I think I have the entire file corpus here as a zip. drive.google.com/file/d/12tSL...

Traveling for the next few days, but all of this information just dropped and there is so much information about the entire Moda process none of us have heard about including Project Mt.Hood details, the early promises made, etc internet do your thing portlandor.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/(...

Portland councilmember Steve Novick said Blazers owner Tom Dundon should agree to pay rent to convince holdouts to fund his arena, an interesting response to constituents saying "We don't want to do this even if pollsplained at that it's a good idea."

Why won’t the team release the actual numbers? Their current lease requires them to keep the arena “first-class” at THEIR expense. An itemized budget would sort every line into “necessary” vs “upgrade.” The “necessary” column IS the bill they already owe. The plans are evidence. Thats why.

Portland isn't divided over the Blazers. Portland has been divided by a negotiating strategy that needs the mayor, the council, Salem, and the fans fighting each other instead of negotiating together. That ends today 🧵 edankrolewicz.substack.com/p/the-moda-d...

Insane. The Blazers, to OPB: we can’t show the city final renderings until the city commits to a financing plan. $600M first. THEN we’ll tell you what it buys. Even Mayor Wilson now admits: “We don’t yet have all the information we’ll need to negotiate successfully.” Here’s what comes next 👇

Editorial boards have an obligation to promote sound evidence-based policy advice, not advocate for your personal preferences.

Simply irresponsible advocacy from an editorial board. There is no reasonable policy case for devoting $600 million of taxpayer money to underwrite the luxury pursuit of a private business. None.

For my LinkedIn ppl: help our business community and city councilors understand that what’s best for Portland is doing this right! Like, share, etc. www.linkedin.com/posts/edankr...

Today the Oregonian editorial board said the city should charge market rent, take naming rights, and that Dundon is bringing nothing. A former Blazers executive agrees. This was never the fringe position. It was always the reasonable one. They just caught up. www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026...

I've been seeing some questions about the current Moda bridge lease that runs through 2030. You can now download and view a folder of the 2024 lease agreement documents at the link below:

Unfortunately, politicians and sports broadcasters keep convincing gullible citizens that stadium deals are economic drivers for the region. We keep getting scammed. www.currentaffairs.org/news/taxpaye...

Also: "The agreement doesn’t prohibit the Blazers from leaving Portland at the end of 2030. But it could come with a cost: The proposal requires that the team return all the fees and taxes recouped from the city’s spectator venues fund back to the city if the team leaves in 2030."

I wonder what City Councilors feel about this? Btw the Blazers can’t leave for any reason (even if they break the lease) until 2030 as @wrightkatu.bsky.social pointed out. Surely we have enough time to do proper diligence on a $1B deal by then?

How much is keeping the Blazers worth to you? Keeping Portland’s arena sound and safe costs about $164M over 20 years, pay-as-you-go. The current deal commits more than six times that. That gap is the "Keep the Blazers" premium. www.ripcitynotripoff.com/opportunity-...

Tell me more about how we need to sign over nearly a billion dollars without a fight again? Or how negotiation is irresponsible?

OK babes, I'm currently reviewing this contract for free for y'all, here we go: "But this was signed with the previous ownership--" BOOM! SUCCESSORS CLAUSE!

The City has way more leverage given this now-public information. They should be thoughtful and keep negotiating in good faith toward a successful deal, but this materially changes their bargaining position, at least as understood by the public.

I want to hear the positions of the Portland Metro Chamber and Tom Dundon on the Moda, as part of doing my homework to prepare. (I want to hear from everyone: PCEF advocates, Blazers fans, IATSE members, etc. & most of all, D2 constituents.) Having said that: I'm not paying $350 to get lobbied.

According to the current lease, whatever today’s NBA standard requires, Tom Dundon is contractually bound to pay for it himself. The “first-class” upgrades the public is being asked to fund for ~$600M are, by the contract’s own words, his obligation.

omg one year guaranteed for the new coach? Tom Dundon not beating the charges

Billionaire Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon, who under the plan would pay $0 toward arena renovations to the public's $600m, retorted, "it feels like we’re making a pretty big investment by staying here and paying these tax rates."

We will be saved by journalists and contracts lawyers.

