PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A coalition of Portland-area leaders are pushing officials to advance talks to upgrade the Moda Center as questions remain on whether the Trail Blazers will stay in the city.
In a letter released on Monday, the Metropolitan Mayors’ Consortium advised Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson to continue negotiating the potential renovation of the arena. The group, which represents 24 cities, argued the Moda Center’s future could have far-reaching impacts for the rest of the area.
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“The Blazers and Fire may have jerseys that read ‘Portland,’ but they’re our home teams, too,” the consortium, led by Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beatty and Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck, wrote. “When the Blazers train, they train in Tualatin. When the Fire trains, they train in Hillsboro. Players and staff don’t just live in Portland; they live in West Linn, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, and beyond. In turn, our communities come to the Moda Center to gather, cheer, celebrate, and enjoy Portland’s many hotels, bars, restaurants, and public spaces before and after events.”
The coalition sent the letter just a day before the City of Portland unveiled its first-draft term sheet for the arena…