It will be a long and ugly road ahead for the Portland Trail Blazers.Steve Patterson to Resign
Immediate Search Begins For a Team General Manager and New President of Business Operations
PORTLAND, March 1, 2007 -- Vulcan Inc. announced today that Tod Leiweke will assume management oversight for Trail Blazers Inc., which operates the Portland Trail Blazers franchise in the National Basketball Association. It was also announced that Steve Patterson has resigned as President and General Manager of the Portland Trail Blazers, effective immediately. Mr. Leiweke announced that an immediate search would be conducted to name a team General Manager and find a new President of Business Operations, both will be Portland-based positions responsible for the day-to-day operations of the franchise. Mr. Leiweke will continue his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Seattle Seahawks.
"I am excited about this new opportunity and look forward to being a part of the Trail Blazers," said Mr. Leiweke. "Over the last couple of years, we’ve created some great memories for Seahawks fans. I look forward to creating the opportunity for Portland and all the Trail Blazer fans to have those same experiences."
"Under Steve’s direction many of the fundamental pieces have been put in place," said Paul Allen, owner of Vulcan, Inc. "I look forward to Tod’s leadership in building our Portland based management team and executing our transition and improvement plan so we can again assume our rightful position as one of the premier franchises in the NBA. Putting the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks under a common management umbrella underscores my commitment to the future of both franchises. Tod has done great things for the Seahawks, and I fully expect similar results for the Trail Blazers."
"With my contract soon to expire and after discussions with Paul and Tod I concluded this was simply the right time to step away," said Mr. Patterson. "I take great pride in what we achieved during my time in Portland and am confident we have placed this organization on a path that will result in success for many years to come. We have faced and overcome significant challenges in the past four seasons and now is the right time for the team to push ahead with new management. I would like to wish Paul Allen and Tod Leiweke success going forward and thank all the Blazers fans for their support during these past seasons of transition."
Mr. Leiweke also will become the CEO of a newly formed management company, Vulcan Sports & Entertainment ("VSE"). VSE will assume oversight responsibilities for all of Paul Allen’s sports-related properties including the Trail Blazers, the Rose Garden Arena and Memorial Coliseum, upon the successful completion of Vulcan’s negotiations with Portland Arena Management and all properties currently run by the Seattle Seahawks.
Mr. Leiweke, 47, has spent over 24 years in professional sports. Under Mr. Leiweke’s supervision, the Seattle Seahawks have achieved success both on and off the football field. In 2005, the Seahawks were named the NFL Sports Fan's Quality Award as the league's "Fan Friendliest" team. Additionally, the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC Championship and advanced to Super Bowl XL. In 2006, the Seahawks won their third straight NFC West title and increased their consecutive game sellout streak to 35. Prior to joining the Seahawks organization, Mr. Leiweke served as President of the Minnesota Wild and Chief Operating Officer of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE). Under Mr. Leiweke's tenure, the Sports Fans of America Association, Inc. awarded its NHL Sports Fan's Quality Award to the Wild as the league's "Fan Friendliest" team. Moreover, in an ESPN survey conducted in the same year, among 123 sports franchises, the Minnesota Wild ranked first in stadium experience and second in fan relationships. Leiweke has also held executive positions with the PGA TOUR, the NHL's Vancouver Canucks and the NBA's Golden State Warriors.
About Trail Blazers Inc.
Founded in Portland, Oregon in 1970, the Portland Trail Blazers won its only World Championship in 1977 under the leadership of basketball great Dr. Jack Ramsay. The team has a rich history of community involvement supporting issues focused primarily on children and education. With a corporate culture that promotes volunteerism, the Blazers Community Builders employee volunteer program was a key centerpiece in the Trail Blazers receiving the prestigious National Points of Light Award for Excellence in Corporate Community Service. The Trail Blazers were the first and continue to be the only professional sports team to achieve this honor.
About Vulcan Inc.
Vulcan Inc. creates and advances a variety of world-class endeavors and high-impact initiatives that change and improve the way people live, learn, do business and experience the world. Founded in 1986 by investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen, and under the direction of president and CEO Jody Patton, Vulcan oversees various business and charitable projects including real estate holdings, investments in more than 40 companies, including Charter Communications, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Digeo Broadband, the Seattle Seahawks NFL and Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchises, First & Goal Inc., Vulcan Productions, the Seattle Cinerama theatre, Experience Music Project, the Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame, and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. For more information about Vulcan, please visit www.vulcan.com.
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