They can renovate Moda if needed. Unless I am missing something, I see no reason they need to tear it down.
The city of Portland will not let the Blazers leave. The impact would be a mega hit to the city on many levels. https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2025/05/30/trail-blazers-economic-impact.html and from Google AI The Portland Trail Blazers significantly impact the Portland economy through direct spending, job creation, and tourism, contributing an estimated $600 million in annual economic output and supporting nearly 6,000 jobs. A large portion of this activity, roughly 75%, is directly linked to Trail Blazers games, with the rest stemming from other events at the Rose Quarter. Beyond the immediate economic benefits, the team fosters community engagement and pride, acting as a cultural institution for the city. Here's a more detailed breakdown: Direct Economic Impact: The Trail Blazers generate a substantial amount of revenue for the city through ticket sales, merchandise, concessions, and related spending. Job Creation: The team's operations, including games, events, and related businesses, support thousands of jobs in the area. Tourism and Hospitality: A significant portion of visitors to Trail Blazers games travel from outside the Portland metro area, boosting tourism and related industries. Community Engagement: The Trail Blazers are involved in various community initiatives, including education, youth development, and public health, further solidifying their role as a community anchor. Cultural Significance: The team's presence generates a sense of civic pride and identity, uniting the community and fostering a thriving sports culture. Rose Quarter Development: The partnership with Albina Vision Trust to redevelop the Lower Albina area, including the Moda Center, aims to create a more integrated and vibrant community space, further enhancing the economic and social impact of the Trail Blazers.
He isn't wrong. @THE HCP has said that before regarding arenas throughout the USA. That the Moda Center isn't anywhere close to the worst arena. Unless I am misremembering HCP.
Well I’ve been to Moda and Climate Pledge in the past year and it’s not even close. Maybe the NBA still has a lot of shitty arenas?
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41557829/top-nba-arenas-td-garden-intuit-dome-more We come in 18 here so maybe it’s better than I think.
Do they really care that much about Seattle? I'm not sure the NBA really cares about the PNW. OKC just won a title. So here's the question, if expansion is out and the only way to put a team in Vegas is relocation, how big of a priority is it for the NBA? Or are they satisfied with Vegas just being their playground every summer? What other teams are going to be for sale soon? Yes there are less profitable teams, but will those be available in the next ten years? Here is the ChatGPT breakdown Las Vegas is widely considered an appealing location for an NBA team for several key reasons: ️ 1. Growing Population & Market Size Rapid Growth: Las Vegas has one of the fastest-growing populations in the U.S., especially among younger demographics. Underserved Sports Market: Despite being a major city, it currently has only two major league teams (NFL Raiders and NHL Golden Knights), leaving room for more. 2. Strong Tourism & Revenue Potential High Visitor Volume: Vegas attracts over 30 million tourists annually, many of whom are eager to attend events. Entertainment Spending: Tourists often spend big on shows, gambling, and sports, boosting potential ticket and merchandise sales. ️ 3. Arena Infrastructure T-Mobile Arena: Already hosts NBA Summer League games and is NBA-ready. New Venues Coming: Billionaire investor Tim Leiweke and Oak View Group are planning a $10 billion entertainment district, including a new NBA-grade arena. 4. Corporate & Sponsorship Opportunities Casinos & Hospitality Brands: Major hotel and casino companies (e.g., MGM Resorts, Caesars) are eager to align with sports teams for branding and marketing. Naming Rights & Partnerships: Vegas offers unique partnerships across entertainment, hospitality, and tech sectors. 5. NBA Familiarity & Investment NBA Summer League Hub: Las Vegas has hosted the Summer League since 2004, helping grow its NBA credibility. G League Ignite: Based in Henderson, the Ignite is a developmental team with NBA ties. League Ties: Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly said Vegas is a “strong candidate” for expansion. 6. Gambling Normalization Legal Sports Betting: Once a deterrent, sports betting is now legal in most states, softening previous resistance to a Vegas franchise. NBA Embrace: The NBA has embraced gambling partnerships, making Vegas less taboo. 7. Star & Owner Magnet Celebrity Appeal: Vegas is a hotspot for celebrities and influencers—ideal for brand-building and attracting attention. LeBron James Interest: LeBron has publicly stated he wants to own a Vegas-based NBA team, adding major momentum and star power. 8. Media & Exposure Prime Time Friendly: West Coast location enables late-night games that still draw East Coast viewers. National Visibility: Vegas events (like Summer League and All-Star weekend) already get strong TV ratings. ✅ Summary: Las Vegas offers a rare combination of population growth, tourism, business infrastructure, and NBA familiarity, making it a top-tier candidate for NBA expansion or relocation. Here’s a head-to-head comparison of Portland vs. Las Vegas as an NBA team market, across multiple key factors: NBA Market Comparison: Portland vs. Las Vegas Category Portland Las Vegas Current NBA Team ✅ Trail Blazers (since 1970) ❌ No team yet Market Size Medium market (23rd TV market) Similar size, but booming tourism inflates reach Population Growth Slow-to-moderate Very fast-growing, esp. young adults Arena Moda Center (NBA-specific, well maintained) T-Mobile Arena (NBA-ready), new arena planned Tourism & Events Modest tourist activity Massive—over 30 million annual visitors Corporate Sponsorship Limited pool (Nike is major exception) Casinos, resorts, global hospitality brands Sports Competition Only major team in town (Blazers dominate spotlight) NFL (Raiders), NHL (Golden Knights), A’s MLB coming NBA History / Culture Deep history, passionate fans, "Rip City" culture Hosts Summer League, G League Ignite nearby Game Attendance Strong despite team performance; consistently high fan engagement Unknown for NBA regular season, but high Summer League turnout Media Rights & Exposure Local/regional appeal; nationally quiet unless successful More national visibility due to