Blazers fans can breathe a sigh of relief as recent news broke that the Portland City Council had agreed to a lease extension for the team to remain at the Moda Center. That provides the confirmed stability for the NBA side to remain in their home through at least 2030.
There is also an option for the Blazers to extend the stay for a further five years through 2035, which is great for the continuity of the franchise, who want the team to stay in Portland. The news came with the City Council putting their stamp of approval on a couple of ordinances to officially settle this issue.
The Blazers had their current lease set to expire next year, but now this has been settled, the focus can return to the on-court action ahead of the new season. At top online bookmakers where you can find the latest football tips and predictions for the new European soccer seasons alongside futures for NBA betting, the Trailblazers are big outsiders to pull out a 2024/25 NBA Championship title. But at least fans know they are sticking in Portland.
Key Points of the Ordinances
When it came down to the vote, it was nothing more than a formality, as everyone was on board with keeping the Blazers a Portland team. The finance is a “bridge agreement” which the City Council themselves had worked on.
Here are the key points:
- The Blazers will remain at the Moda Center for the specified time of the extension
- The City of Portland assume ownership of the venue for $1
- Shared capital responsibility for any routine repairs and upgrades to the Area
- The Blazers are responsible for administering the arena
- Discussions about area and community renovations will take place
Future Planning
The obvious advantage for the Blazers is that they can focus on future planning. Not having to put roots and stress about looking for another location in the Portland area, which could have proved difficult or upset the apple cart completely by moving out of town altogether, brings the future into play.
Chauncy Billups has a tough offseason of work. (Screenshot from Portland Trail Blazers Video)
With the stay at the Moda Center locked down, it provides a big boost for the franchise. The Blazers are responsible for the administration of the venue, which means that they can plan for bigger and better fan experiences.
There is the potential there for upgrades to be done to the Moda Center and the surrounding area. So the overall bigger picture with this potentially ten-year extension, is that the Blazers could see longer-term development of the area that will further benefit the team and the fans.
As part of the new extension, there will at least be a discussion about renovating the Lower Alberta neighborhood.
Players’ Peace of Mind
The franchise staying where it is will have more appeal to players for transfer purposes as well. Having a potential relocation hovering above their heads would not have made the Blazers a particularly attractive option for anyone eying up a big move to Portland.
Given that Portland returned a poor 21-61 record last season, finishing bottom of the Western Conference and ending the season with a five-match losing slump, regeneration of the squad through attracting new talent is going to be crucial for them to work on.
Boost to the Economy
Having the Trailblazers in town is also a massive boon for the local economy. They have had a massive impact since arriving in 1995, contributing millions to the local surroundings, including major boosts in hospitality and merchandising.
Had they needed to go, that would have left a sizable hole in the local economy, and one of the crucial areas as to why the City Council were happy to work something out to keep the Blazers there.
OregonReigns
Lakeside, Oregon
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