In his own words
What to do about the Blazers' demand for a nine-figure taxpayer-funded arena makeover is on many Portlanders' minds these days. Suspicion runs high about the new owner of the team, Tom Dundon, a predatory car loan billionaire who's developed a reputation as a cheapskate about everything but players' salaries. His approach seems to work well with his major league hockey team in North Carolina, at least in terms of wins and losses. It's far from clear, however, that it's going to work in the much different world of pro basketball, or in a far-left-leaning burg like Portland.
Dudnon's been in control of the team for more than a month now, and he hasn't said much as the yakety yak about him has flowed freely. But now he's done an interview on a podcast called Game Over, where folks can judge for themselves what to make of the guy and his designs on their money. There are excerpts from the podcast all over the place today; here is good place to find some of them.
Our culture has media that used to research background and information on events that could be of interest to voters. Now they wait for press releases.
ReplyDeleteI don’t follow the Blazers as I did back in the 90s and early 2000s, but I perked up when they were purchased. I also wrote my paper in Sports Law on the Financial and community benefits of local government investment in sports infrastructure - hint: it never pencils out.
ReplyDeleteThe fact any investment will never produce the projected outcome is in line with practically every government investment in private industry. Those tax breaks for data centers? They don’t create the claimed financial benefits either, but that doesn’t stop them from being handed out like Halloween candy.
This investment needs to be done. If the Blazers move it will significantly impact the civic and cultural aspects of Portland. If the Blazers relocation isn’t the bottom I’m not sure what would be.
Are you saying we need to invest in this because it will never pencil out? I am confused.
DeleteConveniently unmentioned during this hostage negotiation is the fact both New Orleans and Memphis are both contemplating leaving town unless deals get done. THEIR leases end a year before the Blazers' deal.
ReplyDeleteI saw an ad on the Facebook this morning for an upcoming ice skating show. It's gonna be hosted in the Coliseum. Turns out the ice plant in the Moda Center has been out of commission for a few years now.
The argument that sports venues spur nearby property development falls flat when you look around the Moda Center. Just blocks away there are ground floor retail spaces on NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and NE Multnomah St that have sat vacant for well over a decade. Starbucks and even a 7 Eleven just closed nearby. I'm not even sure what is going on at the Inn at the Convention Center other than drug deals in the parking lot and what appeared to be a yard sale of stolen goods on its sidewalk this morning. At least you can get a room there for less than a meal at one of Portland's trendy restaurants. The Louisa Flowers Apartments is a publicly funded drug market with stylish, graffiti-covered plywood in lieu of windows. I'm sure more money thrown at the area will do wonders.
ReplyDeleteHe just laid off about 70 Blazer employees today. The rumor has it that he just picked the highest salaried staff as his motive.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what would result, if the area councils transferred the “save the Blazers” energy into rescuing downtown Portland.
ReplyDeleteThe best play here is for Dundon to buy the school district property and move district offices into Big Pink. It would instantly revive downtown while giving Dundon a blank slate upon which to do all kinds of development. Too bad he's broke.
DeleteActually, that makes some sense. Might be the wrong building. But, the concept would put peopling the currently empty streets.
DeleteAre you following the joy that is Danhausen and the "uncursed" Knicks?
ReplyDeleteIn my own words…”go pound sand”
ReplyDelete