40 years since then. And the Moda Center is 7th oldest NBA arena. 23 arenas are newer. It's probably a case that simply renovating the Moda will not satisfy a new owner, especially considering the limitations of nearby hotels and dining

29 other NBA owners, while they may have affinity for the Blazers in Portland, are likely to be more persuaded by a franchise in Vegas, Especially considering it looks like expansion is getting kicked down the road, Dollar signs will be dancing in their heads

[DusterBuster]

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.

Las Vegas was an option last year. With the Trump administration's positions, the tourism industry (which is basically the entire economy of Las Vegas) is really hurting. International tourism is down 15%, for example, revenue per room is down 5.7%, and gambling revenues are down 3.9% this year compared to 2024. I'm not sure, given the current headwinds, you'd get a strong buying group. Seattle is a different story, as Microsoft and Amazon dollars are still huge.

For transparency, I live in Vegas. I know both Portland and Vegas local governments quite well. Yes there's been a noticeable dip in tourism since Trump admin, but tourism isn't the metric they're going to use for if a franchise will be successful here. The Knights sell out every game. The Raiders have struggled a bit, but mostly just due to them being crappy. They're in the midst of building the A's arena here as we type. The local government has made it their stated goal they want every major league franchise in the city. They're going to push for a team and break through any red tape they need to to get one.

After the experiences of the NHL and NFL here, the city would likely prefer an expansion team over moving a team. Teams that are home grown have prove more successful... but also... so has winning (Raiders have been trash).

The NBA, I would assume, also needs an even amount of teams so there isn't a weird schedule, so if they add Seattle (again, there's zero zero zero zero chance Blazers get moved to Seattle, I'm happy to sticky my money where my mouth is there - there's too many forces against that), they will have 31 teams. They really need 32. At that point, moving a team like Portland to Vegas doesn't solve the problem.

Now if the NBA is ok with 31 teams for some reason... then I do think the chances of the Blazers moving to Vegas is on the table. While I think Vegas would prefer a true expansion team to call their own, they've shown no qualms about moving a team here. They also have an NBA arena they can play in while they create a dedicated arena/resort that they've been talking about for years. So Vegas is plenty set up for a NBA team whenever they want and I suspect both local officials and the BoG for the NBA is thinking much longer beyond just this current dip in foot traffic that will pass as it always does.

[DusterBuster]

Las Vegas is the threat to Portland

the first thing is: does anybody really believe Adam Silver was just tossing out a random thought about the Moda Center? Or was it calculating? It might be he's already been privy to discussions with a likely buyer of the Blazers and concern was expressed about the age of the Moda Center and the weird lease agreement with the city

new owners want new arenas. Just ask Steve Ballmer

and is there any doubt that the city of Las Vegas would be extremely willing to pony up cash and bonds to build a new NBA arena if there was the promise of the Blazers moving there?

Paul Allen bought the Blazers in 1988 for 70M. Kiki's salary was 960K; Clyde's was 350K. The NBA has completely changed in the nearly 40 years since then. And the Moda Center is 7th oldest NBA arena. 23 arenas are newer. It's probably a case that simply renovating the Moda will not satisfy a new owner, especially considering the limitations of nearby hotels and dining

29 other NBA owners, while they may have affinity for the Blazers in Portland, are likely to be more persuaded by a franchise in Vegas, Especially considering it looks like expansion is getting kicked down the road, Dollar signs will be dancing in their heads

As someone who's now lived in Vegas for over 3 years, you're very accurate. The city of Vegas has made it their mission over the past 5-10 years to make Vegas the sports capital of the US and they've been operating that way. NHL, F1, NFL, MLB... there's a giant NBA sized hole there. They'll do whatever they need to get a team and the tourism dip isn't a concern, I can promise that. And while I do believe the city would prefer a "home grown" expansion team, they won't bat an eye at taking game from another city.

What is a issue for Portland is the city government sucks and slow as dirt to do anything. Vegas local government will stamp approval on next to anything and not even be late for lunch. Portland government needs 6 city workers to change a bike parking sign and to do 30 studies of construction impacts of the Canadian Geese migration.

[Wizenheimer]

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.

Las Vegas was an option last year. With the Trump administration's positions, the tourism industry (which is basically the entire economy of Las Vegas) is really hurting. International tourism is down 15%, for example, revenue per room is down 5.7%, and gambling revenues are down 3.9% this year compared to 2024. I'm not sure, given the current headwinds, you'd get a strong buying group. Seattle is a different story, as Microsoft and Amazon dollars are still huge.

