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 Policies441Have 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/yt8xi30.html
Related articles
NHL Power Rankings: Auston Matthews lifts Maple Leafs into top 10 with scoring barrage
WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per reportNHL Power Rankings: Auston Matthews lifts Maple Leafs into top 10 with scoring barrage Matthe...
Read more
Nicolas Cage to star as legendary NFL coach John Madden in upcoming unique biopic
WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per reportNicolas Cage to star as legendary NFL coach John Madden in upcoming unique biopic Madden serv...
Read more
Tua Tagovailoa concussion: Why former Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill could be an option for Miami
WNBA expansion: Plans to bring team to Portland have collapsed, per reportTua Tagovailoa concussion: Why former Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill could be an option for Miami...
Read more
Top Article
- Toronto reportedly awarded WNBA franchise, will begin play in 2026
- Texas A&M legend calls out Deion Sanders’ son for being a poor teammate
- Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards honor three
- Florida deputy who was once paralyzed walks into his retirement party
- Phoenix Mercury unveil $100 million practice facility with two courts honoring Diana Taurasi
- Solheim Cup 2024: US lead Europe 6
Latest News
WNBA free agency: Former MVP Tina Charles signs with Dream in one of offseason's biggest surprises
NFL's new dynamic kickoff is still a great unknown, but expected to stay as is for 2024 season
Man City hearing: Premier League 115 charges case to begin on Monday
Cowboys' Mike McCarthy on keys to 2024 season: 'Chinese bamboo tree' and committing to the run
2024 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge: Schedule, start time, events, participants for 3
Week 1 NFL picks, predictions, best bets from Vegas expert: This 3