FILE - The Moda Center in Portland, Ore., Aug. 19, 2025.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
Members of Oregon’s NBA team gathered with the media on Monday to talk hoops as the team’s 57th season gets underway next month — but Trail Blazers fans are already anxious about more than the team’s playoff chances.
New owner Tom Dundon has an unspoken threat that he may try to move the Trail Blazers out of Portland in 2030. That’s the backdrop for negotiations between the Dundon-led ownership group and the city of Portland over a new lease and renovations for the Moda Center, the city-owned arena that’s home to the Trail Blazers and the WNBA’s Portland Fire.
State and local lawmakers have already agreed to nearly $600 million in public funds for renovations to one of Oregon’s most famous buildings. The 12-person Portland City Council has tentatively approved its $120 million share of that money. However, it’s part of a term sheet that would require, among other things, that the Blazers allow arena workers to unionize and make an annually escalating payment in lieu of taxes. Blazers officials have signaled that they oppose those elements.
President of Business Operations Dewayne Hankins speaks at a press conference during the Portland Trail Blazers media day at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 28, 2026.
Eli Imadali / OPB
“We’re committed to a deal that works for our ownership,” President of Business Operations Dewayne Hankins told reporters Monday during the team’s preseason media day at the Moda Center. “We’re committed to a deal that works for our public partners. We’re doing everything we can to ensure that the Trail Blazers stay right here.”
However, fears that Dundon will attempt to move the Trail Blazers to another city were stoked earlier this summer when talks between Dundon and Portland appeared contentious.
In June, Dundon spoke at a meeting of more than 700 people hosted by the Portland Metro Chamber and made his case that Portland City Council should spend to renovate the arena because he’s already made his investment by purchasing the team. Across the street, a small group of protesters, including three city councilors, argued that Dundon should foot the bill to upgrade the Moda Center.
In July, after the city approved a draft term sheet, an anonymous Blazers official told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the term sheet was a non-starter and that “it’s not like we lose money moving the team.”
Since then, however, talks have mostly stayed out of the public discourse.
“We’ve secured that landmark commitment at the state level,” Hankins said of Moda Center funding. “We’re working hard to get the city and the county deal done as well. And these conversations continue to happen behind closed doors, and it’s most productive for us when they stay that way.”
Hankins assured reporters the team is “committed to Portland” but didn’t offer specific details about where Moda Center discussions stand, even when asked about sticking points from earlier in the summer.
One of the points of contention was a provision in the current lease around litigation. It essentially says that the Blazers are tasked with maintaining an arena that meets certain standards. If the Blazers move cities, and it’s found the arena doesn’t meet those standards, the city can sue.
The team indicated earlier this summer that Dundon’s ownership group wanted all threats of litigation off the table, including the provisions around arena standards.
“The mayor in a City Council meeting this summer said they won’t use that against us,” Hankins said in response to a question about the provision only kicking in if the team leaves Portland.
“I understand that,” he continued. “But then there’s the whole aspect of unless we move, right? And so, it creates a difficult situation to have that kind of pressure regardless. Of course we’re doing everything we can to keep the team here, but having this be used as a weapon obviously by a City Council member was challenging, and we’re continuing to work through it.”
Hankins also cast doubt on Portland’s economy and the challenges of running a profitable business in the state. But he spoke highly of the city’s fans.
“I’ve never questioned this fan base,” Hankins said. “This summer, more than ever, people showed up for Rip City through a lot of noise and a lot of uncertainty. Our renewal rate finished at 94%. Ticket revenues up 22% year over year.”
The Trail Blazers’ first home game of the regular season is Wednesday, Oct. 21, against the Phoenix Suns.