tourism & celebrity presence Ownership/Expansion Interest Longtime team, but currently in ownership limbo (estate of Paul Allen) LeBron James has expressed interest in owning Vegas team Gambling & League Trends Historically more conservative Aligns with NBA’s embrace of sports betting and global branding Summary Portland: Strengths: Loyal fanbase, historic NBA culture, no in-city competition, great arena. Weaknesses: Limited corporate base, ownership instability, not a growth market. Las Vegas: Strengths: Massive growth, huge tourism dollars, sponsor-rich environment, glamor appeal, strong NBA interest. Weaknesses: No fan loyalty yet, crowded sports market forming, untested in regular-season NBA context. Verdict: Portland is a great legacy NBA city, beloved by its fans but facing challenges in ownership and market evolution. Las Vegas is a top-tier expansion or relocation candidate, offering glitz, growth, and revenue—but still unproven in long-term support. As of now, there is no official plan or announcement to relocate the Portland Trail Blazers to Las Vegas — but let’s break down the situation realistically. Official Status: The Trail Blazers are not moving to Las Vegas. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reiterated that Portland is a valued NBA market. The team is currently owned by the estate of Paul Allen, and while a sale is expected eventually, it hasn’t happened yet. The Moda Center lease runs through 2025, with options that could extend that much longer, complicating a near-term move. But Could It Happen Eventually? Yes — under specific conditions. Here’s what would need to happen: ✅ 1. Blazers are sold to a buyer who wants to move the team. If someone like LeBron James, Tim Leiweke (Oak View Group), or a Vegas-backed group buys the team, relocation could be on the table. Paul Allen’s sister, Jody Allen, is not expected to be the long-term owner. ✅ 2. NBA expansion is delayed. The NBA is eyeing Las Vegas and Seattle as expansion cities, but if expansion stalls, Vegas might look to grab a struggling team instead. Portland is not the worst NBA market — but with inconsistent ownership and revenue, it’s vulnerable if mismanaged. ✅ 3. Stadium or financial pressures emerge. If Portland can’t modernize the Moda Center, or the team stagnates both on and off the court, investors may push for a bigger market. Reality Check: Likelihood of Blazers Moving? Scenario Likelihood (Next 5–10 Years) Blazers stay in Portland ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (80%) — Most likely outcome Vegas gets expansion team ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (75%) — NBA’s preferred method Blazers sold & relocated to Vegas ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (25%) — Possible but requires major shifts Blazers move to Seattle ⭐☆☆☆☆ (10%) — Very unlikely due to Sonics legacy and expansion plans Summary: The Blazers relocating to Las Vegas is possible but unlikely, unless: The team is sold to someone with Vegas ambitions, and NBA expansion stalls or is deprioritized. Vegas is far more likely to get an expansion franchise, not steal Portland’s.
Funny that ChatGPT just mentioned the three things that seemingly are happening... other than the buyers. We don't know anything about that. But Could It Happen Eventually? Yes — under specific conditions. Here’s what would need to happen: ✅ 1. Blazers are sold to a buyer who wants to move the team. If someone like LeBron James, Tim Leiweke (Oak View Group), or a Vegas-backed group buys the team, relocation could be on the table. Paul Allen’s sister, Jody Allen, is not expected to be the long-term owner. ✅ 2. NBA expansion is delayed. The NBA is eyeing Las Vegas and Seattle as expansion cities, but if expansion stalls, Vegas might look to grab a struggling team instead. Portland is not the worst NBA market — but with inconsistent ownership and revenue, it’s vulnerable if mismanaged. ✅ 3. Stadium or financial pressures emerge. If Portland can’t modernize the Moda Center, or the team stagnates both on and off the court, investors may push for a bigger market.
Las Vegas metro area already has 400,000 more people than Portland metro and it's growing much faster
If the city "will not let the Blazers leave" then the city will build a new arena and the NBA won't let new ownership move the team. So yeah the city's amount of dedication to keeping the Blazers makes a huge difference.
We say the City needs to keep the Blazers, but i'm not sure you all understand the direction situation financially it is there right now. The media has been talking about it a lot lately. Also, i'm not sure the climate is there for folks to get taxed more because the narrative is already that high income earners are getting taxed too much. One of the only things that would pass the smell test with folks in this climate is the jock tax route, imo. Or they can tax ticket sales to recover to try to hide it, like tariffs. The truth is we don't have anywhere near the resources Vegas does.
I'll tell you guys, in March YouGov did a poll of Portland residents and 34% said they consider themselves a fan of the Blazers. That's an awful lot of people to piss off if you are the city. Then you have to consider the state itself. I just don't think it would be popular at all to let the team go and for sure that's how any new owner trying to move the team would frame it, that the local and state government let the team go. The state currently operates with a balanced budget of 121.3B per year, that it's balanced is very impressive and means they have flexibility. The city is currently operating on a 8.6B budget that is at a 1.7% deficit which honestly is good, being within 5% of a balanced budget or surpluss is good. Especially at the state level, having just passed whatever the fuck that was about keeping the Blazers here, our state and city sharing the cost and owning a brand new arena that costs 1.5B to build makes a lot of sense. They'll have the chance to recoup cost and eventually have the stadium netting revenue for the local and state government. I think it would be incredibly unpopular not just with the Blazers fans but just the idea for the average Oregonian that we can't keep one major sports franchise here... especially one with so much history for our city and state. I guess we'll see but I think the Blazers will stay... I think after hearing what Adam Silver said, that the city and state will figure out a way to build a new arena. It makes way more sense to do that in my opinion. People thought the outrage in Seattle was bad when the Sonics left... it would be way worse here.
