There are as many as 10 teams that will apply by the end of today (Aug15) to host either the 2017 or 2018 NBA All-Star games, and most will do it quietly. For major markets that have hosted it before, it’s part of the process.
But in medium to small markets trying to impress their fan base they will play with the big boys, you make an announcement of the bid. That happened already in Charlotte.
Now it’s happened in Portland.
The Trail Blazers have applied to host one of the two up coming All-Star Games, reports Chris Haynes and CSNNW.com.“The city is fully capable of hosting an All-Star game,” Trail Blazers President and CEO Chris McGowan said, “the region is fully capable and we, obviously, have an arena and a campus and the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum and a Convention Center and eventually a convention center hotel all in very close proximity to each other.”
“The only hurdle would be, I’d say, competition amongst other teams that are bidding for this,” said McGowan. “We’ve heard there are anywhere from six to 10 other franchises bidding. Getting the NBA open-minded to coming to Portland — they’ve been on record saying that they would be willing to look at an All-Star Weekend in Portland.”
I had heard for years that the one thing really holding Portland back was not enough quality hotel rooms in the heart of the city. The All-Star Game is a destination event that doesn’t just draw players and media, it becomes a huge draw of fans that fill up a city for parties, with most of those people not getting into one of the three days of actual in-arena hoops events. Having enough good hotel rooms in a 30-mile radius doesn’t cut it.
The above mentioned convention center hotel would certainly be a boost. If it’s enough of a boost in what is a crowded bid field remains to be seen.
Personally, Portland is one of my favorite food and beer cities in the nation. I’m good with this, might even need to spend a few extra days there to eat at Pok Pok a couple more times.