Summer 2016

Moda brings Trail Blazers action to your town

We know not everyone can make it to Portland for Trail Blazers games. But this fall you can join Moda and the Trail Blazers for the Rip City Relay, a weeklong journey across the Northwest to promote healthy living and get Oregonians pumped for the upcoming basketball season.

The relay lets fans experience the fun and fast-moving action that fills the Moda Center during the NBA season, all without leaving their hometowns.

Now in its fourth year, “the Relay brings the excitement of the Trail Blazers into schools and communities outside of Portland,” said Moda’s Mike McGuffey. “It delivers a message of the importance of play and healthy living to kids and adults alike.”

As the relay winds through Oregon, different Trail Blazers personalities join in on each leg of the road trip. Fans can expect to meet notables including former players, broadcasters, Blaze the Trail Cat and the Blazer Dancers, along with Moda’s street team.

This year’s relay runs Sept. 19 to 23, with visits to Astoria (Sept. 19), Seaside (Sept. 20), Tillamook (Sept. 21), Forest Grove (Sept. 22) and Salem (Sept. 23). Each stop features a day of high-energy events, including school assemblies and basketball clinics at sites chosen in collaboration with Moda, the Trail Blazers and the Oregon Education Association. At the end of each day, there’s a free community fair with family-friendly games and activities, plus chances to win Trail Blazers gear and visit with the team ambassadors.

“Some of the region’s biggest Trail Blazers fans live on the coast and along the relay route,” said team president and CEO Chris McGowan. “The Rip City Relay has become one of the best ways for our organization to interact with fans all over the state.”

The relay has a deeper impact, too, said Kevin Carroll, an acclaimed public speaker and author of “Rules of the Red Rubber Ball” who works with Moda to promote the healing power of play.

“So much of what Moda is about is giving energy to the community and inspiring them,” Carroll said during a 2015 relay stop. ”The Rip City Relay is all about that — Moda wants to partner with the Blazers and with the communities, to activate them and inspire them to move.

“They want you to be better every day — at whatever inspires you.”

Want to get in on the fun? Visit Trailblazers.com/ripcityrelay for news and updates. You can also follow the relay's progress on Twitter @RipCityRelay, then share your stories and photos with the hashtag #RipCityRelay.