Portland Residents Should Judge Blazer Execs As Future Partners (Anna Griffin- The O)

ABM · Mar 26, 2010

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oreg...f/2010/03/portland_residents_should_judg.html

Sports fans aren't the only ones who should keep a close eye on the weird personnel rumblings coming out of the Portland Trail Blazers.

For the past few years, Rip City has enjoyed an interlude of stable leadership, smart choices and plenty of wins. But the bad old days may be here again, at least judging by the ham-handed manner in which Blazers owner Paul Allen and his crew handled the firing of team vice president Tom Penn and the future of Kevin Pritchard, the general manager generally credited with the team's resurrection.

Distant observers, people who don't live and die with the state of Brandon Roy's hamstring, might just think this is another silly sports soap opera. But if you pay taxes in Portland, you and Allen may soon be business partners on a non-basketball venture.

The Blazers are frontrunners to redevelop the Rose Quarter, that underused, vastly important hub of land housing the Rose Garden, Memorial Coliseum and a whole lot of untapped potential. This spring, three finalists will submit to the city proposals showing what they want to do and the estimated cost. Allen and the Blazers have a natural financial advantage because of his billions. But whoever wins will expect some public help.

The Blazers are floating something called "JumpTown," an entertainment, hotel and office complex. Done right, it could trigger a rebirth along the central eastside – that largely industrial stretch near the Willamette River that already offers potential tenants easy access to two freeways and will soon have a streetcar from downtown.

Done wrong, it could be the team's worst move since drafting Sam Bowie. Fake. Clumsy. A sanitized, soulless version of Portland, without any personality or quirkiness.

At the moment, Blazers executives are saying all the right things. They're talking about offering live music year-round and a potential eastside home for the Portland Farmers Market. The glossy handouts on JumpTown show a renovated, cozier Memorial Coliseum, open-to-the-public fitness and aquatic centers, a Nike museum, a more prominent veterans memorial and a covered marketplace. Blazers bosses say they understand cookie-cutter will not fly here.

"We know it can't just be for people visiting from out of town," Sarah Mensah, the Blazers' chief marketing officer, said during a recent show-and-tell. "The only way this works is if Portland embraces it, if we make it something Portland will embrace."

I believe Mensah and other Blazers executives in Portland understand this city's love of locally grown food and businesses, and our prickly attitude toward big-box stores and chains. The real question is whether the big boss up in Seattle gets it, or can stand to stay out of the way of those who do.

Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, is a serious businessman. He put up more than $250 million to build the Rose Garden. In just a few recent years, his Blazers' brain trust has turned a laughingstock into one of the league's most promising young franchises.

At the same time, that same brain trust put the Rose Garden into bankruptcy a few years ago and seemed ready to sell or even move the team. The same folks threatened to sue other teams last year if they signed Darius Miles. Now, in the middle of a remarkably successful season, they've put the future of the current squad's architect in doubt with little explanation beyond an awkward press conference and a three-paragraph written statement by Allen himself.

The recent turmoil isn't a surprise if you look at the record, nor it is a reason to deny the Blazers a Rose Quarter redevelopment shot.

It is, however, always good to know the folks you're dealing with before you leap into business with them. In this case, taxpayers should expect the unexpected.
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Sug · Mar 26, 2010

Re: Portland Residents Should Judge Blazer Execs As Future Partners (Anna Griffin- Th

They should look at what PA is doing in Seattle.

ABM · Mar 26, 2010

Re: Portland Residents Should Judge Blazer Execs As Future Partners (Anna Griffin- Th

Sug said: ↑

They should look at what PA is doing in Seattle.
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I've heard he's done some rather extensive (and muchos costly) renovations along the waterfront up there.

<-=*PdX*=-> · Mar 26, 2010

Re: Portland Residents Should Judge Blazer Execs As Future Partners (Anna Griffin- Th

This is more pr0of to combat the people who believe Allen is trying to move the team to Seattle. Why would he invest money in an entertainment district located near his stadium if he were to move the team (this would not be entirely 100% public, Allen will have to foot part of the bill). He is looking at the long term success of the Blazers in Portland and of the long term success of the Rose Quarter. If you own an arena you want people there year round. I think Jumptown is going to be a great asset to this city and will not only make game nights better, but make that a "go to" place on the regular.

jlprk · Mar 27, 2010

Re: Portland Residents Should Judge Blazer Execs As Future Partners (Anna Griffin- Th

Paul Allen is the best owner, and Anne Griffin is the most hackneyed writer. She just repeats the same old garbage she read elsewhere.

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Portland Residents Should Judge Blazer Execs As Future Partners (Anna Griffin- The O)

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Portland Residents Should Judge Blazer Execs As Future Partners (Anna Griffin- The O)

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ABM Happily Married In Music City, USA!

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