The Portland Trail Blazers’ inept billionaire owner Paul Allen admitted last week that he needs help regarding the Rose City’s once believed-in and prized franchise.
As if stockpiling mediocre talent with huge contracts on a last place team with the second worst attendance in the league through 28 games wasn’t enough indication, Allen realized he is set to lose $100 million in the next three years as the Blazers’ owner.
This prompted the 18-year owner to seek financial assistance from the public or be forced to sell, relocate the team or negotiate a deal involving the lease of the Blazers’ current home, the Rose Garden, which Allen previously sold and now receives no revenue from suites, club seats, courtside seats, game concessions or parking.
Mayor Tom Potter made it clear that he wanted the Blazers to remain in Portland but was not willing to ignore the city’s other financial needs (see: Portland Public Schools) to keep them there.
In other words, the city of Portland stills holds room in its heart for the Blazers, just not for you, Mr. Allen.
Let’s be honest. Allen and the Blazers don’t deserve any of the public’s hard-earned money at this point. The Blazers are in last place in the Western Conference and probably will compete for the league’s worst record by season’s end. The Blazers recently lost to a team that owns that dubious distinction right now, the Charlotte Bobcats. This Portland team is not worth the price of admission, and the fans are showing it.
Attendance, historically pretty good for the basketball-loving city, was, through 28 games this season, only higher than Atlanta – a city that should probably just stick to baseball (though its attendance still falls well below league average there, too).
Portland home games this season routinely fill less than half of the Rose Garden’s 19,980 seats.
There appears no better time to institute new leadership for the Blazers should Allen decide to sell the team. He’s simply run his course in Portland.
Allen has done some good things for the organization, such as pave the way for the construction of the Rose Garden arena. He has also witnessed some of the organization’s best times in the 1990s, part of 21 consecutive playoff appearances.
He has also been fairly cognizant of the fans’ wishes, which resulted in an attempted image and character face-lift tied to the exits of Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire and Bonzi Wells.
But, right now, the fans want a winning team and one that provides hope for future success – something Allen has failed to put together in the last five years. He made the mess, now it’s time for someone else to come in and attempt to clean it up.
So don’t be surprised if Allen’s pleas to the city are ignored because Portland and the Blazers don’t really need him. They need an owner who can restore some pride back in the Blazers.

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