(PORTLAND, Oreg.) — The Portland City Council passed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to establish the Oregon Arena Joint Authority during its regular City Council meeting on October 21.
On the same evening the Portland Trailblazers opened their season at the Moda Center, the Portland council took steps to keep the team in the city.
Photo Credit: portland.gov
Council President Jamie Dunphy began the discussion by explaining that this is a significant step forward.
“By creating this body alongside our state and county partners and appointing three city representatives, we are demonstrating that Portland is showing up to the table in good faith. We are doing our part to move this process forward. Our hope is of course that we have a partner on the other side of the table who is equally ready to match that commitment,” Dunphy said.
Council President Dunphy also reminded the council that they are operating on a tight timeline to protect the city’s interests, as he outlined the documents required under the term sheet passed in August.
“We need to see definitive documents, including a transparent finalized budget, clear lease terms, strong labor standards, and a robust community benefits agreement before any final action on funding is scheduled. Today’s vote keeps the momentum going and keeps us organized with our regional partners,” Dunphy said.
A major point of contention arose during the discussion of establishing the Oregon Arena Joint Authority, where an amendment to ensure accurate and independently verifiable economic impact statements for the proposed arena renovations was fiercely debated and ultimately failed, raising concerns about transparency and due diligence in large public projects.
The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to establish the Oregon Arena Joint Authority passed, despite a contentious debate and failed amendment (5 Ayes, 7 Nays) from Councilor Green and others seeking more rigorous and verifiable economic impact statements for the proposed $573M renovation.
Photo Credit: YouTube / eGov PDX
According to the city's website, this ordinance authorizes the City Administrator to sign an intergovernmental agreement, with the State of Oregon and Multnomah County to establish the Oregon Arena Joint Authority. The Joint Authority will oversee the planning, financing, development, renovation, and long-term governance of the proposed publicly funded renovations of Moda Center arena.
Establishing the Joint Authority is a requirement under Senate Bill 1501 to access State funding provided for Moda Center renovations in conjunction with a long-term lease from the Portland Trail Blazers.
The State's funding commitment remains contingent on several other actions, none of which are yet finalized. These include binding commitments of funding from both the City and the County and an agreed-upon lease requiring the Portland Trail Blazers to play in the renovated arena for a period of at least 20 years.
On August 12, 2026, the City Council approved a resolution proposing an initial draft term sheet for a new lease agreement. The City and Rip City Management have not yet agreed on the essential terms of a long-term lease. Negotiations with Rip City Management are ongoing.
OpGov.News has reached out to Rip City Management for comment.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please email me at rory.h@lead4earth.org.
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