Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, center left, looks to his computer during a Portland City Council meeting, in which the final vote on a “term sheet” is slated to happen, at Portland City Hall in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 12, 2026. The term sheet lays the framework for Moda Center lease negotiations with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Eli Imadali / OPB
After months of back and forth, representatives from the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to discuss the terms of negotiating a 20-year lease agreement with the city of Portland. Both officials from the city and team confirmed to OPB that they plan to meet Monday.
This news comes one day after city councilors adopted their framework for negotiations. That meeting was the culmination of months of meetings at City Hall. The Blazers have largely been absent from those talks aside from appearing at a council meeting last month.
The Blazers have previously said they were concerned the city would use information the team shared against them in future litigation. But the city said they have no plans to sue.
While the city has remained in frequent communication with the Blazers, the team has largely resisted discussing details of the lease with the city until now. Last week also the team brought an arena architect to meet with city administrators.
The city has agreed to spend nearly $400 million to renovate the Moda Center as part of the lease, as long as the team promises to remain in Portland. Councilors have also asked the city’s negotiators to press for additional private investment from the Blazers as part of the deal, a request the team has previously called a “nonstarter.”
