The owner of Portland’s major league men’s soccer team says the Trail Blazers “can’t” leave the city.

Timbers’ owner Merritt Paulson made the comments as city leaders continue to negotiate with the Trail Blazers’ new owner over costly renovations proposed for the Moda Center, amid rampant speculation the team might try to leave the Rose City without a favorable deal. Tuesday marked the first time the Major League Soccer owner has spoken publicly about the Blazers’ situation.

“They are massively critical to the culture and the economic vitality of the city of Portland,” Paulson said of the NBA team.

In his brief remarks on the ongoing conflict between city leaders and Portland’s longest-running professional sports team, Paulson didn’t commit to a certain position. Instead, he spoke about a team owner’s responsibility to invest in the city it operates in. However, he also said city leaders should be alarmed that companies find Portland a hard city to do business in.

The comments come as Blazers’ owner Tom Dundon is seeking around $600 million in public money to maintain and upgrade the city-owned Moda Center. The city is seeking assurance Dundon won’t try to move the team, among other concessions.

“When you buy a team, you’re not just investing in a league, you’re not just investing in a franchise, you’re investing in the city,” Paulson told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday. “You’re investing in a community, and that’s essential.”

Paulson moved to Portland in 2007 after purchasing the Timbers. The team plays at Providence Park, also a city-owned property. The Timbers joined MLS in 2011, and the following year Paulson helped start a pro women’s team, the Portland Thorns.

After it was revealed in 2022 that a Thorns’ coach abused players — and executives had failed to respond — Paulson sold the Thorns to Raj Sports. Siblings Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal run the sports investment company, and also own the WNBA’s Portland Fire. Raj Sports was an unsuccessful bidder for the Blazers last year.

In his comments Tuesday, Paulson said $145 million in private investments has flowed to Providence Park, but there’s still more that needs to be done to the more than century-old facility.

Still, Paulson stopped short of endorsing using taxpayer money for the Moda Center, but said that this should catch the attention of local leaders.

“This needs to be a wake-up call for the county and the city and the state to make this region a region that’s attractive to invest in,” he said. “A region where businesses — small, medium, and the very few large businesses we even have here — can succeed and do well.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/18/portland-oregon-moda-center-sports-merritt-paulson/