With nearly $600 million in public funding on the table to improve the Moda Center, Portland Trail Blazers president Dewayne Hankins struck a conciliatory tone on Tuesday per Front Office Sports.
Addressing reporters at the team’s media day, Hankins declared his organization ready to do what it takes to stay in the city’s 31-year-old arena.
“What I will say is this: We are committed to Portland,” Hankins said.
Since Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon’s group was approved in March as the Blazers’ new owners, the franchise’s decision-makers and government officials have been on different pages with regard to funding the Moda Center’s impending renovations.
In June, per FOS, Dundon attended a Portland Chamber of Commerce event and declared his team would not help pay for renovations — suggesting they already pay their share in taxes.
The state of Oregon, Multnomah County and the city of Portland have approved $586 million for Moda Center renovations, Oregon’s share ($365 million) comes attached to a December 2026 deadline.
“We are committed to a deal that works for our ownership,” Hankins said. “We are committed to a deal that works for our public partners. We are doing everything we can to ensure the Trail Blazers are staying right here.”
