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Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen Discusses Team Spending, CBA, Jersey Sponsorship Patches

Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen said the team had a "very good year last year" on the business side, noting the franchise this season also has increased its payroll, according to a Q&A with Joe Freeman of the Portland OREGONIAN. Allen also discussed his spending last summer, his expectations for the team this season, the "looming negotiations on a new CBA" and his "willingness to go into the luxury tax." Below are excerpts from the Q&A, some of which have been edited for brevity.

Q: How would you describe how the business side of the Blazers is doing?
Allen: Obviously, we're increasing our payroll. All the media numbers and everything go up, too. So we're going to be spending more this year, but we think it's justified.

Q: What gives you optimism that the league can avoid another lockout when the NBA CBA negotiations begin?
Allen: As individual owners, we're not supposed to speak about CBA negotiations. So I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to say that, given the economics that are in play here, I think it's in everybody's -- the players and the owner's -- best interest to work something out. So I'm optimistic.

Q: What's your opinion about the advertising patches that are going to be added to the uniforms next year?
Allen: Additional revenue makes the league healthier. So the challenge for us, depending on the size of the market, is to sell those patches to somebody that's going to also well represent the team and those sorts of things. So I think you'll see that evolve over the next few years.

Q: With so much of the core of this team locked up for years, are you prepared to pay the luxury tax?
Allen: That darn luxury tax is pretty painful. You have to make those decisions. As you know, at one point, I believe I had the record for the highest luxury tax payments. In the end, that didn't make sense. So that's something we'll have to look at very carefully. Sometimes you can go into the tax for a year or something and then come out of it if it makes sense as you're transitioning through different player contracts. So it's something [President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey] and I will evaluate very carefully (Portland OREGONIAN, 9/28). 

RENEWAL RATES SOARING: Trail Blazers President & CEO Chris McGowan said that the renewal rate for season tickets has been in the 95-96% range. McGowan: "Close to 13,000 full-season equivalents. That's the best since I've been here." Meanwhile, McGowan said sponsorships for jersey patches "will be one of our most sizable corporate partnerships." McGowan: "Not as much as naming rights, but close to there. We started the sales process about two weeks ago. We're looking for someone who wants to be a significant partner with us. We'll be selective. We want something that works with our brand. We're getting a lot of interest. A lot of companies are reaching out to us about the opportunity" (PORTLANDTRIBUNE.com, 9/27).

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