In Record Time, Rip City Remix Ready for Inaugural Season Home Opener Friday — Sport Oregon Voices
Remix ready to host first home game just 10 months after inception
When we last checked in with Portland’s newest professional sports team – the Rip City Remix – in May, there was a great deal of excitement building for the new NBA G League team, but details were still coming together. Heck, we didn’t even know the team name yet.
But oh have things changed in just a matter of months.
The Remix – the G League development team for the Portland Trail Blazers – is already off and running, winning their first two games of the 2023-24 season on the road this past weekend before falling to the Ontario Clippers Monday night. It’s staggering to think that things are already underway for the Remix. After all, the initial launch work for the Blazers’ G League team in the Portland market started in earnest just 10 months ago.
It makes it all the more impressive how far things have come in what’s unofficially thought to be record time for a professional basketball team launch. Since we last checked in, a number of important decisions have been made and milestone achievements crossed off the punch list. This list included the all-important team name and brand identity, which is meant to bring together creators, DIYers and makers of the community, while paying homage to Portland’s considerable professional basketball history and providing a space for today’s up-and-coming talent to shine.
Some of the team’s notable announcements and launch achievements over the past few months have included:
Venue
Team Name/Logo Unveil
Team President
General Manager
Head Coach
Support Staff
Jersey Unveil
Draft/Player Signings
Open Tryouts
TV Deal
Beer Collab
Schedule
Sponsors
Tickets
Website
Social Media
Fan Fest
First Road Game
Next up, there’s important history to be made as the Remix play host to the South Bay Lakers on Friday in the team’s first-ever home game. It figures to be a memorable night all around.
“Fans who come out this Friday for our first-ever home game get the chance to be a part of history,” said Hannah Grauert, president of the Remix. “It’s really special for our city, and it’s one of those ‘where were you’ moments for Portland.”
Remix home games will be played at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center, which will feature a capacity of approximately 2,000 seats for the G League games. Fans will have plenty to look forward to when they attend the home opener on Friday, including a commemorative Remix premium giveaway to all fans in attendance and exclusive season-opening merchandise to mark the historic occasion. For those fans not able to attend Friday’s game, these amenities will carry through to the team’s next game Saturday, Nov. 18, when the Ontario Clippers are in town.
Also, fans will be treated to a well-rounded array of things to expect at Remix games throughout the season, like a cool kid zone in partnership with the Oregon Zoo Foundation, complete with a bouncy house, a pop-a-shot game and coloring book activities. There’s also a beer garden and VIP area, and the team is excited about a large number of specialty theme nights to add to the fun this season. To fit with the vibe, the team will feature a rotating cast of guest DJs to provide the in-game musical entertainment.
And, hey, don’t sleep on the free parking and $7 Backwoods Brewing Remix IPAs available for each game. As a bonus, if the Remix score 100 or more points at any given home game, all fans in attendance receive free ice cream from Nico’s, one of the team’s founding partners.
The team is offering a variety of full-season, partial-season and group ticket packages for its inaugural season. When you can’t make it to the game, the Remix have partnered with FOX 12 Plus to televise all the team’s home games during their inaugural season.
In addition to FOX 12 Plus, the Remix have brought on a number of local partners as it starts the season, with many collaborating in support of the team. For instance, the team’s downtown hotel partner, Dossier, is carrying Remix IPA from Backwoods Brewing, as is The Record Pub, a Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood record store/bar.
“I’m really proud of the way we’ve been able to integrate our partners and create a community amongst our local partners, in particular” said Natalie Abele, director of partnerships for the Remix. “Everyone’s rolling up their sleeves to help make this a historic first season for our fans.”
The team leadership on the basketball side includes a pair of familiar faces, as Danny Connors was named the team’s general manager and former Trail Blazers assistant Jim Moran marks his return to Portland as the first head coach for the Remix. Connors has been part of the Trail Blazers organization since 2016, while Moran previously served as an assistant coach for the Trailer Blazers from 2015-21.
“Both Danny and Jim bring a great understanding of the game and the importance this team has to Portland,” Grauert said.
As the official development league for the NBA, the G League serves as a minor league companion to the NBA, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office personnel, alike, for the NBA. While the Trail Blazers have benefitted from certain player-development aspects of the G League on a more limited scale in the past, launching their own team comes with distinct advantages and conveniences that the team hasn’t had in the past. Namely, having their own G League team gives the Trail Blazers more control over the development of their players on the basketball side, and provides inherent efficiencies with the team playing its games and practicing in Portland, oftentimes alongside the coaches and players from the Trail Blazers.
Grauert says the University of Portland has been an invaluable partner throughout the accelerated timeline to launch, installing a new court and upgrading broadcast systems and facilities to meet league requirements for the Remix, among other accommodations.
“We’ve thrown a lot at them, and they’ve been extremely accommodating,” Grauert said of the University of Portland. “They’ve just been incredibly supportive since Day 1.”
For the Remix staff, it’s hard to believe the season is already here. There’s been a great deal of hard work put into the launch of the team, and now there’s a five-month season to witness the affordable and entertaining product on the court. There’s a little something for everyone during the inaugural Remix season, which includes 24 homes games at the Chiles Center, so be sure to check it out.
For More Information
To stay up to date on all things Rip City Remix this season, visit www.ripcityremix.com or follow the team on social media @ripcityremix.