Rip City is one of the most recognizable names associated with Portland, Oregon, and the Portland Trail Blazers. For basketball fans, it represents the team, its supporters, and the culture surrounding Portland basketball.
The phrase began as an emotional call from longtime Trail Blazers broadcaster Bill Schonely during the franchise’s early years. What started as an unexpected courtside expression eventually became a lasting identity for the team and its fans.
Why Is Portland Called Rip City?
The short answer is simple: Rip City came from Bill Schonely, the legendary radio voice of the Portland Trail Blazers.
During the Blazers’ inaugural 1970-71 season, Schonely shouted “Rip City” after a long-range shot by Jim Barnett during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The phrase was spontaneous rather than a planned marketing slogan, but fans gradually adopted it.
That moment eventually turned into one of the strongest connections between Portland and its NBA franchise.
What Does Rip City Mean?
The Rip City meaning is less about a literal definition and more about identity.
“Rip” does not describe a particular Portland neighborhood or geographical location. Instead, the phrase became a rallying cry associated with excitement, basketball, competition, and Portland pride.
Over time, Rip City expanded beyond the original broadcast moment. The Trail Blazers now use it as part of their broader team identity, while fans use it to describe their connection with the city and its basketball culture. NBA.com has described Rip City as representing the Trail Blazers, their fans, and the wider region.
Why Is Portland Rip City?
Portland is called Rip City because the phrase became deeply connected with the Trail Blazers shortly after the team’s creation.
The nickname survived because fans continued using it long after the original broadcast. It appeared on merchandise, uniforms, promotional material and fan signs, turning an improvised phrase into a recognizable Portland sports symbol.
The relationship became even stronger as the Trail Blazers built a long basketball history. Portland won its first NBA championship in 1977, and the franchise has remained a major part of the city’s sporting identity.
Rip City and Portland Trail Blazers Basketball
For anyone searching for rip city basketball, the main connection is the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Trail Blazers entered the NBA in 1970 and play their home games at Moda Center. Their history includes stars such as Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, Damian Lillard and other notable players who helped shape different eras of Portland basketball.
The phrase has also appeared in special uniforms and team campaigns. In 2019, the Trail Blazers introduced a City Edition uniform specifically highlighting the Rip City nickname and its place in franchise history.
Rip City Remix: Portland’s G League Team
Rip City Remix is another major use of the name.
The Remix is the NBA G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers. The organization officially introduced the Rip City Remix name, logo and branding in 2023, explaining that the identity was designed around Portland’s community, culture and the idea of transforming something familiar into something new.
This gives the phrase a new role in Portland basketball. It no longer appears only as a nickname for the NBA team; it is also part of the identity of Portland’s professional development team.
Rip City Remix Schedule and Roster
Fans searching for the rip city remix schedule should use the official G League schedule because dates and tip times can change.
For the 2026-27 season, the Remix are scheduled to begin their campaign on November 10 in Salt Lake City. Their first 24 home games are scheduled for the Chiles Center at the University of Portland, beginning November 20 against the Santa Cruz Warriors.
The rip city remix roster can also change throughout a G League season because players may move between the NBA, G League and other professional opportunities. That makes the team’s official roster page more reliable than older third-party lists.
Rip City Clothing: What Can Fans Buy?
Rip City clothing has become a major part of the nickname’s popularity.
The official Rip City Clothing store operates as the Portland Trail Blazers’ team store and offers jerseys, apparel, hats, collectibles and other fan merchandise. Its collection includes traditional Trail Blazers products as well as merchandise connected with the Remix.
The store also promotes locally connected products through its Rip City Made collections, which feature collaborations with Pacific Northwest artists and makers.
What Should You Look For in Rip City Gear?
Popular categories include:
- Trail Blazers jerseys
- T-shirts and hoodies
- Hats and caps
- Retro-inspired merchandise
- Rip City accessories
- Rip City Remix gear
- Limited local collaborations
This makes the phrase useful beyond game nights. Fans can wear it as a simple expression of Portland basketball pride.
Rip City at a Glance
| Topic | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Origin | Bill Schonely’s famous Trail Blazers broadcast call |
| City | Portland, Oregon |
| Main sports connection | Portland Trail Blazers |
| G League connection | Rip City Remix |
| NBA venue | Moda Center |
| Remix venue | Chiles Center |
| Merchandise | Official Trail Blazers and Rip City gear |
| Cultural meaning | Portland basketball identity and fan pride |
What Is the Rip City Remix Schedule?
