Mayor and City Councilors Applaud Advancement of Senate Bill 1501

Mayor Keith Wilson and City Councilors Candace Avalos, Olivia Clark, Jamie Dunphy, Mitch Green, Sameer Kanal, Angelita Morillo, Steven Novick, Elana Pirtle‑Guiney, Dan Ryan, Loretta Smith, and Eric Zimmerman issued the following joint statement applauding the advancement of Senate Bill 1501.

The City of Portland, including the Mayor's Office and members of City Council, applauds the Senate Committee on Rules for passage of SB 1501-3 and emphasizes the essential role of state partnership in modernizing Oregon's largest arena and keeping the Trail Blazers in Portland. Renovating the Moda Center is bigger than basketball. The Trail Blazers and the Moda Center are one of our region's economic engines, and the Moda Center remains the state's largest gathering place, drawing visitors from every corner of Oregon and bringing people from across the country to our state.

Modernizing this City-owned facility will help ensure the Blazers and the new WNBA Portland Fire continue to call Portland home, while allowing our region to compete for major concerts, shows, and events that currently skip over Oregon. Renovating the Moda Center will generate urgently needed, good-paying construction jobs at a moment when our economy needs a boost.

Committee passage of SB 1501 today is just one step. We urge all state legislators to lean in on this multi-jurisdictional, public-private partnership. Following full passage, we can begin the next phase of work: negotiating the details of a long-term agreement between the City, the State, the Trail Blazers, and our regional partners to ensure strong community benefits, good permanent jobs, sustainable operations, and a clear path forward. Together, we are committed to delivering an investment that strengthens Portland and Oregon's economy, preserves a shared cultural home, attracts world-class events, and keeps the Trail Blazers in Portland for decades to come.

Learn more about the Moda Center.