NBA commish ‘would see it as a failure’ if Trail Blazers left Portland

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday he hopes and believes an arena agreement will be reached that will ensure the Trail Blazers remain in Portland.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sep 15, 2026, 5:28 PM

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Portland Trail Blazers cheerleaders celebrate a victory over the Golden State Warriors at Moda Center on Oct. 24, 2025. (Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

(Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday he hopes and believes an arena agreement will be reached that will ensure the Trail Blazers remain in Portland.

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New Blazers owner Tom Dundon has previously said he would commit to a 20-year lease that would keep the team in Portland if the state, city and county agree to fund the renovation of the Moda Center, the oldest arena in the NBA that hasn’t been upgraded.

“I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland,” Silver said at a news conference after the league’s two-day Board of Governors meeting in New York. “I’ve spent a lot of time in that community over the years. They’ve shown amazing support for the Trail Blazers. They’re some of our best fans around the league.

“At the same time — now I speak for our WNBA team in the market as well — we need a state-of-the-art arena. I think by any objective measure now, the current building there is in the bottom measure of any arena in the league.”

The state already has pledged $365 million toward the deal, provided Portland contributes $120 million and Multnomah County also provides funds. Negotiations have become contentious and Silver said he hoped “that we can lower the temperature honestly a bit.”

Seattle Sports staff made edits to this post.

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