Present position:WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per report >>Text
WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per report
Credit Card Protection Policies77Have read
About WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per report Planned renovation...
WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per report
Planned renovations to the Moda Center cited by the league as a key issue
By Jack Maloney • 3 min readThe WNBA's plans to bring an expansion team to Portland have collapsed, according to The Oregonian, with the league citing planned renovations to the Moda Center as a key issues. Furthermore, there was uncertainty regarding a practice facility for the team, which would have begun play in 2025.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a letter to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden explaining the decision, and noting that the league still hopes to one day bring an expansion team to Portland. Engelbert's letter, in full:
Dear Senator Wyden
I was able to experience Oregon's passionate basketball community first-hand at that incredibly enthusiastic gathering of women's sports advocates that you pulled together last February at The Sports Bra in Portland. It became clear that Portland is an ideal location for a WNBA franchise. Since then, the league and a prospective local ownership group have been working with city and local officials to resolve issues related to the Moda Center.
However, in light of the potential renovation of the Moda Center currently anticipated to take place during consecutive summers, consideration of a WNBA franchise for Portland will be deferred for now until the timing and scope of the arena improvements are settled.
Thanks for the work you and Oregonians have done so far. When the time is right, we look forward to pursuing prospects for bringing the WNBA to Portland.
Per The Oregonian, the Portland Trail Blazers and owner Jody Allen were caught off guard by Engelbert's letter and had been willing to put off renovations to allow the prospective WNBA franchise to play there for multiple seasons before beginning the work. To that point, the Blazers' general plan to renovate Moda Center have been known for some time; if it was truly a major sticking point, how did the Blazers and Portland get this far down the line in the first place?
Portland entrepreneur Kirk Brown was leading the push to bring a team to the city but did not respond to requests for comment from The Oregonian. His current and potential future involvement is not known at this time. Early in October multiple reports suggested that a new team coming to Portland was "close to a done deal." Wyden's office issued a statement saying that he was "confident the scoreboard will end up with Portland winning that franchise."
Whether the two parties could eventually get negotiations back on track for the team, which will have an expansion fee of $50 million, remains to be seen. If not, the league will have to reopen their search.
Tags:
Reprinted :Welcome friends to share to the network, but please explain the source of the article“Credit Card Protection Policies”。http://aqntz.feilaokan.com/n9vlx30.html
Related articles
Fever vs. Sun odds, prediction, time: Experts reveal top Caitlin Clark prop picks for WNBA debut
WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per reportFever vs. Sun odds, prediction, time: Experts reveal top Caitlin Clark prop picks for WNBA debut...
Read more
England vs Australia: Liam Livingstone smashes hosts to victory in second T20
WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per reportLivingstone downs Australia as England level T20 seriesThis video can not be playedTo play this vide...
Read more
NHL trade grades: Hurricanes push chips all
WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per reportNHL trade grades: Hurricanes push chips all-in with Jake Guentzel; Penguins take first step toward r...
Read more
Top Article
- Caitlin Clark takes hard foul: WNBA hands out Flagrant 1 after reviewing cheap shot against Clark
- Suns waive Nassir Little and EJ Liddell to create open roster spot ahead of season, per report
- Where's Jason Kelce? What to expect when former Eagles great returns to Philadelphia with ESPN
- Solheim Cup 2024: US lead Europe 6
- Former WNBA All
- MLB trade grades: Why Dodgers, Cardinals both get an 'A' for three
Latest News
WNBA Power Rankings: Liberty ride seven
Ranking all 68 traded future NBA first
Solheim Cup 2024: US lead Europe 6
Donald Glover Thinks Star Wars Has Become a Little Too Serious, Wants to Make Lando Fun
WNBA Power Rankings: Napheesa Collier leading red
NHL coaching carousel: Kraken hire former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma