Ticketmaster is in the past for the franchise, which will now sell through New Era Tickets

(Friday, July 28, 2006) - MIKE TOKITO, The Oregonian

Trail Blazers fans will be able to purchase game tickets for all seats through one vendor after the team announced Thursday that it has reached an agreement with New Era Tickets.

Fans had faced the prospect of having to choose between two vendors after Global Spectrum, the company that manages the Rose Garden, announced in April that it would switch to New Era. Previously, the Blazers and Global sold tickets through Ticketmaster. New Era is a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor, a Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm that also owns Global.

"For the sake of clarity and customer service, we decided that it was in the best interest for us to opt into that system as well," said Sarah Mensah, the Blazers' vice president of corporate sales and service.

New Era will begin selling tickets for Blazers games Sept. 1.

Global was hired to manage the Rose Garden after Oregon Arena Corp., the Paul Allen-owned company that built the arena, declared bankruptcy in 2004. Global then took control of ticket sales for the arena's 70 luxury suites, 700 courtside seats and 1,800 seats in the club level, with proceeds going to Portland Arena Management, the group of creditors that financed the arena's construction for Allen. The Blazers control the other tickets for the 19,980-seat arena.

Mensah said that although the team's relationship with Global has a competitive aspect, the companies tend to work together when it benefits fans. The sides are cooperating in another way. With Allen seeking to sell the team, the Blazers and Portland Arena Management have agreed to market the team and Rose Garden together.

Mensah said Thursday's announcement is about customer service and does not hint at a pending sale or the possibility that Allen will repurchase the arena and keep the team, as some have speculated.

"I wouldn't say that it's any kind of indication that something is on the horizon, or anything like that," she said.

Mike Tokito: 503-294-7603;