The Portland Trail Blazers have been a franchise undergoing significant changes this summer. After the arrival of new owner Tom Dundon, several things have started to shift, including some internal practices. While these were to be expected under new management, there may be greater concerns on the horizon.
There have been several reports criticizing Tom Dundon for being a cheapskate and for his aggressive cost-cutting measures, which involved refusing to let two-way players travel with the team during playoff games and firing staff members. Although his approach to layoffs, which even extended to the broadcasting team, was concerning enough, Dundon’s stance on relocation seems to be gaining more attention.
Earlier reports indicated that the organization was exploring arenas outside Portland, primarily since the arena lease negotiation and renovations were proving far more expensive than expected. On that note, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst shared a chilling statement on Dundon’s approach to relocating the Trail Blazers.
“It’s realistic, but it’s definitely not a done deal,” Windhorst commented. “There are a couple of things you have to know. Number one, when the Allen estate sold the team, they did a very short lease. The Blazers’ lease for the land under the arena was owned by the city of Portland. They did a very short lease.”
Windhorst noted that such leases typically last between 15-20 years, with some even lasting up to 30 years. In this case, it was five years, and with no protection in place, the Blazers were in a vulnerable position.
The change in ownership is also an intriguing factor, as the Allen Foundation chose not to sell the team to someone dedicated to staying local. Instead, they sold it to Tom Dundon, who is more than willing to move things around.
“The other thing you need to know is that Tom Dundon is not interested, by his own words, in giving any money for this renovation,” he continued. “It’s a messy one, because you’ve got state officials involved, the city is involved, the city council and the mayor, the county is involved… This is not a good development if you’re a Blazers fan.”
“Tom Dundon is not someone to be trifled with. He has no problem being blunt, no problem being unpopular, and has no connection to the city of Portland. It is a recipe for relocation. It’s just not something that is going to be very clearly defined right now.”
The Trail Blazers’ owner has already demonstrated how little he cares about public opinion. Although the City of Portland, along with other public funding parties, is willing to contribute nearly $573 million to aid the Moda Center’s renovations, it falls short of the ownership’s demands, valued at roughly $600 million.
Although Dundon has justified his drastic cost-cutting measures in the past by touching on aspects of efficiency and how a similar approach worked out for his other teams, the Trail Blazers owner really seems to be pushing the envelope here.
While Windhorst’s update on the topic is concerning enough, parallel reports about Tom Dundon’s interest in buying an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas raise more flags about his intentions to relocate.
According to an article in Sports Business Journal, Dundon gave up on buying the expansion team because of the $8 billion price tag. With the Trail Blazers being valued at $4.25 billion at the time, Dundon reportedly viewed it as an investment with “better upside.”
Although Tom Dundon has spared no expense in offering the best conditions for his players, his treatment of the organization’s staff and the franchise as a whole is questionable.
Dundon’s approach reflects a sheer lack of commitment to keeping the team in Portland. After pairing this with the ongoing discussions regarding the lease renewal and the renovations, there is enough evidence to suggest that he could move the Trail Blazers to another city where it would be more financially viable for him to operate the team.
