Multnomah County Commissioners Approve $101 Million Handout to Corporate Sports Arena Renovation Plan
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In a move prioritizing corporate interests over community needs, the Multnomah County Board voted 4-1 to allocate up to $101 million in public funds toward the $600 million demanded for the Moda Center overhaul, pending further negotiations with the city and the Trail Blazers franchise.
On Thursday, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a term-sheet resolution that would funnel up to $101 million of public money into the proposed renovation of the Moda Center, the arena primarily benefiting the billionaire-owned Portland Trail Blazers. The measure passed 4-1 at a special meeting, despite commissioners failing to clarify how this massive corporate subsidy will be structured or how it will serve the broader public good.
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson justified the vote as a signal to the NBA and its board of governors that the county is eager to keep the team in Portland—regardless of the cost to taxpayers. This $101 million giveaway is part of a staggering $600 million public funding package the Trail Blazers are seeking, while the state has already committed $365 million, but only if the county and the City of Portland agree to shoulder their respective portions.
Now, with the county’s commitment in place, the project awaits another $120 million from the city, whose council is scheduled to vote on its term sheet on August 12. Both the county and city votes are merely preliminary steps, paving the way for closed-door negotiations among the county, city, and the Trail Blazers’ corporate representatives before a final decision is rubber-stamped in December.
According to local reporting, the county’s term sheet includes up to $101 million for renovations and ongoing capital expenses, an offset payment to cover county debt, and a seat on the joint authority overseeing the project. However, not all these provisions are guaranteed to appear in the final agreement, leaving the public with little transparency or assurance that their money will be spent in their interest.