Portland Trail Blazers to Attend City Council Meeting on Moda Center Renovation Funding
The NBA franchise will join a Thursday city council work session to discuss financing upgrades to the Moda Center, while seeking to resolve a lease clause that could enable a lawsuit if the team relocates.
The Portland Trail Blazers confirmed they will send representatives to a Portland City Council work session on Thursday morning to discuss financing plans for extensive renovations to the Moda Center arena. Earlier reports suggested the team might skip the meeting, but officials indicated the franchise has now committed to attend.
The discussion comes amid concerns over a lease provision that obligates the team’s management subsidiary, Rip City Management, to keep the arena in a “first-class” condition. The clause, which remains in effect until the lease expires in 2030, could give the city legal leverage if the Blazers seek to relocate.
"We need the city to take the prospect of litigation off the table by affirming the work the team has done to maintain Moda Center in a first-class condition. Removing that threat is a critical first step to unlock a freer flow of information about the building and the renovation," said Charles Boyle, the Blazers’ spokesperson.
City Councilor Steve Novick warned that relinquishing the right to sue under the provision would be unwise if the team were to move. The Blazers aim to eliminate any potential legal leverage the city might retain, arguing that the clause should not impede renovation plans or future relocation decisions.