PORTLAND, Ore. — The difference in opinion is widening between the Trail Blazers and the city of Portland as the NBA team’s new ownership looks for public funding to renovate the arena where it plays its games.

“I think we are very far apart,’’ said a team source Sunday, one of two within the Blazers who were granted anonymity to discuss the situation freely.

On Friday, the city of Portland sent the Blazers a term sheet for a 20-year-lease agreement. If the Blazers agree to the terms, the team would receive $600 million in public funds to renovate the Moda Center. Of significance, the city is asking the Blazers to pay $3 million annually for a property tax offset, which would escalate over time. Additionally, the deal would require the Blazers to hire union workers and set caps on project-cost overruns.

“The term sheet is a non-starter,’’ the source said. “I don’t know why they sent it to us, because they know very little of the stuff we would agree to. They are playing politics at this point.”

The Trail Blazers’ board of directors meets Monday and will address the term sheet to determine a course of action. The city is set to vote on the funding Aug. 12. A deal must be struck before Dec. 31 for $365 million in state funding to be included.

The Trail Blazers’ future in Portland could be at stake. Their lease ends in 2030, and there is unspoken tension about whether new owner Tom Dundon would move the team to another city. Two high-ranking sources inside the Blazers said Dundon has never mentioned relocating the Trail Blazers.

“No one with the Blazers has ever said we want to move,’’ a team source said. “We don’t want that. We want to stay in Portland.’’

Both the Blazers and city politicians have accused the other of foul play. Some city council members are upset because they feel the Blazers haven’t been transparent in how the public funds would be spent.

“I think the Blazers have been behaving poorly,’’ councilor Mitch Green said. “They thought because they passed the state legislature (for $365 million in funding) that the deal was done. But we have a set of councilors who are asking tough questions. And this is Portland, Oregon, where people want more public transparency than there has been.’’

The Blazers say their reluctance to share renovation plans is twofold: 1) Most of their renovation plans are “ideas or concepts.” 2) They were offended when councilor Steve Novick in June threatened to sue them for not maintaining the Moda Center as a first-class venue.

“We don’t even want to respond to the term sheet until they remove that gun to our head,’’ a source said, referring to Novick’s threat.

Another Blazers source said they don’t want to share plans of what they want to renovate until they are assured the information they provide won’t be included in a suit.

“On the one hand, they say we haven’t kept the building up,’’ one Blazers source said. “But at the same time, they are saying, ‘What’s wrong with the building?’ There’s a lot of talking out of both sides of their mouth.’’

Included in the Blazers’ renovation concepts are a new atrium entrance on the north side of the arena, which would ease the flow of traffic entering and exiting the building. Also, the arena operates with one main kitchen; the hope is to have kitchens on all three levels to enhance fans’ concession experience. There are also concepts for eliminating some of the 300-level seating and building a bar, as well as updating the club-level seating.

Green, the councilor for Portland’s fourth district, said he and the 11 other councilors want to be informed before agreeing to a deal.

“We need to see a scope and scale of what this money is paying for,’’ Green said. “That’s pretty basic. So, they need to make a good-faith effort on that. You’ve got a city council that is not a rubber-stamp council, and, depending on where you sit in the city, that may be a good or bad thing. But those are the stakes, and those are the conditions (the Blazers) face. What’s standing between the Trail Blazers and a bunch of public money for a stadium deal is their willingness to accommodate this council.’’

In March, the Blazers thought they had a deal with the city after securing a $365 million commitment from the state for renovations to the Moda Center. That sum is contingent upon the city of Portland agreeing to release $120 million in funds and Multnomah County adding $88 million. The Blazers say a handshake agreement with Mayor Keith Wilson, the city and the county was made in March, and are confused why there has been a shift.

“They have made this a bit of a political football,’’ said a second source inside the Blazers. “They’re asking for things that change the deal dramatically.’’

Elliott Kozuch, a spokesman for the city administrator, confirmed there was momentum with city officials in March toward reaching an agreement, but nothing concrete.

“While city leadership did endorse the conceptual funding proposal in March, it was always clear that City Council and County Commission approval would be required to formalize the local government commitments,’’ Kozuch said.

Kozuch said the Blazers have worked with the City Administrator’s office by sharing some of their plans, but added that the city needs to see more.