The official rip city remix schedule is published through the NBA G League. The schedule includes both road and home games, with home contests taking place at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center.
For 2026-27, the Remix announced a 24-game home schedule. The organization also highlighted family-oriented game experiences, including themed events, trivia, bingo and community celebrations.
Because game times and dates can change, checking the official schedule before traveling is the safest option.
What About Rip City Skates?
The phrase can create confusion because Rip City Skates is also used by a skate shop in Santa Monica, California.
That business is separate from the Portland Trail Blazers and Rip City basketball identity. Searchers looking for skateboarding products should therefore distinguish the California skate shop from Portland’s basketball-related use of the phrase.
What Is Rip City Demo or Rip City Slot?
There is another unrelated search meaning worth understanding.
Rip City slot and Rip City demo can refer to an online casino-style game called Rip City, rather than Portland basketball. It is associated with Hacksaw Gaming and appears separately from the Trail Blazers-related meaning.
If your search is about Portland sports, the relevant terms are the Trail Blazers, Rip City Remix, basketball, Moda Center and Portland.
What About Rip City Dahlia?
Searches such as rip city dahlia or dahlia rip city do not have the same established official connection to Portland basketball as the Trail Blazers and Rip City Remix.
That distinction matters because “Rip City” appears in different commercial, sports and local contexts. The strongest established meaning remains the Portland basketball identity created around the Trail Blazers.
Rip City Remix vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The names are closely connected, but they refer to different teams.
The Trail Blazers compete in the NBA, while the Rip City Remix compete in the NBA G League as Portland’s affiliate. The Remix gives developing players an opportunity to compete professionally while remaining connected to the Trail Blazers organization.
💡 Pro Tip:
If you’re searching for current players, game times or tickets, always check the official NBA or G League page rather than relying on an old social post. G League rosters and schedules can change quickly.
Why Has Rip City Lasted for So Long?
The strength of the phrase comes from its history and simplicity.
It was not created as a complicated branding campaign. It emerged naturally during a basketball broadcast and gradually became part of the language used by players, broadcasters and supporters.
That organic beginning gives the nickname a different feeling from a temporary advertising slogan. Decades later, Rip City remains closely tied to Portland basketball, while newer uses such as Rip City Remix extend the name to another generation of players and fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rip City mean?
Rip City is the famous nickname associated with Portland and the Portland Trail Blazers. It originated from broadcaster Bill Schonely during the team’s inaugural season and eventually became a symbol of Portland basketball and fan identity.
Why is Portland called Rip City?
Portland became known as Rip City because Bill Schonely famously used the phrase during an early Trail Blazers game. Fans adopted the expression, and it eventually became one of the most recognizable names connected with the city and its NBA team.
Who started the Rip City phrase?
Trail Blazers broadcaster Bill Schonely started the phrase during a game in the team’s inaugural season. He shouted it after Jim Barnett made a long-range shot against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Is Rip City the same as the Portland Trail Blazers?
Not exactly. The Portland Trail Blazers are the NBA team, while Rip City is a nickname and cultural identity associated with the team, its fans and Portland. The phrase is now also used by the team’s G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix.
Where does the Rip City Remix play?
The Rip City Remix plays its home games at the Chiles Center on the University of Portland campus. The team’s official 2026-27 announcement lists 24 home games at the venue.
Where can I buy official Rip City clothing?
Official Rip City clothing is available through Rip City Clothing, the Portland Trail Blazers’ official team store. Its merchandise includes jerseys, apparel, hats, collectibles and Remix products.
Conclusion
Rip City is more than a catchy basketball nickname. It began with an unexpected broadcast call and grew into a lasting symbol of Portland’s relationship with the Trail Blazers.
Today, the phrase appears across basketball, merchandise, fan culture and the Rip City Remix. Whether you’re trying to understand the Rip City meaning, follow the Remix schedule or find official Portland basketball gear, knowing the history behind the name makes the phrase much easier to understand.
For the most accurate current information, follow official Trail Blazers and NBA G League sources when checking teams, schedules, players and events.