Let’s address the trail-blazing elephant in the room. The Portland Trail Blazers are up for sale after existing under the ownership of the Paul Allen estate since 1988.
The sale is going through per a request in Allen’s will to sell the sports team “at some point.” It’s rightfully caused quite a bit of commotion — especially since Nike co-founder Phil Knight, a speculated prospect who expressed acquisition interest in 2022, is no longer looking to buy.
Naturally, we’re all a little nervous about the idea of getting the Seattle Sonics treatment. So, let’s go through some important points that will help you understand the headlines you’re sure to see over the next few months.
What do you get when you buy a team?
The purchase of a team is much like buying a business. The owner, depending on how ownership is split up, has control over player + coach contracts, franchise rights, the team’s brand, any existing broadcasting or sponsorship deals, and ownership of the sports stadium if the team has it (which the Blazers don’t).
How much are the Blazers worth?
The Blazers have the 23rd highest valuation out of the NBA’s 30 teams with an estimated ~$3.6 billion. If you’re curious, Paul Allen bought the Trail Blazers for $70 million in 1988 — quite the ROI.
However, Sportico is estimating that the team will sell for $4-5 billion once all is said and done.
If the team gets bought, will they move somewhere else?
Unfortunately, this isn’t a definite “no” right now. However, there are some factors working in favor of the Blazers staying here at home.
The potential NBA expansion
The NBA has already invested billions in adding two new teams (likely in Seattle and Las Vegas) to the league within the next couple of years. Relocating the Trail Blazers would likely cannibalize the money investors expect to make in the other cities. And why move when you’ve already got something that works?
A lot of local investment has gone into the team
We don’t just mean the emotional kind. There’s the active lease on the Moda Center that runs until 2030. There’s team infrastructure like the Blazers’ training facility. There’s the ties with our new WNBA team. Not that any of these would prevent a move on their own, but they’re all things that would make the decision surprising, should it happen.
Until then, we’ll just have to wait patiently to see how this plays out, which may take months. But if the Blazers hit the road, we’ll be right there with you with a box of tissues + a hug.
