Several stories have come out about new Portland Trail Blazers Governor Tom Dundon since he officially took over the franchise on Tuesday, but what about the other main players in the new “Rip City Rising” ownership group?
In a wide-ranging feature story published Wednesday, The Athletic’s Jason Quick provides an introduction to one one of those key figures, Portland-based entrepreneur Sheel Tyle, as he starts his role as one of the Trail Blazers alternate governors. The piece is filled with quotes
from Tyle and dives into a lot: how he forged a friendship with Blazers superstar Damian Lillard even before the Dundon group’s winning bid; his childhood and quick rise to professional success; his vision for the future; his relationship with Dundon; the group’s ownership style and more.
At the heart of the story is the notion that Tyle’s Portland connection and passion for the city will benefit the Blazers, the new ownership group and fans alike. As Quick explains, Tyle, 34, is just the second Oregonian to stake an ownership claim in the Portland franchise in its history, joining Blazers founder Harry Glickman. Tyle said one of his motives in investing in the Blazers is ensuring they stay in Portland.
“It was very important the team stay, and for me, that’s one of the reasons why I’m in it,” Tyle said. “The city and state are too special not to have them.”
He has lived in Oregon for only two-plus years, but he says he already has an understanding of how deeply the Blazers matter to Oregonians. He went to high school in Rochester, N.Y., and the passion of Portland fans reminds him of the civic bond the Bills had with Buffalo and upstate New York.
“Sports are one of the great unifiers, where people from different backgrounds, different religions, different beliefs, can rally around the same thing,” Tyle said. “We need that, in Oregon and in this country.”
He says his financial commitment, and his local presence, will give Portland a voice if relocation is ever broached by the rest of the ownership group. Tyle insists moving the team is not on the table.
“I don’t want people to be concerned or scared,” Tyle said. “We are committed to Portland, 100 percent. Full stop.”
Tyle has lived in Portland since 2024, and his wife, Dr. Sejal Hathi, became the director of the Oregon Health Authority in November 2023. His new partnership with the franchise also comes with a ringing endorsement from Lillard:
“He lives here. You can bump into him around town,” Lillard said. “I think that element alone is super important to our fans and people here. He’s been able to see and feel how important the Trail Blazers are to Portland.”
… Lillard says Tyle is more than just a guy with a local address, and more than someone making a promise to keep the team in Portland. He described Tyle as humble, authentic and curious … and obsessive about improving the franchise.
When asked what Blazers fans are getting from his friend, Lillard was emphatic.
“You’re gonna have an owner that is one of us,” Lillard said.
Later in the article, Tyle touched on his vision for the franchise. As he put it, that vision isn’t just about the Blazers becoming a winner on the court; it also includes improving the city of Portland.
He believes the Blazers can be the hub to a vibrant civic environment while also helping Portland ascend into a world-class attraction.
“We didn’t call the group Rip City Stabilizing, or Rip City Reminiscing — we called it Rip City Rising because the Trail Blazers can and should be a small part of the state’s resurgence to greater heights,” Tyle said. “I don’t want the story to be ‘Portland has a homeless issue, a drug problem, the economy stinks … let’s leave.’ The opposite should be true. I love this place. We are rising, this is a city on the ascent.”
The Trail Blazers are scheduled to introduce Dundon, Tyle and Alternate Governor Andrew Cherng in a press conference at the Moda Center on Thursday at 3 p.m. Pacific. The event will also include Blazers President Dewayne Hankins and General Manager Joe Cronin.