“The Trail Blazers shared high-level concepts for potential upgrades to the arena, but the city has not received a formal design review or detailed project plan. A complete understanding of proposed improvements will require additional information as negotiations continue.’’

Where those future negotiations are headed remains unclear, but right now each side is digging in, believing they have the leverage.

A Blazers source said the team has been examining other recent arena deals in Oklahoma City and Utah, and may start looking for a new deal in Portland — which might even include asking for a new arena in Portland.

“The city’s delay has given us time to study what a market deal is,’’ the Blazers source said. “And let’s just say the $600 million deal that was supposed to be done six months ago was a way-below-market deal.’’

Meanwhile, Green said the threat of Dundon leaving Portland doesn’t move him.

“Every indication I read about Tom Dundon is that he makes decisions based almost solely upon whether or not it’s going to increase his profit,’’ Green said. “If he moves the team, it’s because he thinks he can get a better deal. And if I’m in Tom Dundon’s shoes, and I’m trying to do that calculus, then I’m going to be evaluating the cost of moving the team versus the cost of coming to the table and making these councilors happy. Right now, it’s a matter of $120 million. Like, if Dundon came out today and said ‘I’m gonna pick up the tab on the $120 [million] … that would probably get us to the finish line tomorrow.’’

In the meantime, a fanbase waits and worries, wondering whether the business of basketball will lead to no NBA basketball in Portland in 2031.

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Joey Logano resurrected his once-fading Chase for the Cup hopes with a vintage performance Sunday night, leading a career-high 323 laps to score his first NASCAR victory since May 2025.

Fittingly, it came at a vintage racetrack that itself was resurrected.

North Wilkesboro Speedway last hosted a Cup Series points race in 1996, then was left for dead for decades. Its buildings crumbled, the facility became decrepit, and weeds grew through the racetrack surface.

But there was NASCAR on Sunday night, improbably holding a points race again in front of a sold-out crowd — and with Logano winning in the most old-school of ways.

Just six cars finished on the lead lap, and even 11th place was two laps down. The only compelling battle up front was between Logano and Denny Hamlin, who finished runner-up by 0.8 second after doggedly pursuing Logano’s No. 22 for the entire last 175 laps of the race.

Yet it was Logano who ultimately prevailed and moved himself back into a Chase position with five races remaining until NASCAR’s postseason begins.

“Wildly impressive,” Hamlin said of Logano’s performance. “We got our car pretty good, enough to keep them honest there. But man, just every time I’d get close, I’d heat the tires up, and he’d pull back away. Just a really impressive run by him and his team.”

Hamlin’s strong second-place finish was a setback for the two drivers competing with him for the points lead — particularly Tyler Reddick, who finished 30th after a collision with Alex Bowman on Lap 183.

Reddick had moved up the track to give Noah Gragson room after Gragson was exiting pit road, but Bowman was suddenly called to the pits and tried cutting down from the top lane.

Unfortunately for both drivers, Reddick was already there and was clobbered by Bowman. Reddick spun, and his No. 45 team diagnosed a bent tie rod, which he had to endure for the rest of the night.

Reddick is now 68 points behind Hamlin, giving Hamlin a major advantage unless something goes wrong.

The other driver chasing Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, also slipped further behind. He started from the rear because of a power steering pump that needed to be changed and eventually climbed his way to fourth place but was tagged with a speeding penalty with 84 laps to go.

Blaney finished 11th and fell to 87 points behind Hamlin, leaving him in a major deficit.

Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs finished 2-3-4, but the big surprise of the night was New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen in fifth.

Van Gisbergen, a road course specialist for Trackhouse Racing, led 49 laps during the evening and proved he is a real threat to make the Chase himself — although even he seemed surprised after taking the lead at a short track oval.

“I’m leading — what the f— do I do now?” he asked his team on the radio.

As Logano moved into the Chase, Erik Jones tumbled out after finishing 21st. The Brickyard 400 is next week, followed by NASCAR’s final off weekend of the season.

Overall, it was a lively atmosphere at a racetrack once left for dead. The grandstands were packed, the crowd enthusiastic, and after 30 long years, NASCAR had righted a wrong by again holding a points race on one of its most historical tracks.

