Blazers fans roast new owner over cost cuts
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Blazers owner Tom Dundon. Photo: Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
The honeymoon, if it ever existed, is over for new Blazers owner Tom Dundon.
Why it matters: A series of stories detailing the billionaire's attempts to cut costs with the team have landed poorly with the fan base.
Context: Dundon, whose name sounds like a sound effect from "Law & Order," has reportedly made a number of unpopular moves to save money, per The Athletic.
- He clamped down on late checkouts at hotels and opted out of the customary free T-shirts for fans at playoff games.
- He also left behind the team's two-way players and a photographer when traveling for the playoffs and is considering getting rid of one of the team's two mascots.
What they're saying: There is real concern over Dundon's spending habits, but after the Blazers stole a road victory in San Antonio on Tuesday, many couldn't help but have some fun at the new guy's expense.
What we're watching: If cost-cutting translates into wins, fan backlash may ease, but Dundon's early moves have fueled skepticism among the Rip City faithful.