Buckner: Blazers President Chris McGowan Has 3 Finalists For Rose Garden Naming Rights

Candace Buckner of The Columbian reports that Portland Trail Blazers president Chris McGowan said Thursday that there are three finalists bidding on naming rights for the Rose Garden and that a sponsor could be in place for the 2013-14 NBA season.

McGowan also denied a recent report that indicated the Blazers had reached a naming rights deal with Moda Health.

Portland Trail Blazers team president Chris McGowan revealed that the list of potential sponsors for the arena's naming rights has been narrowed down to three companies.

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"Nothing's close, nothing's imminent. We're having good conversations about the opportunity," McGowan said. "I'll be consistent with what I said from day one, it's our goal to have a deal in place before the start of the season. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to accomplish that goal."

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A recent report stated that Moda Health had purchased the naming rights but the team denied that there was a sale.

"I don't know where the rumors came from," McGowan said.

The naming rights discussion was at the top of McGowan's agenda when he was named president and CEO of the Blazers in October. In November, he said that he hoped to have a naming rights partner in place within a year.

The Blazers partnered with Premier Partnerships back in January to pursue naming rights for the Rose Garden, one of the only NBA buildings that currently does not have a sponsor.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter