The Moda Center remains top of mind as we approach the City's August 12th vote on a term sheet, but how can we reach a fair deal for Portlanders? What are the potential costs and benefits of publicly financing stadiums? How does the draft Moda terms compare to deals in other cities?
This is why I'm excited to announce an incredibly timely conversation on the Moda Center renovation with two people who know more about sports stadium deals than most: sports economists, editors, and professors of economics J.C. Bradbury (Kennesaw State University) and Victor Matheson (Holy Cross).I'll also be joined by esteemed co-host Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo, so this will be a conversation you won't want to miss. Since the very beginning, we've been asking for a public process and thorough financial and economic data.
We'll dive into the history of public financing of sports venues, impacts of professional sports franchises on local economies, and what it means for public funds to be used for the Moda Center renovation.