NASCAR had held its exhibition All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro beginning in 2023, but bringing an actual points race back to the track made for a special night; it was exactly the kind of atmosphere befitting a revival.

That Sunday’s race wasn’t a barnburner mattered little. If anything, it had an appropriate old-school feel similar to how so many races here of yesteryear unfolded. The big takeaway is not who won and what it means in the big picture, but that North Wilkesboro is indeed back.

And what a treat it was to see NASCAR racing again at North Wilkesboro, a near-universal sentiment expressed by so many throughout the weekend. Because not too long ago, the prevailing notion was it would never see a car on its track again.

Meanwhile, the final for NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge bracket is set — and there wasn’t much drama involved.

Blaney easily bested Christopher Bell, who was three laps down in 19th place, and underdog Todd Gilliland upset Chase Elliott by finishing eighth (and Elliott finished 17th after the untimely caution caused by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Bowman).

“We’re big underdogs, and we’ll see, but now one person (left to go against),” Gilliland said. “Anything could happen; (Blaney’s) engine could blow up Lap 1. But it’s just crazy when you’re racing one person. Really, anything can happen, and I’m excited about it.

“I would probably rather not be the underdog because you’re the guy that’s actually running good consistently, but maybe one day. We’ll take the underdog position for now and hopefully won’t be it forever.”

Liverpool fly to Chicago on Monday for a two-week pre-season tour of the United States.

It is a crucial trip for new head coach Andoni Iraola, as he looks to put his stamp on the squad he inherited from Arne Slot before the 2026-27 campaign.

As well as embarking on an intensive training schedule in sweltering temperatures, Liverpool will play three matches in Nashville, New York and Chicago.

Supporters are set to get their first glimpse of French defender Jeremy Jacquet after his arrival from Rennes, but fellow new signing Victor Munoz won’t be involved following his World Cup commitments with Spain.

The tour also carries great importance for Liverpool commercially, given their existing sponsorship deals with U.S.-based blue-chip brands and their growing fanbase across the country.

Here’s what to expect.

Who are Liverpool playing?

Liverpool will use Chicago as their training base throughout the tour, flying to Nashville and New York the day before the games there and then returning to Illinois.

Their first friendly is against Sunderland at Nashville’s 30,000-capacity Geodis Park on Saturday, July 25 (5pm kick-off, 11pm in the UK).

Home to Major League Soccer club Nashville SC, it opened in 2022 and is the largest stadium dedicated solely to soccer across the U.S. Nashville’s vice-chairman is former Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre.

Iraola’s squad will then take on Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s Championship team Wrexham at New York’s Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, July 29 (7.30pm kick-off, 12.30am in the UK the following day).

It will be the third time Liverpool have played at the iconic Bronx venue, having faced Sporting CP there in 2019 and Manchester City in 2014.

Liverpool faced Man City at Yankee Stadium in 2014 (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

As well as Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, it is home to MLS team New York City FC. It promises to be a special occasion for Iraola, who played for the club towards the end of his career. Yankee Stadium has a capacity of around 50,000 for soccer matches.

The final match of the tour is against Leeds United at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Sunday, August 2 (3pm kick-off, 9pm in the UK).

The multi-purpose stadium, home to NFL’s Chicago Bears and MLS’ Chicago Fire, holds 62,500 fans. Opened in 1924, it is the oldest stadium in the NFL and MLS. Liverpool previously played Olympiacos there on their 2014 pre-season tour.

Iraola’s squad will fly back to Merseyside straight after the game against Leeds, with their pre-season schedule concluding with Anfield friendlies against Monaco and Como on August 9 and 16 respectively.

Which players are going?

Liverpool will head to the U.S. without their eight-strong World Cup contingent of Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Alisson, Alexis Mac Allister and Munoz, who will instead be enjoying some time off following their tournament commitments.

But Gravenberch, Wirtz and Isak are expected to link up with the squad next weekend, before the final two games in New York and Chicago.

Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, who are still recovering from long-term injuries, are set to travel and continue their rehab in the States.

France Under-21 international Jacquet, who arrived in a £60million ($81m at current exchange rates) move from French club Rennes, is fit to feature after recovering from the shoulder injury which wrecked the second half of last season for him.

