Portland Trail Blazers call city council's proposed Moda Center term sheet a 'non-starter'

Key Points:

• The City of Portland and the Trail Blazers remain far apart on a future deal to fund the city's portion of a $600 million Moda Center renovation, with City Council President Jamie Dunphy describing the distance as "pretty significant."
• The Trail Blazers publicly criticized the city's draft term sheet as a "non-starter," citing more than 20 material departures from a previously approved legislative framework, though they declined to detail these concerns in public.
• A key dispute centers on language in the current bridge lease requiring Rip City Management to maintain the arena in "first-class" condition, with the team seeking formal acknowledgment that the arena already meets this standard to avoid potential litigation threats.
• City officials, including Mayor Keith Wilson, denied any intent to sue the team and stated they will not amend the bridge agreement language before continuing lease negotiations, emphasizing a focus on future agreements rather than revisiting past deals.
• Despite disagreements, Dunphy expressed cautious optimism about reaching an agreement, noting upcoming public testimony and a planned council vote on the term sheet in August as steps toward finalizing a long-term lease deal.