For transparency, I live in Vegas. I know both Portland and Vegas local governments quite well. Yes there's been a noticeable dip in tourism since Trump admin, but tourism isn't the metric they're going to use for if a franchise will be successful here. The Knights sell out every game. The Raiders have struggled a bit, but mostly just due to them being crappy. They're in the midst of building the A's arena here as we type. The local government has made it their stated goal they want every major league franchise in the city. They're going to push for a team and break through any red tape they need to to get one.

After the experiences of the NHL and NFL here, the city would likely prefer an expansion team over moving a team. Teams that are home grown have prove more successful... but also... so has winning (Raiders have been trash).

The NBA, I would assume, also needs an even amount of teams so there isn't a weird schedule, so if they add Seattle (again, there's zero zero zero zero chance Blazers get moved to Seattle, I'm happy to sticky my money where my mouth is there - there's too many forces against that), they will have 31 teams. They really need 32. At that point, moving a team like Portland to Vegas doesn't solve the problem.

Now if the NBA is ok with 31 teams for some reason... then I do think the chances of the Blazers moving to Vegas is on the table. While I think Vegas would prefer a true expansion team to call their own, they've shown no qualms about moving a team here. They also have an NBA arena they can play in while they create a dedicated arena/resort that they've been talking about for years. So Vegas is plenty set up for a NBA team whenever they want and I suspect both local officials and the BoG for the NBA is thinking much longer beyond just this current dip in foot traffic that will pass as it always does.

just a note: it sure seems like the existing NBA owners are pretty resistant to expansion and the likely dilution of all that new media money. Kind of looks like the expansion can has been kicked 4 or 5 or 6 years down the road

and while there my be an affinity for the city of Portland hosting the Blazers, there's little doubt that dollars and cash flow rule the NBA. And in those terms, there would likely be little resistance to the Blazers moving to Vegas. Dollar signs would be dancing all around owners' heads

[PDXKnight]

Really feels like the NBA is trying to see if they can come up with a convenient excuse to move the team to vegas. If we fund the arena 100 percent with tax dollars what will be next, "not a good location"?

Moda needs a revamp no doubt but 5 years ago it was considered a top 10 arena. Funny how fast the narrative can change from the league..

What's nuts to me is realistically if the Blazers left town we could be a top 20 TV market without a single pro team & that a monopoly on the local market might not be enough. Whoa.

[Tim Lehrbach]

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.

[zzaj]

Yeah, I'm not really sure what the issue from the NBA is, or from a fan perspective. When I go to a basketball game I want the arena to be smaller not bigger. I could care less about luxury bathrooms or a million different kinds of food offerings. All of those are way too expensive, anyway. The luxury suites are fine, but those could be revamped I suppose...

If there are actual, structural upgrades that need improving then fine. But I suspect this is mostly the NBA wanting a bigger arena so they can milk more money out of the price of every ticket.

The actual location of the Rose Garden makes a ton of sense, even if the area has been a dead zone since they killed the neighborhood years, and years ago. It's central and easy to get to in a city that is increasingly difficult to get anywhere during peak hours.

[Wizenheimer]

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 don't believe you can decouple cynicism about the bottom line from the NBA. The kind of ridiculous hype-machine around Yang Hansen and his hundreds of millions of potential Chinese fans is just the latest example. The NBA is just a consortium of corporations chasing maximum dollars and using their financial influence as leverage over cities is just one method for chasing those dollars

as far as the Moda Center being adequate....I've been a small potatoes commercial contractor at times and I'd be pretty confident a well maintained 30 year old commercial building is still adequate for mission, especially if the design allowed for modernization

the problem is the City owns the Arena and there is a lease agreement in place. A new owner won't have the comfort of control over his arena

I'd imagine there is all kinds of profit opportunity in new arena construction. Taxes, depreciation, residual and ancillary income, concession and parking contracts; potential partnerships with hotel(s) and shopping malls. I really don't know how many different ways there are to monetize a 1-2B construction project but I'd estimate there are a lot more than I can imagine

it will certainly be an option for the City of Portland to tell the new owner to pound sand. The city can stand on principle for sure. And by 2027 the Portland Traiblazers could be the Las Vegas Aces

[DusterBuster]

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.