PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Mid-question, Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said, “Uh oh,” during new Timbers head coach Marti Cifuentes’ introductory press conference on Tuesday.
He knew what was coming next as the question pertained to the Portland Trail Blazers and their ongoing negotiations with the city about the Moda Center.
Immediately following the question, the first thing out of Paulson’s mouth was, “Yeah, I have a lot of thoughts.”
Paulson has stood by this summer like many watching negotiations play out in public —sometimes bitterly — between the city and the new owner of the Portland Trail Blazers, Tom Dundon. However, unlike many, he has a unique vantage point as one of four people in Portland who own a professional sports franchise, along with the Bhathal siblings and Dundon.
“First of all, the Blazers can’t move. They are massively critical to the culture and the economic vitality of the city of Portland, end-stop. Period,” said Paulson as the first topic of the matter he addressed.
He continued to talk about buying a team and his perspective on what owning a franchise means.
“You’re not just investing in a league, you’re not just investing in a franchise, you’re investing in the city. You’re investing in a community, and that’s essential. Look, I’m local. In a perfect world, you live where you own a team, in my opinion. It doesn’t always need to be that way. My kids were born and bred here. They’re native Oregonians. I moved here in 2007. I felt that was important. Everybody doesn’t need to do that,” said Paulson.
He then turned his attention towards the city, adding that the Timbers play in a 100-year-old stadium that the team has invested $145 million in private money into for renovations.
“I’m a believer in Portland long term,” said Paulson. “I continue to be a believer in Portland long term, but this needs to be a wake-up call for the county, the city, the state to make this region a region that’s attractive to invest in and a region where businesses, small, medium, and the very few large businesses we even have here that can succeed and do well.”
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