Government leaders from Portland’s suburbs have entered the debate surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers and whether to use public money to fund Moda Center renovations, according to OPB.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, the Metropolitan Mayors’ Consortium called on leaders to ensure the Trail Blazers remain in Portland as they participate in arena renovation negotiations, OPB reported. The consortium consists of 24 mayors from cities around the metro area, including Beaverton, Oregon City, Troutdale and Portland, among others.
OPB included a portion of the letter in its report:
“The Blazers and Fire may have jerseys that read ‘Portland,’ but they’re our home teams, too. We share a regional economy, a workforce, and destination status. Our economic decisions affect one another. …
“To those still weighing funding decisions, we would ask that you continue to ask hard questions and negotiate professionally while acknowledging the deep mark your decisions will make on your neighbors, as well as the overwhelming commitment already made by the surrounding region.”
The Trail Blazers and the City of Portland are currently negotiating the terms of a funding agreement for Moda Center renovations that would secure approximately $120 million of funding from the City. That investment is required to secure $365 million committed by the State of Oregon and about another $100 million from Multnomah County, adding up to a total of about $600 million in public money.
On Thursday, the day after the Metropolitan Mayors’ Consortium sent the letter, a coalition of local businesses launched a campaign to also emphasize the importance of the Trail Blazers remaining in Portland. The group, branded as “We Are Rip City,” came out in support of the planned Moda Center renovation, urging city council to approve the funding agreement and pledge to contribute local public funding for the project. The coalition also launched a website, including a petition, on Thursday to support the initiative.
The coalition includes a long list of member organizations across multiple industries including local restaurants, real estate companies, business and trade groups, and the WNBA franchise Portland Fire, along with the team’s ownership group, RAJ Sports.
The letter from suburban leaders and the launch of the coalition weren’t the only developments in a busy week regarding the Moda Center funding debate. The flurry of activity began on Tuesday when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said during a press conference that negotiations between the Trail Blazers and local government for a deal to renovate the Moda Center seemed “to have gone off track,” turning up the temperature of the situation.
The activity, at least this week, culminated on Thursday when the City of Portland sent a proposal to the Trail Blazers detailing requirements for Portland’s participation in the deal for Moda Center renovations, pushing the negotiation process forward. Details of the initial draft term sheet released by KATU News’ Wright Gazaway, can be viewed here.
The City is set to vote on a more formal term sheet on Aug. 12.