(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)
Since the first Bike to Blazers we organized back in 2006, our goal has been to showcase cycling for the Trail Blazers organization, the team, and their many fans. We’ve made solid strides toward that goal, but we’re still hoping to make the biking/Blazers connection much stronger.
I’m happy to say that this year, the Blazers reached out to us early wanting to re-energize the Bike Night event and make it bigger and better than ever. As many of you know, I happen to think biking and the Blazers go great together, so I eagerly accepted.
Let it be known that Sunday, November 2nd is Blazers Bike Night at the Moda Center!
The team is taking on the Golden State Warriors, one of the best teams in the Western Conference. But watching the game is just the icing on the cake. We’ll get a huge group of riders together before the game, then ride as a big group over to the Moda Center campus where we’ll have fun and spread the Blazers Bike Night spirit before the game starts.
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throws on the court after the game.
We’re working with the Blazers to make special bike parking available during the game. We’ll also have some bike-related vendors and other pre-game activities for everyone who shows up. We’ll have a sign-making station and face-painting for all the hardcore fans out there.
Inside the arena, BikePortland will have a table set up where we’ll be talking with fans about their bike experiences, answering their questions, passing out maps and other resources, and so on. A reflective sticker is being made just for our event and everyone who buys a ticket through the special Bike Night website (don’t forget to use promo code “BIKE”) will have a chance to win an autographed item from one of the players.
Heather Reeder, our friend in the Blazers front office, has set aside a bunch of tickets for BikePortland readers so we can all sit together and cheer on the team. Blazers Bike Night tickets are $22, plus a $5 online ordering fee (you can, of course buy tickets however you’d like)
Save the date of November 2nd, grab a few tickets for family and friends, and stay tuned for more updates.
*Note: Online ticket sales page won’t work with Internet Explorer. Please use another browser.
Thanks for reading.
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Those Blazers links are giving me errors. Do I need to create an account to buy the tickets and see the deal?
Sorry, let me clarify. The message says, “Unfortunately this offer is not available.”
hi daisy,
sorry about that. The link works for me and I’m not signed into any special account. Maybe try trailblazers.com/bike.. and don’t forget the promote code is all caps “BIKE”
Hi again daisy,
Blazer folks tell me it might be a browser issue. Ticketmaster links don’t work with Internet Explorer… Chrome, Safari, and Firefox should work fine.
This sounds like a fun time! Does anyone know who to contact within the Blazers organization to improve biking safety along Interstate Ave during game days? It sounds like their is some institutional support for bikes, but their flagger people who wave cars into the parking garage encourage all kinds of right hooking! I talked to one guy about it and he explained they they are not supposed to direct traffic. However, because they are wearing the uniform (orange vest) and using the tools (orange-coned flashlight) of traffic control people, I believe drivers translate their “drive this way now” now literally and, in looking to them for guidance and instruction, stop checking for bikes overtaking them. Some training of these flaggers and some signs (check for bikes BEFORE entering driveway) for motorists would likely go a long way to cluing people in.
Yes, those flaggers really do need some basic education on how to prevent car vs. bike conflicts on game night. I’ve never seen them do anything but perfectly orchestrate right-hooks into those parking garage entrances.
I have left some messages with Blazers admin about the dangerous situation they create for bikes every game day, but I haven’t had response. I do think they are truly bike supporters, they are using bike Portland for some free advertising. Lame.
Thanks for bringing up this issue. Keep in mind that creating a productive relationship and good communication channel open with the Blazers organization is a main reason I started this event!
I will definitely bring this up with them and see what can be done about it.
Thanks, I hope you you post a follow-up with their response. I am all for productive communication, but I don’t know where to start withe Blazers! I hope you will have success.
MaxD,
Heather is reaching out to the building maintenance/operations staff for the Moda Center and she’s going to forward me a name of someone to contact about the flagger issue and the bike parking issue. I’ll definitely post any progress and/or helpful info here.
Update on the issue of flaggers encouraging dangerous situations on Interstate: I just met Scott Sisson, the director of facilities at the Moda Center/Trail Blazers… He was very engaged and glad to know about the issue. He has contacted flagging crew staff and told them they need to be aware of bicycle riders and make sure the bike lane is clear before they wave cars through. He said if that doesn’t help the problem, he will take additional actions. Please let us know if this continues to happen.
Oh, and here’s a picture of Scott. He is genuinely concerned about bike safety issues and wants to do as much as he can.
Rip City! My wife and I were there for 2010 with our as yet unborn first child. You got us in one the photos. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeportland/4522872020/in/photostream/
I’d love it if you would look into what I believe is the woefully inadequate bicycle parking for Moda Center game time employees. The main employee entrance has one paltry bike parking staple that is consistently overloaded. And there is definitely room to include more staples.
thanks hilsy,
see my comment above… And I’ll flag this issue and see if I can’t get some attention on it.
keep me posted on your communications with the team admin. And make sure you’re contacting the Moda Center staff and not the Trail Blazers staff.
“Heather Reeder, our friend in the Blazers front office, has set aside a bunch of tickets for BikePortland readers so we can all sit together and cheer on the team. Blazers Bike Night tickets are $22, plus a $5 online ordering fee (you can, of course buy tickets however you’d like)”
Which section? The site shows four sections available: 303, 313, 318, 323.
Hi Christopher,
I asked Heather about this and she assured me that all the tickets bought online from now until our 150 are sold, will be placed together. Her response is below:
So.. lesson is… Buy now/soon to make sure we’ll be one big posse at the game.