The Secret Fight to Keep the Trail Blazers in Portland
While everyone is talking about NBA expansion, Portland Trail Blazers fans and local politicians are fighting to keep the NBA team in the city. It’s more serious than you know.
The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov talks to Oregonian sports columnist Bill Oram about the battle to keep the #TrailBlazers from leaving Portland. It’s an interesting story that mixes the delicate power dynamics involved when a new team owner comes in, the unwillingness of a local government to give him what he wants, and the high costs of owning a pro sports team. Oram knows more about this issue than anyone else.
On this episode of Business Decision, Mike and Bill talk about his fears that the #Blazers could go, what will keep them in Portland, how this is all happening as the #WNBA comes to the city with the Portland Fire, and his prediction for how this all ends.
#nba #sportsbusiness #portland #oregon
The Reading List
I Hope I’m Wrong But This Is Why I Fear the Trail Blazers Could Be As Good As Gone https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/02/i-hope-im-wrong-but-this-is-why-i-fear-the-trail-blazers-could-be-as-good-as-gone-bill-oram.html
Trail Blazers’ future in Portland less clear than ever as arena efforts meet resistance https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026/02/trail-blazers-future-in-portland-less-clear-than-ever-as-arena-efforts-meet-resistance-bill-oram.html
