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Moda Center
Posted inSports

Portland Fire Fans Say Moda Center Kicked Them Out For Anti-Transphobia Shirt

A July 31 match against Indiana Fever sparked a pre-game rally with protesters. Ticket holders say venue security asked them to leave for refusing to change shirts.
Avatar photo by Stephanie Kaloi

The Portland Fire’s July 31 game against the Indiana Fever was already couched in controversy before it even began. In the week or so before the game, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham gained national attention for transphobic comments she made during an interview with ESPN.  When asked about the nickname “MAGA Barbie” given to her […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning News: (Business Edition) Portland Is So Back. Public Moda Center Dollars. Fossil Fuel Deals. Smoke Clearing Out.

Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! The smoke appears to be moving to a secret third location today, meaning Portland’s air quality is comparatively pretty good on the […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Police Funding Initiative Falls Short, America’s Global AI Blunder, and Drought Led a European City to Blow Up a Riverbed

Avatar photo by Courtney Vaughn

Good morning, Portland! Let’s all try to stay safe, avoid breathing too much polluted air, and look out for each other. Today’s forecast is hot and toxic. There’s a heat advisory in effect now until Thursday night, with a high of 94 degrees and unhealthy air blanketing the region. IN LOCAL NEWS:  • A ballot […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: WNBA Portland Fire, New Oregon Forest Fires, and This Weekend’s World Naked Bike Ride Promises to Be Fire 🔥

Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! It’s staying hot today with highs of 84, but it’ll cool off for the next few days over the weekend. That’s the […]

Posted inOpinion

Opinion: Portland’s New Government Is Being Stress‑Tested By the $600 Million Moda Center Deal

Avatar photo by Tiffany Koyama Lane

We are in the midst of one of the largest public‑private negotiations in Portland’s history: a $600 million package of public funding is being proposed to renovate the Moda Center, a city-owned asset and home to the Trail Blazers. This moment is a major test of Portland’s newly overhauled government: our expanded 12‑member City Council […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News! Trump’s H-E-Double-Hockey-Stick Tariffs, Climate Change: So Hot Right Now, and Local Landlord May Need Real Job

Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! It’s looking to be a hot one today with highs of 96 and a 35 percent chance of rain if these weather […]

Posted inNews

City Sends First Draft Moda Lease Terms To Blazers, To Surprise of Council

Some councilors are frustrated over a process they say has excluded them and backed the city into a financial corner that weakens negotiating power.
Avatar photo by Courtney Vaughn

Updated: 4:48 pm July 17 The city of Portland delivered the first draft of a term sheet to the Trail Blazers management on Thursday, July 16, setting the city one step closer to a long-term lease agreement with the team for the Moda Center. No terms have been finalized, and the Council is in disagreement […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Another Man Dies After ICE Encounter, NBA Commissioner Warns Moda Center Talks Are Off Track, and New York Halts New Data Centers

Avatar photo by Courtney Vaughn

If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Oregonians Push Back On ICE, Trump Fires Election Commissioners, and Moda Center Handouts

Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good Morning, Portland! It looks like we have a sunny weekend ahead of us with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s. Enjoy! Let’s […]

Posted inNews

Moneyball: The Moda Center Controversy Explained

The city of Portland now owns the Moda Center, making us the Blazers’ landlord. With renovations needed and a cheapskate team owner, city officials must calculate the cost of civic pride.
Avatar photo by Courtney Vaughn

The Portland Trail Blazers fought their way to the 2026 NBA playoffs, but now, their toughest opponents may be in City Hall.  The team’s majority owner, Tom Dundon, is trying to iron out a deal with the city for a major, state-of-the-art renovation of the Moda Center that could cost more than $600 million. Recently […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Much Ado About Moda, Heartbreaking Venezuela Quake, and NYC Is Freezing (Rent)

Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good Morning, Portland! Well, here comes the rain again. We can expect five days of overcast, wet weather, which might be a good break from […]

Posted inNews

Highlights of the Big Ticket Metro Chamber Event? Maybe the Catering. 

Energy inside Moda was sparse as Tom Dundon addressed the local business community. Outside, Portlanders were riled up.
Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

It’s unclear if anyone who purchased a $350 ticket to this year’s chamber of commerce meeting is feeling buyer’s remorse, but if they expected anything more than a pep rally, sans pep, they certainly could be. The Portland Metro Chamber held its annual meeting at the Moda Center on Wednesday, a fundraiser for the local […]

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