PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Portland Mayor Keith Wilson says the city’s proposed $120 million contribution to renovate Moda Center will help keep the Trail Blazers in Portland and provide a major economic boost. But a sports economist who studies publicly funded venues says taxpayers are unlikely to recover that investment.

The nearly $600 million renovation proposal comes as local leaders work toward a long-term agreement intended to keep the Blazers in Portland. A study commissioned by the team and city estimates Moda Center generates more than $600 million in annual economic impact, with the Blazers accounting for about two-thirds of that total.

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Wilson said the project would benefit hotels, restaurants and Portland’s broader profile.

“Think about the heads in beds and the restaurants and the marketing and the international knowledge of our city. Economically, it’s a huge tailwind for us,” Wilson said.

He also framed the proposal as a test of Portland’s ambitions.

“It’s like, are we gonna activate the city? Are we just gonna retrench and say we can’t do big things?” Wilson said.

J.C. Bradbury, a sports economist and professor in metro Atlanta, disputed the impact study’s conclusions.

“It’s completely made up garbage, and I say that that’s as kindly as I can put it. This is a PR document,” Bradbury said. “You’ve got to grapple with the hundreds of studies that look at the economic benefits of facilities and find none.”

Bradbury said much of the money spent at Blazers games and nearby businesses would likely have been spent elsewhere in Portland if fans had not attended the game.

“When you look at just the net new spending that happened, it’s very, very small and certainly doesn’t generate enough economic or net tax revenue to justify the hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies that are often given out,” he said.

He said supporters who see a civic or cultural value in the Blazers should make that case directly to voters.

“There’s no harm in putting it to a vote if that’s your argument,” Bradbury said. “If your argument is there’s a civic benefit, by all means, go to the ballot box and let voters tell you that it is.”

Wilson said the state, Multnomah County and Portland leaders support the proposal and argued the renovation would signal confidence in the city’s future.

“Keeping the Blazers and renovating is great news,” Wilson said. “The nation’s watching. It is time for us to show them that we can do big things.”