Last-Minute Amendments Could Determine Who Profits From Moda Center Renovation

Oregon lawmakers debate public funding for Trail Blazers arena overhaul as team's new owner seeks favorable deal.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Oregon Legislature is considering a $365 million public subsidy to renovate the Moda Center, home of the Portland Trail Blazers. While leading Democrats say the funding will keep the team in Portland, critics warn it's an unprecedented giveaway of taxpayer dollars without private investment. Two key amendments could determine whether Oregonians will share in the profits from the arena overhaul with the Blazers' new owner, Texas billionaire Tom Dundon.

Why it matters

The total taxpayer bill for the Moda Center renovation is expected to top $600 million, with Multnomah County and the City of Portland contributing the remainder. Critics argue the deal heavily favors Dundon's ownership group, which would not pay anything towards the renovations. The debate highlights growing concerns about the public financing of professional sports arenas and whether taxpayers are getting a fair return on their investment.

The details

Senate Bill 1501 moved from the Senate Rules Committee last week after an amendment that addressed some concerns about the Blazers' commitment to staying in Portland. However, an amendment from state Sen. Khanh Pham to require the Blazers' ownership to contribute to the renovation costs and share arena revenues with the state was not considered. The fate of these two amendments, which will likely be decided in the Joint Ways and Means Committee, will significantly impact whether Oregonians see a return on the public investment.

  • The Senate Rules Committee passed the bill last week.
  • The bill is now in the hands of the Joint Ways and Means Committee, whose decisions are expected over the next 48 hours.

The players

Tom Dundon

The Texas subprime auto loan billionaire who is the presumptive new owner of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Khanh Pham

A Democratic state senator who proposed an amendment to require the Blazers' ownership to contribute to the renovation costs and share arena revenues with the state.

Rob Wagner

The Democratic state Senate president who introduced amendments that included protections such as a 20-year lease requirement and financial penalties if the team relocates, but also created a 'sports and entertainment district' that critics say benefits the team's ownership.

Jeff Golden

The Democratic state senator who chairs the Joint Subcommittee on Capital Construction, which could discuss Pham's amendment.

Natalie King

The senior vice president of communications for the Portland Trail Blazers.

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What they’re saying

“The amendment that was sold as protecting taxpayers quietly turned this from an arena deal into a district deal. It created a 'sports and entertainment district' that didn't exist in the original bill, expanded the tax capture to cover the entire district, and exempted the Blazers from contributing. None of that was discussed publicly.”

— Edan Krolewicz, Critic of the bill and organizer of the 'Rip City Not Ripoff' opposition campaign (Willamette Week)

“We have an opportunity to build a future district that brings together business and community, and recognizes that sustained reinvestment in Lower Albina, including the Rose Quarter and Moda Center, can be foundational to revitalizing Portland's central city. That vision is centered around lifting up the economic and generational well-being of our neighbors, and is anchored in the renovation of Moda Center, which is one of the largest cultural and community institutions in the city and state.”

— Natalie King, Trail Blazers vice president of communications (Willamette Week)

What’s next

The fate of the amendments proposed by Sen. Khanh Pham and the details of the 'sports and entertainment district' will likely be determined in the Joint Ways and Means Committee over the next 48 hours.

The takeaway

The debate over public financing for the Moda Center renovation highlights the ongoing tensions between professional sports teams seeking favorable deals and local communities demanding a fair return on taxpayer investments. Lawmakers must carefully scrutinize the fine print to ensure Oregonians benefit from this major public expenditure.