“Are you going to keep the Blazers in Portland per the wish of my brother?” “No.” *click* I think that’s how that conversation goes. It seems you’re under the impression that they can’t reject offers for some reason. Also, if corporate interest was *that* interested, they’d still be interested in a well established team that is already turning a profit. Frankly, I think *most* corporate interest would rather leave the team as is than uproot them. Its a ton of fucking work to move a team. The path of least resistance is often the path chosen. Not to mention the amount of lawyers and other beurocracy involved. Also, if you think the state of Oregon would just let the team go, you’d be mistaken to believe so. That’s a massive loss in jobs for the economy - and ya know, tax payers would be furious given they help subsidize the entire area on the basis that it provided more jobs. Id bet there are more offers to keep them where they are than to move them.
I don't know if anyone has suggested this yet, starting a GoFundMe for about $1.3 or $1.4 billion https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtba...ub-now-worth-at-least-1-billion/#fe3e9f571558
Thats why I specifically mentioned AEG or Oak View in Seattle. Both have inventives for moving the team and have existing relationships with McGowan. They give him a bonus and a job after the sale. Hopefully Allen asked they keep the team in Portland but everything can be changed. I know nothing about his sister or her wishes. Its her team now for the time being and McGowan is doing the scouting.
Well of course they could lie like they did in Seattle, after a year or so. That is why there needs to be a group of local investors vs just one buyer.
As far as I know, he didn’t lie. He said he would keep the team with a new arena. Seattle refused to build an nba quality arena, so he left.
Lets list a few options: 1. Corporate shills: AEG/Oak View 2. Hollywood: Oprah/Geffen 3. Kobe and friends 4. Tech Bros 5. Local portland group or individual (Boyle, Knight) 6. Some wealthy fam u never heard of (Pritzkers, crazy rich asians) Who else? God this is depressing
I didn’t know McGowan was the new owner of the team. I was under the impression he answers to Paul Allen’s sister and is operating under the set of circumstances established the first time Paul fought cancer. I also find it hard to believe that someone who fought tooth and nail to keep the team in Portland would not put a disclaimer in his will as it pertains to moving the team. Would be a massive oversight of willful negligence. And once again, the state and city would put up a massive legal battle if that were to occur. It would hurt the economy massively with no justification.
