If one needs a current example of how "loyalty" is not a variable that scores with today's sport owners: The Bears are leaving Chicago! The Chicago , George Halas creation, are leaving for Indianapolis.
I agree totally with you. With that being said, I have not heard much about what will happen to the Moda Center if the Blazers go elsewhere. With competition from a few new concert venues being built, it needs more of a purpose than the occasional large concert. What are the future plans for updating it? It is a large facility in the middle of the indoor east side. It would be tragic if it was just allowed to die a slow, ugly death.
It's my understanding that Dundon's demanding upgrades over and above the cost of maintenance. It's really hard to find information on exactly what these upgrades would be.
I believe he also wants an open concourse so fans can see the game while they visit concession stands. Of course, they can see the game from the concourse now on screens.
That is exactly the question we should be asking….Ok, so the Blazers are gone …What do we do with the MODA Center???….remember it is sitting next to the Memorial Collisum …I guess we ask Mitch Green and his friends what their plan is…come on Portland, pay up and move on.
Hear hear. Trying to extract "community benefits" is liable to get bogged down in arguing over details Dundon won't accede to, in any case. The city should take a clear stand against letting a billionaire team owner exploit the loyalties of Portland taxpayers for personal enrichment. Maybe cities could find a creative way of promoting sports outside the big leagues, which are all about money.
That said, at least Green is pushing back against this deal. Clark and Zimmerman are on board with it.
Another mega-rich man saying, "let them eat cake". I am tired of being held hostage for money from the sports cabal. If one wants to buy a team, the owner(s) can find their own financing to fund an arena. I don't care if the Blazer's leave. I don't care if Portland never gets a baseball team and arena. Can the city instead pay attention to the infrastructure that is in such need of improvement?
C'mon, Allan. Go full socialista and just ask that the peacocks do what every other socialist tyrant does: steal the damn team. Nationalize (OK, cityize) the losers and then drive them into the ground, waving happy hotdogs as they head for the cellar.
This is just another in a long line of bone-headed decisions by the city. Surely they realized when they took ownership of the building that ongoing maintenance would be part of it? They’ve backed themselves (and the taxpayers, per usual) into a corner with their unending ineptitude and inability to budget for things that actually matter.
One wonders how many millions of unaccounted for dollars went down a black hole of fraud and mismanagement over the last 5 years or so? But we don’t have enough money for police, fire, parks, roads, schools, or an arena for our biggest sports team.
I don’t buy Portland’s reluctance to invest in the Moda Center. Compared to other deals around the country, the proposed public funding package for the Moda Center seems reasonable. Recent examples of major public investment in professional sports facilities include approximately $900 million for Oklahoma City’s new Thunder arena, approximately $550 million for renovations to Memphis’ FedExForum, up to $600 million authorized by Maryland for improvements to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, approximately $500 million for capital improvements at the Milwaukee Brewers’ American Family Field, and approximately $600 million proposed for Portland’s Moda Center renovation. An important distinction is that each of these facilities is publicly owned, so governments are investing in public assets they own. Utah’s Delta Center is different: although the renovation totals about $525 million, the arena is privately owned by Smith Entertainment Group, which is contributing significant private funding, resulting in a substantially smaller public investment. If we compare Milwaukee’s investment to Portland’s, Portland’s metropolitan area is substantially larger—approximately 2.5 million residents versus 1.6 million—with a regional economy roughly 70–80% larger, suggesting Portland has a comparatively broader tax base from which to finance a publicly owned arena.
Portland should negotiate the best deal possible on behalf of taxpayers, but I can also understand why the Trail Blazers’ ownership is holding firm. Given the level of public investment that other cities have made in publicly owned sports facilities, it is reasonable for the team to seek a package that is broadly comparable to those negotiated elsewhere in the United States.
Good points, all pointing to the wisdom of further assessing the facts.
Dundon has a documented iconoclastic past. Quick tough decisions. Resistant to public opinion. Doesn’t care about profiting from the disreputable subprime business. No demonstrated ethical values. Or evident loyalty, except to the dollar. A foundation of moving on when the next whisper of profit wafts his way. So, does his claim of $600 million public dowry really merit this shotgun marriage?
But suppose I’m wrong. Why not first offer him the chance to lay out his views of fairness and reality to the council and public? Or to agree to a binding plebiscite on fair terms for public support so that he walks away with a future here, having public support? Why not offer Mr. Dundon the chance to prove himself and win over a reluctant public?
But if that isn’t possible, let’s wish him well and send him on his way. A house guest of leaving dirty sheets won’t be welcome everywhere.
Bravo, Allan!
If one needs a current example of how "loyalty" is not a variable that scores with today's sport owners: The Bears are leaving Chicago! The Chicago , George Halas creation, are leaving for Indianapolis.
