The Portland Trail Blazers have been named the 2008 recipient of the Turnkey PRISM Award, President Larry Miller announced today.  

The PRISM is awarded annually to the professional sports franchise that demonstrates industry-leading excellence and innovation in sport franchise management across five key business criteria: strategic planning, innovative marketing, community relations, customer service and employee relations.   

"Trail Blazers employees have dedicated themselves to the ongoing effort to restore our proud tradition among fans and partners," Miller said. "The 2008 Turnkey PRISM Award is a tremendous honor, a validation of our hard work, and a great motivator to continue to provide the best experience possible."   

Two PRISM Awards are presented annually – one to a major league team and one to a minor league team – by the Department of Sports Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  The Trail Blazers are the fourth NBA team to receive the Major League honor in the award’s eight-year history.   

In 2007-08, the Trail Blazers invited fans to "Rise With Us," capturing the return of Rip City by taking fans behind-the-scenes throughout the season and launched "Make It Better," a comprehensive community outreach program that touched the lives of more than 93,000 Oregonians.   

The Trail Blazers led the NBA in attendance increase (up 3,190 per game from 2006-07) and orchestrated innovative campaigns lauding the arrival of Greg Oden ("Oden vs. Durant"), touting Brandon Roy ("iRoy") and campaigning for LaMarcus Aldridge (ripcityrising.com) for Most Improved Player.   

Additionally, the team enhanced the fan experience at the Rose Garden with improvements that included the installation of a state-of-the-art center hung video board, a new sound system and a full-service brew pub, Pyramid Taproom at Schonely’s Place.   

The Trail Blazers will be recognized with a full-page ad in an upcoming issue of Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, the industry’s leading trade publication.