# @theoregonian on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbeqp9vjvKw
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68524149-theoregonian-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c02d79bcf5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-01T03:30:25.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The Oregonian (@theoregonian) — https://gondola.cc/theoregonian

## Caption

The Trail Blazers spared no time Thursday morning telling Portland City Council that the question of whether the Moda Center meets a “first-class” standard was stalling negotiations.

“The first-class standard has been wielded as a weapon chilling our negotiations,” said Blazers president Dewayne Hankins. “To be clear, the first-class standard is a relic language from a 30-year-old lease.”

Hankins was referring to a provision in the team’s existing lease making Rip City Management responsible for the center’s maintenance, including keeping it “first-class.” That means the city can sue the team for the value of a renovation if the Blazers choose to leave Portland after the lease ends in 2030.

The Blazers said the threat of a lawsuit needs to be taken off the table for negotiations to continue. But for the city, the first-class provision is among its few bargaining chips in the negotiations. The work session is ongoing, though Blazers representatives were only present for the first hour.

For the first time publicly, the Blazers were in the room for a City Council work session meant to discuss the arena’s estimated $600 million renovation.

Follow the link in our bio to read more. 

#ripcity #portland #nba

Video courtesy of the Portland City Council

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## Tags

ripcity, nba, portland

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