Rip City Archives - Portland Mercury

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.

by Courtney Vaughn July 17, 2026 2:08 pmJuly 17, 2026 5:33 pm

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 […]

A collage of images featuring Damian Lillard posed with a basketball on his shoulder, the exterior of the Moda Center building, a protest outside the Moda Center, and an image of Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon featured on the right

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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.

by Courtney Vaughn July 3, 2026 10:30 amJuly 3, 2026 10:58 pm

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 […]