Imagine a city losing its beloved basketball team after more than five decades—a team that’s become the heart and soul of its sports identity. That’s the looming fear for Portland as Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon prepares to take the reins of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. But here’s where it gets controversial: Could Dundon’s ownership spell the end of the Blazers’ era in Portland, especially if a stadium deal doesn’t materialize? This question is keeping fans and lawmakers alike up at night.
The Trail Blazers have been a cornerstone of Portland’s culture for over 55 years, but their aging home arena, the Moda Center, is in dire need of repairs. With Dundon’s purchase of the team expected to finalize this spring, the stakes have never been higher. Oregon lawmakers are now considering a bold move: allocating up to $600 million in public funding to renovate the arena. And this is the part most people miss: Without this investment, the Blazers could follow in the footsteps of Portland’s former NBA rival, the Seattle SuperSonics, who relocated nearly two decades ago and left their city without a team.
Sports columnist Bill Oram of The Oregonian sounded the alarm in a recent piece, urging leaders to take the threat seriously. ‘I hope I’m wrong, but this is why I fear the Trail Blazers could be as good as gone,’ he wrote. His plea highlights a harsh reality: Portland, without a franchise in Major League Baseball, the NFL, or the NHL, cannot afford to lose its NBA team. Potential destinations for the Blazers, should they relocate, include cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, Louisville, and Vancouver.
Dundon’s reputation as a tough negotiator adds another layer of complexity. In Raleigh, negotiations over the Hurricanes’ arena upgrades and lease extension were notoriously grueling. Philip Isley, chairman of the Centennial Authority, described the process as ‘hard,’ admitting, ‘We cussed at each other. We called each other bad names.’ Yet, Dundon’s ability to strike deals—like the ongoing $300 million renovation of Lenovo Center—shows he’s not one to back down from a challenge.
Here’s the bold question: Is Dundon’s primary interest in the Blazers rooted in their value as a franchise, or does he see greater potential in relocating them to a more lucrative market? His reported talks to sell part of the Hurricanes to fund the Blazers’ purchase raise eyebrows. Dundon himself has openly expressed interest in bringing a Major League Baseball team to North Carolina, further fueling speculation about his long-term plans.
For Portland, the clock is ticking. The city’s leaders must decide whether to invest hundreds of millions in the Moda Center or risk losing their ‘greatest jewel.’ As Oram poignantly put it, ‘I would much rather be Chicken Little and suffer the relatively minor cranium-bonk from overreacting than watch this city be crushed under the weight of another town stealing our greatest jewel.’
What do you think? Is Portland doing enough to keep the Blazers, or is relocation inevitable? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