Oak View? Which produces about four times the concert revenue at Climate Pledge as RCM does at Moda? Don't tempt this town with a good time: data.pollstar.com/Chart/2022/0...

I doubt this or anything will quiet the "they're leaving" crowd, but all you can do is provide information

HOLY SHIT. Shout out to @wrightkatu.bsky.social for digging this up. The Blazers literally CANNOT MOVE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE until 2030. There is literally ZERO rush to sign a deal. Let's put Tom Dundon on a 4-year City option, that way Tom can feel that competitive burn he always talks about.

Well well well

He lied. He didn't mischaracterize the letter, he lied. He deliberately, knowingly lied in an effort to influence against the ripcitynotripoff website. Unacceptable behavior in a public official and I belive it's unacceptable to try to couch what he did in softer terms.

Portland has promised $3.91B in retirement and disability benefits to its police and firefighters and has saved almost none of it. Instead, the bill lands on your property taxes, a little more every year. What does it costs you, and how it could be fixed? www.portlandciviclab.org/deep-dives/f...

It blows my mind how many people fall for the "but the City owns it" trope in stadium debates. This isn't a mean landlord extorting a tenant over the condition of an apartment. Public ownership is a legal arrangement intended for the benefit of the team-tenant.

People who say “Portland is a joke” while living in Portland: we need the housing. I’ll help you pack.

Is the Moda Center Renovation a Good Public Investment? #economics #portland buff.ly/dvVLRMY

The mayor lobbed insults not just at councilors, but at one of the most comprehensive & influential sources of info on the upcoming Moda Ctr deal. He called the Blazers fan an "opportunist" but said the billionaire demanding a publicly-funded $600M arena makeover seems "fair, firm," & "friendly."

New Deep Dive on Lloyd Center. We want to hear your thoughts! www.portlandciviclab.org/deep-dives/l...

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson had critiques and a sharp tongue in a Tuesday newsletter that took jabs at city councilors as well as a data analyst who’s become one of the most influential sources of information about the city’s upcoming Moda Center lease contract. What the mayor didn’t have? Accuracy.

First impression of new Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori: like him a lot. Immediately gives off sincere vibes, handled the question about his contract as well as anyone could, was humble, shared credit, and was confident about his value and approach.

@councilormorillo.bsky.social "A lot of this discussion is that the building is not at all in first-class condition right now, so I don't really understand how they're not in violation of that, right now. Do they owe us a bunch of money, right now?" www.youtube.com/live/GF-Hf0N...

Dundon continues to fail, because there is no compelling case to make for what is indefensible public policy. The Blazers probably won't leave, because there's nowhere better to go. And even if the team leaves, Portland will continue to be awesome and be richer.

Transparency & accountability matter. www.portlandmercury.com/news/in-late...

I respect colleagues who are asking hard questions and demanding transparency. ✊🏾 Protecting public money isn't being difficult...it's literally our job. If we're not willing to ask uncomfortable questions when taxpayer dollars are on the line, who will?

There is absolutely no risk of lost tax revenue and jobs, because sports venues are well known not to generate them.

Dead.

Hey Portland! Want to know what’s going on in your city? We’ve created dashboard mapping the Rose City’s biggest questions. Check it out here: www.portlandciviclab.org/dashboard

The second installment of my video shorts series on the economics of stadiums is now live. buff.ly/ynGpr1U

A Council work session on the Moda Center later this month coincides with the Portland Metro Chamber's big-ticket annual meeting. But Metro Chamber CEO wants councilors to hear the Blazers' owner speak at their event, so he's asked council leadership to accommodate and reschedule the public meeting.

The two cities in the US that matter: Portland and New York City

Super impressed by @councilorkanal.bsky.social on KATU talking about Moda. This is what good leadership looks like. youtu.be/IrStxLy2M5Y

The first installment, “The Grift That Keeps on Giving,” is available now as a free sample. Future chapters will be made available to FoS subscribers as they’re finished, and published as a zine/minibook when the whole project is complete sometime in 2027.

I hope you'll join me today to share your thoughts on the Moda Center. District 4 is hosting two pop ups (we'll have water + popsicles available): 12:00 - 1:30 pm at Sellwood Park 3:00 - 4:30 pm at Tom McCall Waterfront Park Additional event details here: www.portland.gov/council/moda...