The Trail Blazers have "featured a dizzying array of six team websites" in the last eight years, but by their Nov. 2 home-opener, the portals "will be whittled to one, trailblazers.com," according to Allan Brettman of the Portland OREGONIAN. The team's sole website, which "already features an imprint of change, will include the services offered previously on the other sites.” Changing the team’s web presence was "one of the changes" Blazers President & CEO Chris McGowan targeted when he joined the organization in November. Perceiving the multiple sites as confusing, he “wondered why the team had chosen to create its own web presence rather than partnering" with NBA digital services like every team in the league other than the Mavericks. Blazers VP/Marketing & Digital Dewayne Hankins said that the sites “have not been changed since their creation” and are “outdated.” Hankins has "overseen the curation of a new site as well as other digital changes planned,” including a new smartphone app to "replace the inaugural app that was launched last November but experienced several snafus." The new app will "work with iPhone as well as Android devices," whereas its predecessor “worked only with iPhone, or IOS, devices.” In addition, the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter will "allow fans to connect the wireless devices through an enhanced Wi-Fi and telephone system." Team officials "expect the vast majority of fans to access digital information through mobile devices" at some point during games. In-arena changes also will "accommodate the tweeting, photo sharing and Facebook posting that typically takes place during a game." Hankins said, "It's what we call the 'second-screen experience'" (Portland OREGONIAN, 10/1).
