Silver says Trail Blazers staying in Portland is league priority amid arena negotiations

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated on September 16 that it would be a "failure" if the Portland Trail Blazers left the city, signaling the league's priority in keeping the franchise rooted in its community as negotiations over arena renovation continue.

Speaking at a press conference following the Board of Governors meeting in New York, Silver said: "It is my hope and belief that the Portland Trail Blazers, or the Trail Blazers, can be successful in Portland, Oregon. I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland."

The Trail Blazers have played in Portland since their inception in 1970. They moved into the Moda Center in 1995, but the arena has not undergone a comprehensive renovation since its opening. Silver acknowledged the need for upgrades, stating: "We need a state-of-the-art arena. I think, by any objective measure, the current building there is in the bottom measure of any arena in the league."

Owner Tom Dundon, who purchased the team in March, has been negotiating with local officials on a $600 million renovation project, per Front Office Sports. Last month, the Portland City Council approved $120 million in funding. The state committed $365 million, and Multnomah County committed $101 million, bringing public commitments to $586 million.

Silver offered the league office's assistance to all parties. He said: "I'm offering myself and the league office to assist all parties there. But as I said, we've had a great track record in Portland, and no doubt in my mind it would be a failure if we weren't able to get to a result that makes Portland basketball, NBA and WNBA, viable for the long term." The WNBA's Portland Fire also plays at the Moda Center and would benefit from renovations.

The commissioner did not publicly detail which lease terms remain contentious or whether the $14 million gap between public commitments and the renovation budget would come from Dundon's ownership group, additional government sources, or cost reductions.