PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Dozens of Portland residents testified before city council Wednesday, one day before elected leaders are set to draft terms for a potential long-term lease with the Trail Blazers as the team’s future in the city remains uncertain.
City council hit capacity as fans, residents, business owners, and labor leaders urged councilors to do what it takes to keep the team. The testimony came as councilors are tasked with approving a lease term sheet for city negotiators to take to the team.
The Blazers are asking for a total of $573 million in public dollars to bring the city-owned Moda Center up to NBA standards.
On Thursday, City Council and the Multnomah County Board will outline what to put on the table. Councilors listened to hours of testimony on the eve of that decision.
Speakers were divided. Some said losing the Blazers would deal an irreparable blow to the local economy. Others pointed to recent cuts to TriMet and ongoing budget pressures, arguing there are bigger priorities for millions of public dollars.
Jim Etzel, CEO of Sport Oregon, said the stakes are long-term.
“If the Blazers leave we will not get another major league team in Portland in the next 30 years. Maybe ever,” Etzel said.
Winta Yohannes, executive director of the Albina Vision Trust, said, “Having a moth-balled arena in no way advances the Albina vision.”
Portland Fire President Claire Hamill, backed by WNBA fans, said arena renovations are necessary beyond the men’s team.
“The current locker rooms, or as we call them dressing rooms, training and medical facilities, player amenities are not suitable for a second franchise, let alone a women’s team,” Hamill said.
Team owner Tom Dundon was a repeated focus of testimony. Some speakers accused Dundon of using the team’s impending lease as leverage against the city amid its budget crisis.
One speaker said the team “whinged about high taxes while asking Portland taxpayers for $900 million.”
Last week, team lawyers- in their first public appearance- said negotiations have become adversarial.
City council meets again Thursday to discuss a vote on the term sheet scheduled for next week. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners votes on its contribution Thursday.
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