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wrightkatu.bsky.social

@wrightkatu.bsky.social
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
NEW: Internal emails obtained by KATU show Portland Trail Blazers leaders debated whether to respond to the City of Portland's questions on key pieces of a proposed Moda Center deal, with one executive saying the city's requests felt like "a trap”. katu.com/news/investi...
katu.com
Internal emails reveal Blazers debated responding to Portland's Moda Center questions
Internal emails obtained by KATU show Trail Blazers leaders debated whether to respond to the City of Portland's questions for commitments on private investment
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
BREAKING: City sent draft term sheet today to Blazers. Here are the terms the city highlighted. Waiting on team’s response. Latest: katu.com/sports/trail-b…
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The mayor has been a vocal cheerleader of this deal as is. I interviewed him at Moda with Blazers reps to tout the proposal. Now, he publicly says the Blazers are withholding “essential details.” Reached out to the team for comment. katu.com/sports/trail...
katu.com
Silver warns Moda Center renovation talks off track, fueling Blazers future concerns
Adam Silver says Moda Center renovation talks have “gone off track,” with key issues unresolved. The $600M plan needs Portland City Council approval, raising new doubts about the Trail Bla...
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
“…The absence of essential details from Blazers is slowing progress at a moment when urgency is required. We know NBA is committed to PDX & we look forward to working with them to ensure negotiations on a renovated Moda Center and a new long-term lease happen in good faith.”
Statement from mayor reads: “We are operating on an aggressive timeline to reach a new lease, and we have been explicit with the Blazers that design information and clarity around public investment are necessary to move forward. The absence of essential details from  Blazers is slowing progress at a moment when urgency is required. We know NBA is committed to PDX & we look forward to working with them to ensure negotiations on a renovated Moda Center and a new long-term lease happen in good faith.”
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
NEW STATEMENT from mayor: “We are operating on an aggressive timeline to reach a new lease, and we have been explicit with the Blazers that design information and clarity around public investment are necessary to move forward…”
Statement from mayor reads: “We are operating on an aggressive timeline to reach a new lease, and we have been explicit with the Blazers that design information and clarity around public investment are necessary to move forward. The absence of essential details from  Blazers is slowing progress at a moment when urgency is required. We know NBA is committed to PDX & we look forward to working with them to ensure negotiations on a renovated Moda Center and a new long-term lease happen in good faith.”
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
A new state-commissioned report found most comparable NBA arena deals included private investment or long-term revenue sharing and also highlights disagreement between the state's consultant and the Trail Blazers over the best comparisons for Portland. katu.com/news/investi...
katu.com
New state report highlights divide with Blazers over comparable NBA arena deals
A new state-commissioned report found most comparable NBA arena renovation deals included significant private investment or long-term revenue sharing — unlike t
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
I appreciate your reporting —always thorough & informative. The documents I referenced were published after tentative agreement and directly address relocation during it. The language doesn’t seem ambiguous. This seems clear they can’t start until Oct ‘30… not next year to be in a new city by ‘30.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
I do not expect the team or city would negotiate through the media. The team has been pretty clear that the proposal floated by the mayor and county chair would keep them in town.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
There’s never really been much debate about whether the team was contractually obligated to play through 2030. However, the statement under 1.3 states pretty clearly they can’t even begin the relocation process with the NBA until 10/12/30.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Team spokesperson: "The renovation work we envision would position Moda Center and Portland as a premier sports and entertainment destination for the next 20 years—a win for our fans, as well as the city, county, and state." bit.ly/3R5Wl7o
bit.ly
Portland councilors eye Blazers' current lease to secure private investment
As Portland weighs a proposed $600 million public renovation of the Moda Center, some city councilors are raising a new question.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The spokesperson said it's important for the lease to allow the Blazers to be "a viable and sustainable business that drives economic activity and supports thousands of jobs." bit.ly/3R5Wl7o
bit.ly
Portland councilors eye Blazers' current lease to secure private investment
As Portland weighs a proposed $600 million public renovation of the Moda Center, some city councilors are raising a new question.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
A team spokesperson: team wants "a market-rate deal that allows a significant renovation so the arena can be home to the Trail Blazers for decades to come." Says deal needs to be done by end of year for construction to be done by 2030 bit.ly/3R5Wl7o
bit.ly
Portland councilors eye Blazers' current lease to secure private investment
As Portland weighs a proposed $600 million public renovation of the Moda Center, some city councilors are raising a new question.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Several councilors say their support for the publicly funded renovation depends on the Blazers making a private investment. They’ve honed in on language in the current agreement requiring the team to maintain the Moda Center as a "first-class" NBA arena. bit.ly/3R5Wl7o
bit.ly
Portland councilors eye Blazers' current lease to secure private investment
As Portland weighs a proposed $600 million public renovation of the Moda Center, some city councilors are raising a new question.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The debate comes as a KATU investigation found the Blazers cannot formally begin the NBA relocation process until October 2030, when the team's current bridge agreement expires. katu.com/news/investi...
