Tom Dundon was part of a public push for a $600 million renovation of the Moda Center on Wednesday. Portland leaders used the Portland Metro Chamber's annual meeting to press the case, even as city money and public priorities came under strain.
The proposal calls for about $120 million in city funding. Keith Wilson said Portland must move faster if it wants to stay competitive for major events and economic opportunities, and he pointed to the NBA All-Star Game as the kind of draw the renovated arena could attract.
Keith Wilson Puts Pace First
Wilson said the city needs to move more quickly to secure funding for the project. He also said the arena could help Portland land the NBA All-Star Game, which he described as half a billion dollars for one week and 7,000 room nights in a city with 10,000 rooms.
Tom Dundon spoke at the event with Metro Council President Andrew Hoan. The program also included Senate President Rob Wagner, Sen. Kate Lieber, Wilson and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, turning the chamber meeting into a direct public case for the renovation.
Public Money Draws Pushback
Outside the meeting, several community groups protested the proposed public investment. Demonstrators accused local leaders of negotiating behind closed doors and using taxpayer money to satisfy Dundon's demands for arena improvements.
Angelita Morillo raised the broader budget fight in sharper terms. “We have a lot of public resources that need fixing. We don't have enough funding for schools. We are facing some of the hottest summers and some of the most extreme winters of all time,” she said outside the meeting. Jordan Lewis said there needs to be a very clear nexus with climate change and climate resiliency before any PCEF money goes toward the renovation.
Trail Blazers Stay In Focus
The renovation fight is tied to whether the Portland Trail Blazers remain in Portland, which is why supporters framed the project as an economic-development move and critics treated it as a public-spending test. Lieber warned that losing the Portland Trail Blazers would bring devastating economic consequences, while Wilson argued Portland cannot wait if it wants to stay competitive.
The City of Portland recently launched a survey and held pop-up meetings with councilors on the plans. The funding structure is still the part readers should watch most closely, because the public share has been put at about $120 million and the arena push has not yet produced a final decision.
