Bhathals Double Down on Portland's Women's Sports Amid Blazers Uncertainty

In the midst of uncertainty surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers, particularly under their new ownership led by Tom Dundon, the Bhathal siblings—Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal—are doubling down on their commitment to Portland through their WNBA and NWSL teams, the Fire and Thorns. Despite their unsuccessful bid to acquire the Blazers last year, the Bhathals remain positively focused on their sports properties in the city, which they believe are key to the future of women's sports.

After losing out to Dundon's group in the battle for the Blazers, and following a legal skirmish with the Cherng Family Trust—one of Dundon’s partners—the Bhathals recently settled their differences out of court. Bhathal Merage expressed her disappointment regarding missing out on the Blazers, calling it a “big stinger,” but stressed the family's shift towards their women's sports franchises. "What happens for a reason happens for a reason,” she stated at the FOS Asset Class event, indicating their forward-looking vision.

This perspective starkly contrasts with Dundon’s management style. Recently, he has faced criticism for multiple cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and an exceptionally short contract for the new head coach Micah Nori. Dundon’s contentious negotiations over funding renovations to the Moda Center, home to the Blazers, have also opened the door to concerns about the future of the team in Portland. NBA commissioner Adam Silver weighed in, declaring that losing the Trail Blazers would be viewed as a significant failure.

Meanwhile, the Bhathals have demonstrated a clear commitment to their athletes by inaugurating the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center, a state-of-the-art facility designed specifically for their teams. Costing over $150 million and spanning nearly 100,000 square feet, the center includes dedicated features for female athletes, such as mothers’ rooms, family spaces, and two full-size soccer pitches alongside basketball courts. Bhathal Merage emphasized the importance of a conducive environment for attracting talent: “Great athletes want great environments, so it will hopefully attract and retain athletes, as well as staff, to us in Portland.”

The Bhathals, hailing from Southern California, have rapidly embraced Portland’s robust support for women's sports. Alex Bhathal remarked that the city is "the global epicenter of women’s sports,” acknowledging the unparalleled level of passion from the local fanbase. This sentiment was echoed by Bhathal Merage, who recounted witnessing 26,000 fans at a Thorns game, a stark contrast to the typical attendance figures seen in NBA or NHL arenas, which average about 17,000 to 18,000 attendees.

Current statistics reinforce this enthusiasm: the Thorns are leading the NWSL this season with an average attendance exceeding 19,000, continuing a trend from last season when they also topped attendance metrics. The Fire, too, are performing well in the WNBA, ranking fourth with nearly 15,000 fans per game. “For a city that has two-and-a-half million people, Portland is really a mid-market unicorn,” Bhathal Merage noted, showcasing the substantial support behind women's sports.

Co-owners of the Sacramento Kings as well, the Bhathals view their investments in the Fire and Thorns as deeply promising. Bhathal Merage firmly believes the future of women's sports is solid, stating, “I don’t think women’s sports is a trend—women’s sports is here to stay.” Their confidence is underscored by insights from leaders like Jason Wright of Ariel Investments, who suggested that WNBA valuations could very well approach those of NHL franchises, driven by rising metrics across attendance, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and media coverage.

Alex Bhathal’s confidence in women’s sports was unwavering as he discussed the potential for future growth. “We think there’s so much growth ahead in women’s sports,” he asserted, indicating a belief that the valuation of women’s sports franchises will eventually match, if not exceed, those of their male counterparts.

As the Bhathals forge ahead, their actions suggest a clear message: despite the Blazers’ struggles, Portland can count on the Bhathals' unwavering commitment to elevating women’s sports in the city. Their investments not only reflect their dedication but also tap into a burgeoning market that is proving to be resilient and promising for the future.