katu.com
Portland councilors eye Blazers' current lease to secure private investment
As Portland weighs a proposed $600 million public renovation of the Moda Center, some city councilors are raising a new question.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
As state and local governments weigh a proposed $600 million public renovation of the Moda Center, some Portland city councilors are raising a new question: Should Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon be required to contribute under the team's existing lease? katu.com/news/investi...
katu.com
Portland councilors eye Blazers' current lease to secure private investment
As Portland weighs a proposed $600 million public renovation of the Moda Center, some city councilors are raising a new question.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The agreement also says the city can seek a court order to block any relocation. Of course, anyone can break an agreement. The lease agreement seems clear the city can deny the team permission to start NBA relocation process.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Correct - Final 4 contract is signed and not contingent upon renovations, per the city.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Blazers were always contractually obligated to play at Moda through 10/11/30. This provision states they are not able to begin relocation process before that with the NBA. Meaning, they couldn’t begin the process next year to move 10/12/30. (The team has stated it’s not looking at relocation FTR)
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
No :)
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
I’m just trying to provide facts. One councilor told me the NDAs were tied to private info on Blazers’ financials. Not exactly unique for private business dealings. I understand your position.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
The city council will make the ultimate decision, and they held a public discussion on where they stand earlier this week. There’s no deal without their vote.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
I believe the thought was it allowed the new council and owner to negotiate the long-term deal. I can’t speak for them, but the NBA didn’t make it a secret that it preferred the Allen estate sell the team sooner than later. That sale process happened when the original 1995 lease was set to expire
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Fans pay it, but his argument was the team could charge more for tickets but for the fees, so his lost revenue = team contribution. As someone else pointed out, the state doesn’t have a sales tax which theoretically means ticket prices here could also account for that.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Correct. The 1995 ground lease stated the city would take ownership of the property when it expired in 2025. City and team reached bridge agreement one year early. It eas discussed here in 2024 www.youtube.com/live/BZl0HLh...
youtube.com
Portland City Council Meeting PM Session 08/07/24
YouTube video by eGov PDX
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
One more for the deal discourse -- OKC & Thunder agreed on a 25-yr deal for new arena. Funded with penny sales tax, other public $, and $50M from owner. Team will pay $58,000 per game in rent -- increasing up to 3% per year. Includes relocation penalty. www.okc.gov/News-article...
okc.gov
OKC and Thunder approve agreements to keep the Thunder in OKC
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Council approved four agreements that will retain the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA basketball team in OKC through at least 2053.
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The city conducted a facility assessment of Moda before it took ownership and found the building needed ~$500M of work over 20 years. City says that's not all required for 'first class' arena, but some of it likely is. t.co/Re8X12h7GW
t.co
https://katu.com/news/investigations/portland-review-in-2024-detailed-505m-in-needed-moda-center-renovations-as-trai-blazers-team-ownership-dundon-asks-for-600-million-city-council-arena-cost-taxpayer...
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Here are the files for the current bridge agreement. A source involved says the city felt it was laying the groundwork for future council and ownership to negotiate long-term deal w/ protections for both sides. The deal was negotiated with Allen Estate. efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/16988...
efiles.portlandoregon.gov
Efiles - 191857 Authorize Arena Operating Lease, Exclusive Site Agreement, and amend agreements with Rip City Management, LLC and Trail Blazers, Inc. amend Contract 28356 ordinance (D/88900)
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Additionally, the bridge agreement addresses what happens with Moda if the team leaves: the team would leave "a first class Arena of its then age and condition for all its purposes." City staff says 'first class' is subject to litigation but likely not $0 efiles.portlandoregon.gov/recordhtml/1...
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
A lot is discussed about the city's decision to buy Moda for $1 in 2024, but that was set in motion in 1995. The agreements signed by the team & city in '24 addresses relocation. The team cannot pursue relocation w/ NBA through Oct. 2030 w/o city approval efiles.portlandoregon.gov/recordhtml/1...
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
... but Tom Dundon made clear he sees ticket/payroll taxes as his contribution to the project. "... we're making a pretty big investment by staying here and paying these tax rates and agreeing to these fees for dollars that go back into the building." t.co/rEAyVaUbG4
t.co
https://katu.com/news/local/trail-blazers-owner-tom-dundon-address-moda-center-renovation-funding-at-portland-metro-chamber-meeting-mayor-wilson-arena-renovations-council-plan-pay-funds-oregon
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Obviously, the deal is 20 years old. Sacramento and San Antonio are more recent examples of teams agreeing to pay rent in exchange for public investment in project. The team has not explicitly rejected rent payment or rev share... t.co/f88KXNwG9x
t.co
https://katu.com/news/investigations/portland-leaders-debate-public-investment-in-moda-center-renovation-project-oregon-portland-city-council-what-is-happening-whats-going-on-with-moda-center-tax-fund...
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wrightkatu.bsky.social @wrightkatu.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Found this interesting when looking at other deals... in '06, Orlando invested in new arena for Magic in exchange for: - Share of advertising, naming rights, luxury seat $ - $1M annual lease - Share of operating $$ of non-NBA events - City owns building t.co/ECTeX8iME8
t.co
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2006/12/23/orlando-magic-reach-fair-deal-on-arena-details/
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