Long live the Greenbay Packers.
Say NO Portland
( I am not related to Mitch)
I agree totally with you. With that being said, I have not heard much about what will happen to the Moda Center if the Blazers go elsewhere. With competition from a few new concert venues being built, it needs more of a purpose than the occasional large concert. What are the future plans for updating it? It is a large facility in the middle of the indoor east side. It would be tragic if it was just allowed to die a slow, ugly death.
My concern as well, the city owns the facility, part of ownership of any building is upkeep.
It's my understanding that Dundon's demanding upgrades over and above the cost of maintenance. It's really hard to find information on exactly what these upgrades would be.
I have heard it is luxury suites, private dining upgrades, items beyond the traditional HVAC updates etc.
I believe he also wants an open concourse so fans can see the game while they visit concession stands. Of course, they can see the game from the concourse now on screens.
That is exactly the question we should be asking….Ok, so the Blazers are gone …What do we do with the MODA Center???….remember it is sitting next to the Memorial Collisum …I guess we ask Mitch Green and his friends what their plan is…come on Portland, pay up and move on.
"die a slow, ugle death" like the rest of Portland ?
Hear hear. Trying to extract "community benefits" is liable to get bogged down in arguing over details Dundon won't accede to, in any case. The city should take a clear stand against letting a billionaire team owner exploit the loyalties of Portland taxpayers for personal enrichment. Maybe cities could find a creative way of promoting sports outside the big leagues, which are all about money.
That said, at least Green is pushing back against this deal. Clark and Zimmerman are on board with it.
Another mega-rich man saying, "let them eat cake". I am tired of being held hostage for money from the sports cabal. If one wants to buy a team, the owner(s) can find their own financing to fund an arena. I don't care if the Blazer's leave. I don't care if Portland never gets a baseball team and arena. Can the city instead pay attention to the infrastructure that is in such need of improvement?
Don
C'mon, Allan. Go full socialista and just ask that the peacocks do what every other socialist tyrant does: steal the damn team. Nationalize (OK, cityize) the losers and then drive them into the ground, waving happy hotdogs as they head for the cellar.
This is just another in a long line of bone-headed decisions by the city. Surely they realized when they took ownership of the building that ongoing maintenance would be part of it? They’ve backed themselves (and the taxpayers, per usual) into a corner with their unending ineptitude and inability to budget for things that actually matter.
One wonders how many millions of unaccounted for dollars went down a black hole of fraud and mismanagement over the last 5 years or so? But we don’t have enough money for police, fire, parks, roads, schools, or an arena for our biggest sports team.
I don’t buy Portland’s reluctance to invest in the Moda Center. Compared to other deals around the country, the proposed public funding package for the Moda Center seems reasonable. Recent examples of major public investment in professional sports facilities include approximately $900 million for Oklahoma City’s new Thunder arena, approximately $550 million for renovations to Memphis’ FedExForum, up to $600 million authorized by Maryland for improvements to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, approximately $500 million for capital improvements at the Milwaukee Brewers’ American Family Field, and approximately $600 million proposed for Portland’s Moda Center renovation. An important distinction is that each of these facilities is publicly owned, so governments are investing in public assets they own. Utah’s Delta Center is different: although the renovation totals about $525 million, the arena is privately owned by Smith Entertainment Group, which is contributing significant private funding, resulting in a substantially smaller public investment. If we compare Milwaukee’s investment to Portland’s, Portland’s metropolitan area is substantially larger—approximately 2.5 million residents versus 1.6 million—with a regional economy roughly 70–80% larger, suggesting Portland has a comparatively broader tax base from which to finance a publicly owned arena.
Portland should negotiate the best deal possible on behalf of taxpayers, but I can also understand why the Trail Blazers’ ownership is holding firm. Given the level of public investment that other cities have made in publicly owned sports facilities, it is reasonable for the team to seek a package that is broadly comparable to those negotiated elsewhere in the United States.
Thank you!
Good points, all pointing to the wisdom of further assessing the facts.
Dundon has a documented iconoclastic past. Quick tough decisions. Resistant to public opinion. Doesn’t care about profiting from the disreputable subprime business. No demonstrated ethical values. Or evident loyalty, except to the dollar. A foundation of moving on when the next whisper of profit wafts his way. So, does his claim of $600 million public dowry really merit this shotgun marriage?
But suppose I’m wrong. Why not first offer him the chance to lay out his views of fairness and reality to the council and public? Or to agree to a binding plebiscite on fair terms for public support so that he walks away with a future here, having public support? Why not offer Mr. Dundon the chance to prove himself and win over a reluctant public?
But if that isn’t possible, let’s wish him well and send him on his way. A house guest of leaving dirty sheets won’t be welcome everywhere.
Roger Sanders
As always, Allan, thank you for your spot on analysis.