“City’s Money, Team’s Future: A Closer Look at the Moda Center Deal”

The city owns a 30‑year‑old arena that the Portland Trail Blazers call home. It is in need of a makeover to keep up with NBA standards. The mayor says the renovation will be energy‑efficient, but that is a side note to the main goal: upgrading the venue.

The plan would use $75 million from a clean‑energy tax fund that was set up in 2018. People who voted for the fund expected it to help non‑profits with energy projects and training, not to cover a sports arena. The council has already said this use is wrong.

The fund’s purpose has shifted in practice. It now collects more than $200 million a year from a 1 % sales tax on big retailers. Instead of giving grants for renewable energy, the money goes into general city needs—transportation, parks and other departments. This means it no longer matches what voters originally wanted.

Portland is facing a $67 million budget gap next year. The city sees the clean‑energy tax as a lifeline to keep buses running and add police officers. The mayor wants the money to keep the Trail Blazers in town for at least 20 years, hoping the new owner will stay.

The city can’t raise new taxes easily because of an affordability crisis. A separate parks levy would bring in less than half the money from the clean‑energy tax. The sales tax is built into everyday prices, so people feel less resistance to it.

Two years ago, a call was made for a new ballot measure to clarify the fund’s purpose. This could either expand what it can pay for or cap its spending and send the rest to the city’s general fund. No new vote has happened yet, even though Portland’s situation is very different from 2018.

If the city doesn’t act, the new owner of the Trail Blazers—Tom Dundon—might look elsewhere. Other cities are willing to spend huge sums for sports teams. The original arena was built thanks to a generous donation from Paul Allen, and that kind of generosity is rare.

The loss of the Trail Blazers would hurt more than just sports fans. It would affect jobs, local pride and Portland’s reputation as a major city. City leaders need to decide quickly whether to use the clean‑energy fund for the arena or keep it for its original purpose.

The decision will shape Portland’s future for years to come.