Portland’s newest owner, Tom Dundon, has accelerated a series of cost-cutting moves that have reshaped the Trail Blazers’ broadcast operation. After laying off roughly 70 front-office staff in May, the franchise announced that several long-time voices will no longer be on the air. The changes affect both television and radio, stripping away talent that has become part of the team’s local identity.
Veteran play-by-play announcer Kevin Calabro confirmed his departure after his contract expired on June 30. Calabro, who moved to Portland in 2016 following a 22-year stint with the Seattle SuperSonics, said the offer he received was “not worth my time.” He emphasized that he is not retiring and intends to continue working on the craft, but the Blazers will move forward without his distinctive voice after nine seasons in the city.
On the radio side, Travis Demers’ contract also ended on June 30, and the team chose not to retain him. Demers, who has called Blazers games for seven seasons, may return in a reduced capacity, but no new role has been confirmed. Michael Holton, a former Blazer guard from 1986 to 1988, was let go after 19 seasons with the franchise. Holton spent the last nine years as the radio analyst and frequently co-hosted halftime and post-game television shows, providing a familiar perspective for listeners.
The television studio saw additional exits. Former ESPN anchor Neil Everett, who has served as the road-game studio host since 2021, will no longer be part of the broadcast team. His co-host, Jamie Hudson, also departs after five seasons. The statistical analyst role, filled by Tom Haberstroh for the past three seasons, was not renewed, removing a data-driven element that had become a staple of the TV presentation.
These cuts echo Dundon’s earlier approach with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, where veteran radio broadcaster Chuck Kaiton left after refusing a steep pay cut. While the Hurricanes later aired their television broadcast over the radio, the Blazers have affirmed that radio play-by-play will continue without a simulcast of the TV feed for the upcoming season. The broadcast reductions come on the heels of the owner group Rip City Rising securing an 80.1 % stake in the team earlier this year.
For fans, the loss of seasoned voices like Calabro and Holton represents more than a staffing shuffle; it reshapes the auditory experience of following the Blazers. The remaining crew will need to deliver a compelling product with a leaner budget, and the quality of analysis and storytelling may feel the impact. As Portland prepares for the next season, the true cost of these cuts will be measured in viewer engagement and the franchise’s ability to maintain a strong local connection.