Liverpool fans will get their first glimpse of Jeremy Jacquet on the U.S. tour (Simon Wohlfahrt/ AFP via Getty Images)

In the absence of some senior players, the tour will provide the perfect stage for the club’s youngsters to try to force their way into Iraola’s plans. They should be inspired by the rise of teenage winger Rio Ngumoha, who kicked on impressively after shining during the tune-up trip to Hong Kong and Japan a year ago.

The squad has yet to be confirmed but Josh Abe, Will Wright, Kieran Morrison, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas, Josh Sonni-Lambie, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Luke Chambers and Ifeanyi Ndukwe are among those in the mix for selection. Young striker Jayden Danns needs to be assessed after feeling discomfort in his hamstring last week, while Kaide Gordon and Owen Beck are still undergoing rehab following injuries.

Harvey Elliott will be keen to catch Iraola’s eye in the U.S. after returning to Liverpool following a disappointing season-long loan at Aston Villa. Iraola will speak at a press conference to launch the tour in Chicago on Tuesday at 3pm (9am in the UK).

What does this tour mean to the club’s U.S. fanbase?

“We’re stoked to have Liverpool in town,” says Tripp Taraldsen, Official Liverpool Supporters’ Club (OLSC) Nashville secretary.

“Everyone is excited about the new manager and the start of a new era for the club. We know that a lot of star players will still be on vacation after the World Cup but it will be fun to see some of the up-and-coming youngsters get minutes. More than anything, we’re looking forward to the camaraderie from having Reds from all over the world coming to share the Liverpool experience with us.”

The Nashville-based 37-year-old works for a draught beer company and started following Liverpool after the 2006 World Cup. OLSC Nashville boast around 125 members and usually gather to watch games at sports bar Party Fowl, with numbers swelled each weekend by visiting fans.

“I’m also a Nashville season ticket holder and Geodis Park is a beautiful stadium,” he adds. “It keeps the noise in, so expect a great atmosphere. There’s also a safe-standing section behind the goal in the Kop section. This is a soccer town, so a warm welcome is guaranteed. It will be super hot — not just the temperature but also the humidity.”

Tripp Taraldsen, right, with wife Hilary (Photo courtesy of Tripp Taraldsen)

Ben Prout is OLSC Chicago president. The 29-year-old, who works for an accountancy firm, was born in the Cheshire town of Crewe, 50 miles from Liverpool, but has lived in Chicago for the past seven years.

“All my dad’s family are from Liverpool and are Reds, so I had no choice who I was going to support,” he says.

“We have around 1,500 members and for a lot of them this will be their first chance to watch Liverpool live. Even if you can afford to travel over to Anfield, it’s not easy to get tickets. As a branch, we only get around 70 across an entire season.

“Having Liverpool in Chicago will be extra special. There are similarities between the two cities — hard-working people who can be bristly, but also kind and genuine. Soldier Field is a historic venue. We can’t wait to see Iraola and the players up close.”

There are still standard admission tickets on sale for all three matches. In Nashville, they range from $129 to $392 (£96-£292), New York from $109 to $320, and Chicago from $114 to £358.

How important is the tour commercially?

It is huge.

Liverpool’s commercial growth has been boosted significantly in recent years by lucrative sponsorship deals with U.S.-based companies such as Expedia (their shirt sleeve sponsor), Google Pixel (mobile phone partner), UPS (global logistics and shipping partner) and Orion Innovation (digital transformation partner).

Earlier this year, the club announced a new global partnership with American fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger.

Liverpool have commercial staff permanently based in Boston and New York. This tour will be key in terms of enhancing existing relationships and trying to attract new business, especially off the back of the buzz created by the World Cup in the States.

Liverpool are beginning life under new coach Andoni Iraola (Peter Powell/AFP via Getty Images)

Club legends Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Phil Thompson and Tash Dowie will be on the trip to attend various meet-and-greet events with sponsors and supporters. LFC Foundation coaches will also be holding a number of football clinics for local youngsters.

Adidas will launch Liverpool’s new away kit at an event in Brooklyn on July 28, before the match against Wrexham 24 hours later.

On the tour of East Asia a year ago, Liverpool had to wear the previous season’s Nike strip and delayed confirming squad numbers as the new contract with Adidas didn’t start until August 1. There are no such constraints this time around.