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 […]
Moda Center
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Good Morning, News! Trump’s H-E-Double-Hockey-Stick Tariffs, Climate Change: So Hot Right Now, and Local Landlord May Need Real Job
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 […]
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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.
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 […]
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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
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 […]
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Good Morning, News: Oregonians Push Back On ICE, Trump Fires Election Commissioners, and Moda Center Handouts
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 […]
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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.
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 […]
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Good Morning, News: Much Ado About Moda, Heartbreaking Venezuela Quake, and NYC Is Freezing (Rent)
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 […]
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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.
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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Metro Chamber Wants Council to Reschedule Upcoming Meeting in Favor of $350 Ticketed Event
Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon will be a featured speaker at a Portland Metro Chamber annual meeting. City Council now faces pressure to reschedule a work session and go meet Dundon instead.
While city leaders hold a work session later this month to talk about how to renovate the sports arena where the Trail Blazers play, the team’s owner is scheduled to speak at an annual meeting held by Portland’s chamber of commerce. But the chamber wants the Council to move its public meeting to avoid the […]
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Good Morning, News! PCC President Out, Muji PDX Unionizes, Cuba Out of Oil, and Trump Looks Weak in China Visit
If you appreciate the Mercury‘s interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered! Good Morning, Portland! You’re probably still recovering from the party of the year last night at Turn! Turn! Turn! for the Mercury‘s music […]
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Good Morning, News: The Latest Moda Center Funding Fight, Trump’s Laughable Plan To Lower Gas Prices, and the Video Game You Didn’t Know You Needed
The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! Hopefully you got outside and frolicked in the sunshine […]
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Council Budget Talks Highlight Tension Over Proposed PCEF Moda Center Investment
Mayor Keith Wilson has suggested Portland’s Clean Energy Fund can spare $75 million for Moda Center upgrades, but the details are murky.
If Mayor Keith Wilson wants to allocate clean energy fund dollars to renovate the Moda Center, he’ll have to go through Portland City Council first. And it’s not clear if they’re going to let him. Earlier this year, amid a fervor to ensure Portland Trail Blazers’ new owner Tom Dundon keeps the basketball team in […]